Get ready for the largest annual Republican gathering in Central Illinois! Over 500 Republicans are expected to attend this quality fun-filled family event at Frasca Field (Route 45 and E. Airport Rd., Urbana) on Sunday, September 13^th, from Noon – 3 PM. This year’s event will feature live music, a fun zone for kids, statewide and local elected officials, candidates, and a tasty cookout-style lunch topped off with ice cream and kettle corn!

Click here to see all the fun we’ve been having over the years!

Thanks to our generous sponsors, you won’t find a quality family event this inexpensive all summer! Bring the entire family for only $20, or just $5 for an individual ticket, $2 for children (over age 4)!

Limited event sponsorships and underwriting opportunities are available. If you are interested in supporting our most successful event of the year, please contact Jason Barickman at 217-352-5900 or jbarickman@jbar2.com.

Click on the button below to buy your tickets online TODAY!

You can also reserve your tickets via email or by calling 217-355-3175.

Click here to become a Sustaining Member of the Champaign County Republican Party and reserve your tickets for the June 10, 2009 Sustaining Member Luncheon at Kennedy’s at Stone Creek.

SUSTAINING MEMBER
PROGRAM 2009

PURPOSE: TO FURTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR POLITICAL LEADERS TO BE FURTHER INFORMED ON LOCAL MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICAL ACTION.

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE-$500
Custom diamond & gold Sustaining Member lapel pin or pendant*
Four tickets to Sustaining Members Luncheon - June 10th
Four tickets to annual Fall Festival-Sept 12th
Four tickets to annual Chairman’s Breakfast-October TBA
Periodic insider updates from the Chairman
Invitations to select VIP receptions
Subscription to the GOP e-Newsletter
Special recognition at annual events

PREMIER PARTNER-$250
Custom gold Sustaining Member lapel pin or pendant*
Two tickets to Sustaining Membership Luncheon-June 10th
Two tickets to the Fall Festival-September 12th
Periodic insider updates from the Chairman
Invitations to select VIP receptions
Subscription to the GOP e-Newsletter
Special recognition at annual events

CENTURY CLUB-$100
Custom sterling silver Sustaining Membership lapel pin or pendant*
One ticket to Sustaining Membership Luncheon-June 10th
Periodic insider updates from the Chairman
Invitations to select VIP receptions
Subscription to the GOP e-Newsletter

INDIVIDUAL LUNCHEON ONLY TICKET - $50

Custom Sustaining Membership lapel pins and pendants courtesy of M.J. Reed Jewelers.*

Headlines: GOP Wins!

It was hard not to find a local newspaper or local online media outlet that didn’t feature headlines about the Champaign County GOP’s numerous victories in Tuesday’s elections. What a great feeling it is to say THANK YOU to all of the candidates who sacrificed their time, money and energy all in an effort to bring smart government to our communities. Many Republicans were elected and re-elected to offices all over Champaign County, and a complete list can be found on the County Clerk’s website by clicking here , and check out Illini Pundit’s post-election roundup by clicking here. 

Newly elected GOP candidates in both partisan and non-partisan offices in the City
of Champaign:

Champaign City Council
William Kyles, Kyle Harrison and Dave Johnson
City of Champaign Township Supervisor
Pam Borowski

Upcoming Events

TONIGHT: ANNUAL CITY OF CHAMPAIGN TOWNSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 6:55 P.M. Champaign City Council Chambers
Residents of the City of Champaign are strongly encouraged to attend tonight’s City of Champaign Township Annual Meeting to vote on possible referendum questions to be place ballot. Only residents of the City of Champaign Township will be allowed to vote and must register for a wrist band at the City Council Chambers by 6:55
P.M.

TEA PARTY
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - Noon at West Side Park, Champaign
Over 500 Tea Parties are planned to sweep the Nation this Tax Day. Join local taxpayers for a peaceful rally to
speak out against Congress’ and Obama Administration’s reckless spending your tax dollars. You are encouraged to bring homemade signs. Questions: Contact Mary Jackson at 217-344-3236.

MEET CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI
Saturday, April 19, 2009 - 3:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Merry Ann’s Diner 1 E. Main, Champaign
Tony Pomonis is hosting a meet and greet for Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Andrzejewski at Merry Ann’s Diner on Saturday, April 19th from 3:30 - 5:00 P.M. Adam is schedule to speak at 4:15 P.M. There is no cost to attend this event. Volunteers registration and donations are greatly appreciated.

VOLUNTEER: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE
Saturday, April 19th from 1 - 4 P.M.
Champaign GOP volunteers are needed to help the Champaign County Forest Preserve kick-off National Volunteer Week by participating in a group service day on Saturday, April 19th from 1-4 P.M. If you are available to help keep our forest preserves around the County in fine form, please contact Mark Shelden at markshelden@gmail.com. We need 6-8 volunteers to make this effort a success! Click here to learn more about the day of service.

Delivered by Jason Barickman at the Champaign County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner - March 15, 2009

On behalf of the Champaign County Republicans, let me say welcome, and let me express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of addressing you at this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner. I take a lot of pride in my position in the Party, and I appreciate all the trust and confidence you’ve placed in a young guy like me. Thank you.

It’s a fascinating topic, that is, local politics. Of course, I’m the one who constantly reminds you that in politics, it’s all local. And no matter the state of the political climate – and today’s isn’t so good for Republicans – but no matter the state of the political climate, if we’re going to effectuate change, it’s going to occur from the bottom-up, not from the top-down.

Unfortunately, things are looking pretty bleak these days. You can’t turn on the news without hearing of new lows in the stock market, or new highs in unemployment. We’ve got a President who campaigned on principals of fiscal responsibility, bipartisanship and moderation, but in Governing, he’s doing anything but that in his effort to solve the economic problems that face us as a nation. He and the Democratic Congress claim to be working to stimulate the economy, but instead are aggressively pushing their highly partisan agenda while throwing billions of dollars at problems they seem unequipped to deal with.

Looking at the State of Illinois reveals we are far worse than even the nation as a whole. Here, not only must we confront the same economic problems faced by people across the nation, but Illinois has compiled those problems with a nearly $9 billion deficit and a government that’s been paralyzed by a political disease called corruption. Yes, the ethical crisis once only known to Chicago has spread to Springfield, and with the Senator Burris appointment, now to our Nation’s Capitol. The Chicago Machine’s reach is to all levels of government: Chicago – Daley, Cook County – Stroger; Springfield – Madigans; Washington – Obama. But it’s the Machine’s not so subtle influence right here in Champaign County that has us most concerned: Jacobsson’s largest campaign contributor – Madigan; Blagojevich’s Champaign County campaign chairman – Frerichs; Frerich’s largest campaign contributor – Emil Jones; Frerich’s own campaign chairman – disgraced on the front page of today’s News-Gazette. Is this local corruption? No. But what does it say about Democrat’s willingness to support and promote these types of corrupt and inept political leaders of their party?

Beyond the visible effects of corruption – the improper appointments, the increased cost of government, the decisions made for greed rather than public good – beyond these visible effects lies the unfortunate consequences of a public that’s cynical and jaded. It’s no wonder we have such an absence of people of integrity willing to step forward in politics today.

However, you watch the news and read the papers. I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know. The result is that we’re angry. We’re angry that our state is the punch line of one too many jokes. We’re angry that the President’s solution is to simply spend more money. We’re angry that these same politicians who once intervened in our free markets now claim they have evidence the free market no longer works.

But the thing that I’ve realized is that our anger, no matter how powerful it might be – our anger doesn’t do us a thing. It’s not the anger, but what we do with the energy the anger creates.

We have an opportunity. Particularly in Illinois, the odds certainly seem stacked in our favor. Behind closed doors, Democrats knew they had an issue with Rod Blagojevich in 2006 and Tony Fabri in 2008. They bit their tongues, and one by one, our local Democrat officials lined up behind these poor public servants. They chose politics over policy, and now, that same sitting Democrat Governor is impeached and banned from future public service and that same sitting Democrat Auditor is being paid to keep the lights on, even when he’s never there.

Yes, Republicans have an opportunity, but it’s no certainty. If we’re going to take advantage of Democratic mis-steps, we need to pull together, mobilize our base, and seize the moment. We need to convert the anger we feel, to actions we take.

We know that we too, have made mistakes, but let’s not forget that in Illinois, the Republican Party still remains the party of ethics and values. The public must not forget that it is our Illinois Republican Party who brought the Country a President named Lincoln, who brought the State a Governor named Edgar, and who brought Champaign County a Precinct Committeeman named Fred Welch. These fine men and many more have represented our party so well, and because of that, we must reclaim our rightful ownership of the ethical upper hand in Illinois. As a party, we need to select candidates up and down the ballot that have reputations for honesty and integrity. We need to be willing to stand against those who would tarnish our Party’s reputation. And we need to ensure that our Republican office holders govern for the benefit of the people, not our party.

Our party not only must preach fiscal responsibility, we must practice it. We believe in a government that has limits, and we are the party that condemns pork and wasteful spending. We believe in an open, honest government, and encourage transparency throughout it. This is our identity, but we must reclaim it.

Republicans must remember that we are the party of middle-class America. We are the Party that rewards hard work and common sense. We tell our young people they should not just hope of a better tomorrow, as if the government will make it so. We need more than hope, and so we encourage the young to pursue a better tomorrow, because in America, any man or woman has the same opportunity as the next.

As a Party, we’ve lost the public’s trust in our conservative message, and we’re to blame. We’ve allowed media spin to define us as the party of No, and the party of no solutions. We take pride in saying no to big government, but the conservative message doesn’t end there. The liberal message is one that emphasizes what the country can do for you; conservatives ask what we can do for ourselves, what we can do for our neighbors, and what we can do for our country. The liberal message encourages entitlement, ours encourages inspiration. They off a hand out, we offer a hand up. As such, to the careless and frivolous, those who have extended beyond their means, made irrational decisions, and blame the government for its failure to protect them from themselves, we offer this: tough times for those bad decisions, but a hope for a better tomorrow because in America, anyone can achieve success if they start over, work hard and live within their means. The Democrats claim we’re a party that offers no help in economically troubled times, yet we do; and to those who do work hard and do live within their means, yet still catch bad breaks, the Republican Party offers them a safety net, but just not a hammock.

So what, then, of our Republican Party for tomorrow? I can tell you that in Champaign County, we’re well on our way to electoral success. We’re a County of 118 precincts, and only a few years ago, we had less than 30% of them filled; today we’re above 70%. In recent elections, we’ve seen Democrats sweep Illinois and the nation, yet Champaign County hasn’t budged. Obama carried 58% of our County, yet we came within a hair of picking up Democrat seats. Why? Today the Champaign County Republicans are unified and have an incredible grassroots organization. But most importantly, Champaign County Republicans continue to recruit the better candidates with the stronger message. We have little control over national political movements, but I can tell you, in any other year, Brad Jones, Tony Pomonis and Will Kyles would have proclaimed victory last year. Thank you, guys, you made us proud and I know I’m not the only one that wants to see you run again. Will, Pam, Rex, and the others of your on the ballot next month – the opportunity is yours for the taking.

Folks, I know the Republican Party has taken a beating. I know sometimes it’s tough to go out there, head high, explaining our conservative message. But particularly in Illinois, Republicans have been silent for too long. It’s time we put our past behind us and its time we move our party forward.

Right here in Champaign County, we’re proud to be Republicans; and we’re proud to be conservatives. And so I ask you, if you believe what I believe, and if we act on what we believe, can’t we Republicans take back our claim to being the party of ethics and hard work and inspiration, not only in Champaign County, but throughout the Land of Lincoln?

Thank you.

Champaign County Republicans have announced the details of their upcoming annual Lincoln Day Dinner. US Congressman Mark Kirk, a Champaign native, will be the guest speaker on Sunday, March 15, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., at the IHotel and Conference Center. The primary purpose of the event is an annual celebration and reflection on the strengths and goals of the Party. Champaign County Republican Chairman Jason Barickman will provide an annual “State of the Republican Party in Champaign County” address. Each year the event draws over 200 local Republicans. Guests will have an opportunity to speak with local elected officials and candidates running in the upcoming election.

Congressman Mark Kirk was born in Champaign, and is serving his fifth term in the US House of Representatives on behalf of Illinois District 10. Rep. Kirk has been noted as a rising star in the national Republican Party. In addition to his congressional duties, Rep. Kirk was the first active member of Congress to serve in an imminent danger zone since 1942 when he deployed to Afghanistan as a Naval Reservist this past December.

The evening will kick off with a VIP reception with Congressman Kirk at 5:00 p.m., and will be followed by dinner and a program at 6:00 p.m. All proceeds from the event help support the operations of the County Republican Party.  Tickets maybe purchased online or by calling 217-355-3175. Dinner tickets are $60.00 per person or $100.00 per couple. Tickets for the VIP reception and dinner are $100.00 per person or $175.00 per couple. Event sponsorships are available by contacting Jason Barickman at 217-352-5900.

Champaign County Republican Central Committee

Cordially Invites You to Our

 Annual Holiday Party

Thursday, December 4, 2008

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

88 Broadway Bar
Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana

Appetizer buffet and drinks will be served.

Kindly R.S.V.P. by November 26^th

Click here to purchase tickets online.

To order by mail, download order form above, and mail to:

 Champaign County Republicans, P.O. Box 764, Champaign, IL 61824

Please make checks payable to “Lincoln Club of Champaign County”

Like you, I felt a sense of frustration on Tuesday evening.  By election night, I suppose there was some part of me that accepted the national trends moving against our Party; however, I refused to allow that to dampen my spirits on our local races.  We all worked extremely hard on several campaigns, and at the end of the day, we have a lot to be proud of.

In reviewing my notes from only a few months ago, I recalled that our Executive Team agreed that one of our biggest challenges locally would be “holding our own.”  This meant that we had county and local Republican elected officials (incumbents) who would be challenged, if for no other reason that the Democrats hoped to ride the Obama coattails.  At the end of the day, Obama carried Champaign County (a resounding 58% to 40% over McCain), yet EACH AND EVERY ONE of our Champaign County Republican elected officials retained their seats.  Many of our incumbents faced strong, aggressive opponents.  However, all politics is local, and our incumbents made a clean sweep in the polls.  My congratulations to our Champaign County Republican incumbents in contested races:  

* Congressman Tim Johnson led our local ticket, taking an impressive 57% of the vote in Champaign County.

* State Rep. Bill Black faced strong opposition and prevailed with 68% of the vote in Champaign County.

* County-wide incumbents facing tough challenges: Barb Frasca (winning with 56% of the vote), Linda Frank (55%), and Duane Northrup (53%).

* Many of our County Board Republicans faced opposition, yet each prevailed.  Alan Nudo’s race was most impressive.  Alan was appointed to his County Board seat and had never run for office.  He took 61% of the vote against a very formidable opponent, and assured Champaign County Republicans that he’s a strong candidate who campaigns extremely hard.  We needed to find a strong advocate of the business community when Scott Tapley left our community; thankfully, we found that person in Alan.

* Of course, we had many more incumbents on the ballot who faced no opposition (Dan Rutherford, Shane Cultra and Chapin Rose).  Congrats!

In a year when Obama swept the country and Democrats picked up numerous US House and Senate seats, Champaign County Republicans put forth a terrific selection of candidates to challenge incumbent Democrats.  We set high expectations: local victory in spite of national Democratic trends.  I am extremely proud of our candidates – we had some of the most qualified, hardest working candidates this County has ever seen.  Running for public office is – by no means – an easy task.  It takes a toll on your personal life, pulls you away from work, and subjects you to both public criticism and praise.  On behalf of all Champaign County Republicans, THANK YOU to Frank Calabrese, Brad Jones, Janie Miller-Jones, Will Kyles, Corben Rice, Tony Pomonis, and Stephanie Dold.  In any other year, many of these candidates would have easily prevailed on election night. 

Finally, I want to take an opportunity to thank the hundreds of you (literally) who helped this election cycle.  I don’t remember an election that had so many volunteers actively engaged…many for the first time.  We knocked on thousands of doors, stuffed and mailed thousands of letters, blasted precincts, made phone calls, wrote letters to the editor, and opened our wallets in support of our candidates.  Please send Kristin Williamson (kristin@champaigncountyrepublicans.org) a thank you e-mail – she put together an unprecedented Get Out The Vote organizational effort.  Also, Jim McGuire (jimmcgu@comcast.net) did a phenomenal job as Champaign County Coordinator for McCain-Palin (just imagine how many yard signs Jim put up for McCain-Palin, as well as our local candidates.)  There isn’t enough time, space, or bandwidth to name all our volunteers, but please know that I appreciate all your efforts.  

Thank you, again, for all you do for OUR PARTY.  We’re already working on the 2009 Municipal Elections, and 2010 is right around the corner.  I look forward to working with each of you on behalf of our candidates.  As always, I value your input, and welcome any comments you have on this election cycle and moving forward.

Towards a stronger Republican Party,

Jason

Get them while they’re hot!!! McCain/Palin signs have arrived at GOP HQ, and they will not last long.    Be sure to pick up signs for our local candidates too!

When:  Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. While supplies last!

Where:  Republican HQ 2919 Crossing Court, Champaign (corner of Duncan Windsor Rd., inside the law firm of Bartell & Barickman).

McCain/Palin signs are paid for by volunteer donations.  There is a suggested donation of $5 per sign.