Russ Stewart: Park Ridge Republicans fear party evaporation

[Tweed]

http://www.russstewart.com/2-2-05.htm

"Residents of northwest suburban Park Ridge in general, and Republicans in particular, will soon discover that a process of political evaporation does not necessarily foster a political revolution.

In a historical context, Park Ridge has been a bastion of Republicanism, and "good-government" type Republicans have long governed the city. From 1973 to 2003, the Homeowners' Party, the pseudonym adopted by the local Republicans, had an iron lock on local government.

But, in an implosion of remarkable brevity, the Homeowners' Party has evaporated, and the Republican-backed candidate for mayor -- Howard Frimark -- can't even assemble a 2005 slate of aldermanic candidates backing his candidacy in the city's seven wards. However, a Democratic takeover -- albeit under the pretext of various "independent" candidacies -- is not imminent. Noting the demographic evolution of such suburban cities as Evanston and Oak Park, where an influx of younger, independent-voting couples undermined the Republicans' dominance, Park Ridge definitely is in political transition, but it is not yet a Democratic town.

"I couldn't find quality people" to run for alderman, moans Frimark, a 62-year-old insurance agent and a first-term Park Ridge alderman. "There's a lot of apathy in this town." Frimark, elected as alderman from the 4th Ward in 2003 as a Homeowners' Party candidate, has opted to run for the $12,000-a-year mayor's post as an independent in the April 5 election. An avowed Republican, Frimark was the campaign manager for state Representative Rosemary Mulligan (R-65) in several of her previous races. And Frimark's "Mulligan connection" may or not be helpful, since Mulligan, an outspoken champion of abortion rights, is detested by socially conservative Republicans."

Oh yeah, Republicans are imploding EVERYWHERE. Even in the suburbs with their puesdo Republican parties.

[bluestateguy]

1. Is that in DuPage County?

DuPage gave Kerry 45% of the vote, better than Gore, Clinton, Carter and even LBJ. At the rate things are going, DuPage may be a blue county in 2008, if Democrats run a good nominee, or by 2012.

DuPage has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1852 (though it did vote for TR's Progressive Party candidacy in 1912).

[mopinko]

2. park ridge is suburban cook

right on the edge of the city. very hoity toity, tho.
dupage is getting very blue. the dupage dems have really built themselves a fighting little party. cegalis '06.

[renaissanceguy]

4. No, Cook.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14741193

[renaissanceguy]

3. Park Ridge is in an interesting situation.

It's filled with bigots, but not the kind of bigots that hide behind religion. These bigots have no logic or excuse behind their ideology. At the same time, they believe that they can buy out anybody. A very corrupt town and a terrible place to live.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14741193