Lake County Gazette

The Fremont Township Republican Organization has moved to endorse state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) in her bid to become governor.

“The Republican Committeemen of Fremont Township voted unanimously to endorse Rep. Jeanne Ives for governor of Illinois,” Fremont Township Republican Organization Chairman Glenn Garamoni said in a press release. “Gov. (Bruce) Rauner turned his back on the campaign promise of conservative reforms with no social agenda. After three years, the families and businesses of Fremont Township have experienced no financial relief, and practically no improvement in the 'state of the state.'”

The group’s decision to throw its support behind Ives comes after members elected not to endorse any candidate during Rauner’s first run in 2014.

Garamoni said conservatives were moved to speak out this election-cycle by Rauner’s ongoing habit of betraying the base on issues critical to them, such as signing abortion expansion bill HB40 into law.

“The governor has offered only token and mostly inconsequential reforms to reverse the steep decline of Illinois: culturally, morally, and financially,” Garamoni added in the release. “He is no longer trusted by the base of his party and cannot win the 2018 election without the unified, enthusiastic support of Illinois Republicans."

As for Ives, Garamoni said she has consistently stood up for the interests of families and business, even when the odds were heavily stacked against her.  

“She has kept the promise that she made to her constituents, to be a ‘lobbyist for the taxpayer,'” he said. “We would like to see her integrity and commitment replicated at all levels of government. We are confident that Ives has the good character that we look for in a leader, and the policy insight and political will to lead the charge in Springfield, for a better Illinois.”

Ives said she is proud to have the support of the Fremont Township Republican Organization, saluting it as the grassroots of the Republican Party.

“Their endorsement highlights how critical the relationship between state and local government will be in solving our state’s most urgent problems,” she said in the release. “Their support is tremendously important to our campaign’s fight to deliver the conservative reform agenda that Gov. Rauner promised, but deserted in favor of the agenda of Chicago Democrats.”