By: Diane Benjamin
Chuck Erickson was elected GOP chair in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. 75-100 people used to attend the monthly breakfast meetings BC (before Chuck).
Today the breakfast had less than 30, according to an attendee, and most of them were elected members of the County Board.
Sue Feldkamp, who ran for the Bloomington City Council, told me that she will never attend another breakfast as long as Erickson is chairman. Erickson wanted people to come with ideas to grow attendance. Sue had a page and a half of suggestions – but she wasn’t allowed to speak. Some of the elected were allowed to speak 2-3 times, Chuck refused to call on her.
After the meeting Erickson tried to avoid her. Another attendee brought to Chuck’s attention that Sue was waiting to talk to him. She finally got a few minutes of his time, he was defensive the entire time.
Maybe Chuck hasn’t noticed that both Bloomington and Normal are run by Democrats. Maybe Chuck didn’t see Tari Renner’s name on the Democrat website for the supposed non-partisan election. Maybe Chuck didn’t notice Republicans lost big in Normal Township last April. I wonder if Chuck attended the $1500 going away party Normal threw for Cheryl Gaines? Has he seen the $300+ plaque? https://blnnews.com/2017/06/18/normals-fleecing-continues/
Hey Chuck:
If you refuse to stand up to the vocal leftist minority, they will soon dominate. I suggest not listening to your vice-chair either since he supported Democrats. Local elections are never non-partisan, quit acting like they are.
McLean County is already purple under Chuck’s leadership. Unless he is replaced it will be blue – that will bring the disastrous politics we see running Illinois. We already see it in Bloomington and Normal.
If Chuck wants to pretend the GOP members of the County Board are the GOP Party, they will all go down together. Erickson and company are offering no reason to vote GOP. He is making it easy for Democrats to win.
Agree. Very weak leadership for McLean Co. Republican Central Committee.
You nailed it Diane and it is long overdue for this to be acknowledged and addressed. As a former attendee of the monthly GOP breakfast there is no longer a motivating reason to attend or support the local party. It is heartbreaking to see what used to be a rock-solid county quickly turning blue and I place the blame on the lack of, or loss of, strong, conservative leadership locally.
As in BASEBALL , many voters are “switch hitters” and as such, yeah, I liked Nixon, also voted for a democrat or 2 in my time, I VOTE for who I believe has the VOTERS interest at HEART, and the time has COME in Illinois for us to get rid of ALL those who are running stale government, may they SEE and MEET the Four horsemen or the three Nephites, or whoever.
IT IS TIME!
BE GONE!
Illinois-local, county and state NEEDS to move FORWARD!
It that all be true, then is would seem that the man is a republican in name only. Not a bit surprised as in this town, there are many. It’s easy to see over the last several elections that when there are viable candidates with real conservative values the republican party here does not do enough. Not to mention the multiple invites of liberals to speak.
Chuck Erickson here. After the meeting, I sent Sue Feldkamp the following email: “I do want to say as I said this morning that it was not deliberate that I did not call on you and I was not ignoring you. Not everyone that rose their hand got to speak. Regardless, if you want to address the party breakfast in July about your constructive suggestions or put them in an email to all members of my executive committee, I will certainly give you their email addresses. Please let me know. I regret that you did not get your turn.” It was sent at 9:26 a.m. on Monday. I did not ignore her I was speaking to someone else who got to me first before I could speak to her. That is all I am going to say on that. Secondly, the GOP never had 75 to 100 people attend the party breakfast. I know, I attended those breakfasts and I was the treasurer so I wrote the check for those breakfasts. Regardless, yes, I did call a general meeting to get suggestions. Any many people spoke. I have to run a meeting so I try to get people out by 8:00 a.m. Bill Brady first spoke of the state budget impasse and took five questions. Then I went through announcements. That is all I will say here on that. Finally, I will not discuss on a public forum what the Republican Party did in the local races. I am not going to tell the Democrats who may read this forum. They don’t need to know. But if you want to ask me privately, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.
Chuck Erickson
I did attend Chuck when the room was twice the size with at least twice as many tables. How many precincts have committeemen?
Yes Chuck.. you sent me an email after the meeting. That said, when I finally had that 30 seconds of your time when you tried to slip away from me, after I stood near you waiting till you finished your conversation, it took the gentleman standing next to me who grabbed your attention and pointed out to you that I was waiting to visit with you.
When I started the conversation letting you know my hand was up the entire meeting, you acknowledged that you saw my hand up and you instantly got defensive with me. I was not expecting that. Keep in mind besides you commenting after each comment, you allowed some people to speak multiple times.
I strongly suggest that in the future, if you are serious about growing the Republican Party, that perhaps you recognize that non politicians in the room are every bit as important as anyone else seated in that room.
You lost me as a member…. too bad, as I thought the idea was to grow the community.
Sue, that is not what happened at all. I did not try to slip away at all. The reason the gentleman grabbed me was I was deep in conversation with another individual when you approached. You first word to me was why did you deliberately ignore me. I did not. I said I did not. I said I was trying to make sure I gave everyone a chance to speak. And there were other unelected people that did respond! As I said in my email, I do regret that I was not able to get to you and I will renew my email to you here, and I might add was sent before this blog was posted, that your comments are welcome! If I thought I had all the answers, I would not have asked for you to submit your suggestions. Your suggestions are valuable as are you. But please understand, I have everyone wanting to give suggestions. The executive committee and myself will work on them You decide. I hope you reconsider. Your views are important. I wish you the best. Respectfully,
Chuck,
Just for public record, we waited till you finished talking with the young man and you started walking away.
Perhaps he doth protest too much!
And perhaps we have a difference of opinion! For the record, I stand by what I have said!
I’m with Sue – you run from me too! Maybe it’s just females.
The leadership of the McLean County Republican Party is pathetic. I am not even sure that you can call them real Republicans? In my opinion, the leadership is more Libertarian and are RINO’s.
Their support of local municipal elections is appalling. Now I realize the municipal elections are supposed to be non-partisan, but in the majority of them you can tell which party they represent. For instance everyone knew Mayor Renner is a Democrat, because everyone in the Democrat party was there to campaign and support him financially and otherwise.
Alderman Kevin Lower who IS a Republican, a member of the McLean County Republican’s, a former Committeeman, and a man who has donated time and money to other members in their aspirations for public office, got virtually no support from the local party. Yes, Mr. Wendt met with Kevin’s campaign once. Yes, the local party donated a measly $2,000 to the Lower for Mayor campaign.
Why did he get the minimal support he got? Because he is too conservative for the local party. I donated over $6,000 to the Lower campaign! Three times what the party donated! What a joke, I am a small business owner that is fighting for its livelihood against a “rideshare” company, and I still was able to contribute what I did.
Kevin Lower was too conservative for the progressive’s that are in the McLean County Republican party. I like Lupe Diaz, is he a Republican? Not in my opinion. He is a Libertarian. I like Josh Barnett. Is Josh a strong conservative? Not in my opinion. Josh is more Democrat-lite in my opinion. But, I would support Josh over a Liberal any day.
The Bloomington municipal elections had many candidates in the last election cycle. Gary Lambert, Sue Feldkamp, Greg Rodriguez, Sheheryar Muftee, Lupe Diaz and Kevin Lower. Had the local party supported these people in the municipal elections, we wouldn’t be talking about bike lanes on Washington Street. We wouldn’t be building a new City Hall. We wouldn’t be building a new Library. We would be trying to find ways to save the taxpayers their money, not taking it from them like the current administration.
I could ramble on and on but it won’t do any good because our local Republican Party is not the Republican Party of the past. It’s led poorly, it has been infiltrated by progressives and Liberals. Bloomington had its chance to turn the tables and they pissed it away! My house is for sale, someone please buy it so I can get out of this Godforsaken state!
It is not my intent to respond to every misstated fact. But it is obvious from reading this that you are unaware of what the party did. I suggest you speak with Lupe Diaz. As I have said in a previous post, I won’t divulge that here. I would add the party always stays out of primaries especially this one because the mayoral race had five candidates. We stayed out until Kevin Lower finished second in the runoff. I am the first chairman to commit money in these races. That is all I am going to say. Respectfully submitted,
I don’t expect you to comment with any specifics Chuck. We have discussed this previously via Facebook.
Okay, so you don’t get in primaries. Makes total sense because in the primary you had the choices of a strong ally to the party with a conservative mind or a shock jock that isn’t from the area and that couldn’t hold a job.
The shock jock who appears to have a seizure every time he speaks in public.
Kevin Lower supports your party and has supported your candidates in the past. Could he get an endorsement? No! The Brady’s wouldn’t publically endorse him and the party wouldn’t. Just plain stupidity.
Lupe had no competition with any sense of conservatism in his campaign. Gary Lambert had a conservative challenger that no one had ever heard of. Ward 9 was a huge debacle. A true leader would have spoke to Muftee and Rodriguez to ask one to support the other. They were competing against a Nazi who had NEVER voted in a municipal election before! And then there is Sue Feldkamp. Sue who may not even know that I had picked her in the early meetings of the Lower campaign. We (the Lower campaign committee) wanted someone who was conservative, smart and active in the proceedings of the city. Did you support her against Mathy? No. Why? Likely because Mathy and Barnett are buddies (my opinion).
Why doesn’t the party support these people? Because it’s led by a group of eunuchs!
When I questioned Chuck on his accomplishments, he was quick to brag about the victories of the County races. Big deal. Nobody even knows what the county representatives do! I got Barnett on radio, what did you do for him?
It is my opinion that the local party should be involved in local races. What else are you going to do? The party is declining and has been for years we need a tournequit and you have provided a noose.
Congrats!
Thanks Aaron for your comments. I appreciate them. You are correct. I am not going into specifics. Some candidates were advised that all he or she was going to do was split the vote, with the example of the Fazzini, Decossas and Kramp race several years ago provided to them. I was not the chairman at that time but he tried as well. Respectfully submitted. PS Barnett did not need any help. He had all the resources he need on his own. So he got none.
If you don’t understand it’s a problem when the GOP vice-chair writes a letter to the editor in favor of a liberal progressive, you won’t understand why only elected people attend your breakfasts.
Well, I am not aware of my current Vice Chair writing any letter to the editor about liberal progressives! All I know is have never done so and would not!
That makes you a big part of the problem!
Well if you cannot cite the letter, your charge is unproven and thus unsubstantiated. I am not going to respond to accusations with evidence. Respectfully,
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/opinion/mailbag/election/bloomington-ward/article_a8e18d5c-d2a4-53b9-8851-a9e68b999659.html
https://blnnews.com/2017/01/30/mathy-or-feldkamp-for-ward-1/
I figured you wanted proof about Mathy too. That’s just a little sample. Keep in mind – Renner wanted him.
Well thank you. But he wasn’t the Vice-Chair at the time he wrote it nor did he write in said capacity. What a person does when not serving with me is not my responsibility! But you think whatever you wish. That is also not my responsibility but certainly your right. Respectfully,
Sorry! In that case the GOP has no vetting process. You are where democrats come to infiltrate.
I don’t support controlling people’s thoughts or actions. Not sure what your are demanding. Regardless, this is becoming circular. Infiltrate? I suppose that is for the reason there is no tea party to infiltrate anymore. Hmmm! Respectfully,
The GOP made it clear that conservatives are not welcome.
That is your opinion and your entitled to it. But it isn’t my view. I am seriously done because this will go on forever. Best, Respectfully,
Take a poll at the next breakfast. I bet zero want and TEA members attending. Yep, we’re done!
My final comment is if you are a conservative, you are welcomed in the McLean County Republican Party. Ronald Reagan, by any objective definition, was a conservative. He was criticized by liberals that his views were outdated and did not work anymore. Additionally, he had his critics on his right. that said he was not conservative enough. As an historical fact, even conservatives criticized Reagan, notwithstanding, he maintained a view that the people are not truly free unless government is limited. He said this in his farewell address. He did not say no government, he said limited government. The execution may not have been always perfect but he knew where he stood. As I said, even Reagan had his critics that said he was not conservative enough. We strive to be the party of Reagan, although we may not be perfect in every instance, and anyone can find some complaint about anything at some time, you are welcomed in the McLean County Republican Party. We are merely mortal human beings striving to do the best we can in a world where we are often maligned and unfairly criticized. Good bye and thank you! Respectfully,
Keep in mind the TEA Party gave the House to the GOP. The GOP did nothing to earn it. I love people who quote Reagan, the GOP has been proclaiming his greatness for decades and running from his policies all at the same time. Stand for something Chuck. At this point ANYTHING!