Olson Wins Downers Grove Straw Poll

Check out the article on Illinois Review's website. "Olson Wins Downers Grove Straw Poll" (November 1st, 2009)

Olson wins Downers Grove GOP straw poll

If DuPage County's largest township GOP organization can predict the winner of next February's primary, DuPage County could elect a woman to be county board chairman in 2010.

That's because DuPage County is home to Illinois' most concentrated Republican population, and whomever DuPage chooses in next February's GOP primary as the party's candidate for county board chairman is likely to be the next board chairman. Two women and two men have entered the race thus far -- DuPage County Board member Deb Olson and State Senator Carole Pankau along with State Senator Dan Cronin and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso.

With the current board chairman Bob Schillerstrom side-stepping a re-election bid and instead running for governor, that all-important race for county board chairman is wide open.

While most are straw polling statewide candidates, 500 Downers Grove GOP participants focused on the county board chairman race in mid-October at their annual Guardians of Freedom event. As member Gianno Caldwell wrote, urging Illinois Review to cover the story, "The chairman's race sets the tone for DuPage County."

The event featured an interactive opportunity for Republican voters to meet the four candidates for DuPage County Board Chairman, hear the ideas they each bring to the table, and then rank them based on those ideas and their performance in the debate. Pat Brady, the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Party for the state of Illinois, moderated the debate.

Debra Olson, current County Board Member, was the winner of the straw poll, edging out Burr Ridge
Mayor Gary Grasso followed by Illinois Senators Carole Pankau and Dan Cronin.

Upon hearing of her victory, the township reports Olson said, “I am truly humbled by this honor. Downers Grove Township has every reason to be proud of a very successful event, giving the people an opportunity to make their own decisions based on the facts. I think they chose me because I can speak to what I’m already doing for DuPage County and the others can only say what they will do. The voters know I make good on my promises.”

This is a race to keep an eye on. Local insiders willing to speculate predict the race will eventually come down to a tough bid between Olson and Cronin, who is also DuPage County GOP chairman.