North Cook News

The Republicans of Maine Township group has endorsed its first three local races for the June 28 primary election.  

"These candidates are extremely talented individuals who hold the same core values as RoMT (fiscal responsibility, personal accountability). They are proven leaders and will work diligently to improve our state and local township. Podgorski, Morrison and Lupo have our full support," committeeman James Stinson said in a statement. 

The group is endorsing Matthew Podgorski, Cook County Commissioner, 9th District, Sean Morrison, Cook County GOP Chairman, and Michael Lupo, State Representative, 55th District. The selections are meant to represent the values of the Republicans of Maine Township, which will be undergoing a relaunch on April 28 at Cafe La Cave. 

"Local families deserve to live in a healthy community where they can afford to raise their families and not fear for their safety," Podgorski said.

Podgorski is running on a "tough-on-crime" campaign in the wake of historic crime rates. He is the son of a retired Chicago police officer and the father of two school-aged children in Park Ridge, on Chicago's Northwest Side. 

Morrison, the 17th District Cook County commissioner, recently took aim at former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and the state’s Democrats saying Madigan "and many other politicians operated a scheme of self-dealing. If convicted he and others should go to jail." 

“The outdated and out-of-touch policies are making our communities less safe, are making our education standards decline, and are making our taxes entirely too high," Lupo stated. "Middle-class families face increasingly challenging conditions yet go unheard by those in Springfield who only listen to the politically connected. I will put people, not politicians, first as a state representative.”

Lupo announced his candidacy in February. He is the owner and operator of a beverage service started by his father, as well as two other companies. The 55th District encompasses portions of Leyden, Maine, Northfield, and Norwood Park townships and precincts within the 41st Ward.