Only One Candidate For Commissioner Was Invited To Speak At County Republican Party Meeting

By Gordon HopkinsWhile the Jefferson County Republican Party (JCRP) officially endorsed no candidate for County Commissioner, District 2, it has not gone unnoticed by the other three Republican candidates vying for the job that only one was invited to speak by that organization.Because there were four Republican candidates and no Democrat or other party candidates running, the primary election was the de facto election of the commissioner, barring something unforeseen like a successful write-in candidate.Danielle Schwab, the eventual winner of the primary, spoke at a meeting of JCRP the evening of Monday, May 13, one day prior to the election.When asked if JCRP endorsed any candidates, chair Janice McIntyre told FJN, “No, we haven’t endorsed anyone for anything. Everyone‘s free to make their own individual choices.”The meeting had been postponed from the previous week.Regarding Schwab speaking at the meeting, McIntyre said, “I asked her 6 (six) days before the meeting, when she mentioned that she would like to attend our meeting. We had rescheduled our meeting, we were supposed to meet the first Monday (May 6), but because of the storm forecast, we canceled at last minute.”Schwab confirmed this, “I just happened to RSVP that I was coming and she said you can speak if you want.”FJN confirmed with the other candidates that they had not spoken at any of the meetings and were not invited to speak.When asked for comment, candidate Justin Bennett told FJN via direct messaging, “I find it very interesting!! I do congratulate Danielle on the win though.”As for the incumbent, commissioner Gale Pohlmann, he expressed surprise when learned Schwab had been invited to speak but, other than confirming he had not been asked, he had no comment.When asked if he had been invited, City Councilperson Doug Brown, who also ran for commissioner, confirmed he had not, “I messaged Janice a couple of weeks ago, wanting to and got no response.”Brown was blunt in his assessment, “It doesn’t seem very impartial to to me. The three of us should have had a chance to speak.”When asked why the other candidates were invited, McIntyre blame recent poor health, “I haven’t had the energy to be a good Chairwoman and get in speakers and candidates this important election year. I was also a member of the NEGOP State Central Committee, SCC, but I very recently resigned from that due to my health.”When asked why she did not respond to Brown, McIntyre said via direct messaging, “That was my bad! However, I DO know that I made certain to tell him that he’s welcome to attend our meetings, as are ALL registered Republicans of our county. He should have came (sic), but I shouldn’t have overlooked his request.”JCRP recently added two new officials and McIntyre hopes this will help to avoid such oversights in the future. Fairbury City Councilperson Bradley Kuzelka is now JCRP vice-chairman and Sharon Krueger is secretary.

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