|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Editorials
Now can the GOP close ranks? : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisNow can the GOP close ranks?
| 2/4/2010
|
Kendall County voters and voters across the state stayed away from the polls in droves Tuesday. Here in Kendall County just 21 percent bothered to cast ballots.
Traditionally, primary elections have attracted significantly lower turnouts than general elections and there were no school district referendums on the ballot so we were disappointed, but not surprised that most voters chose not to cast their ballots.
A likely further hindrance to voters was the candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Congress and other state offices in both parties were uniformly uninspiring. Virtually all of them spent the past several weeks spouting well-rehearsed talking points about how they're opposed to taxes, voted to impeach Rod Blagojevich and want to cut spending. It would have been refreshing had a candidate for governor stood up and told voters the state is simply broke, serious cuts will need to be made and additional revenues are going to be needed if existing services are to be maintained. Of course, that candidate would be, as of today, a defeated candidate and returning to private life.
In the race for Congress on the Republican side, State Sen. Randall Hultgren, a social conservative, scored a comfortable victory over Ethan Hastert, a lawyer and son of former U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. Hultgren won the right to challenge one-term Democrat incumbent Bill Foster of Batavia this fall. Meanwhile in the race for the 50th State Representative, Republican incumbent and social moderate, Kay Hatcher, successfully fended off challenges from two social conservatives, former Kendall County GOP Chairman Keith Wheeler and Bob McQuillan of Batavia.
It will be interesting to see now if the Republicans set their various agendas aside, close ranks and unite behind their candidates in the general election. They failed to do so in last year's Congressional contest and Foster was able to gain the seat for the Democrats in an historic election. In what should be a big year for the GOP, the Dems are likely hoping for further Republican discord to minimize their losses.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
