Citing Same-Sex Marriage, Lawmaker Bows Out of GOP Chair Search

Illinois Republican State Rep. Ron Sandack is bowing out of the running to be the next state GOP chairman, in part because some party insiders concerns over his support for same-sex marriage.

Sandack, from suburban Downers Grove, withdrew his name early Wednesday. He said he had heard from a number of Republican activists, elected officials and “inside party people” who suggested his public support of same-sex marriage legislation in Springfield might be too controversial for him to get the chairmanship.

But Sandack said he did not feel pressured to withdraw his name.

“The issue is controversial,” he said. “And I don’t wanna be a fight, and that issue to be a fight, when we really oughta be talking about who’s best suited to be the next party chairman.”

Sandack also expressed concerns about dividing his time between running the state party and serving constituents.

The issue of same-sex marriage has been a thorny one for the Illinois Republican Party. Former state GOP chairman Pat Brady resigned last week following an embarrassing public flap over his support for same-sex marriage. Brady’s opponents maintained his support of same-sex marriage wasn’t the reason he had to go, but because he publicly bucked a plank in the party platform, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Sandack echoed that concern Wednesday, anticipating his “yes” vote for same-sex marriage in the Illinois House before the end of the General Assembly’s spring session.

“I am in the state House and I gotta vote my district and my conscience and try and do, you know, both,” Sandack said. “Sometimes that doesn’t comport with the black-letter law of the party platform.”

Sandack said no member of the Republican State Central Committee, the panel of party bosses who will pick the next chairman, encouraged him to drop out.

Sandack’s withdrawal means party bosses now have eight chairman candidates to choose from.

Still in the running is Cook County Commissioner Timothy Schneider, of Elk Grove Village; former Tea Party Congressman Joe Walsh; former congressional candidate Jim Nalepa; former Illinois lieutenant governor candidate Don Tracy; former Cook County State's Attorney candidate Lori Yokoyama; and current Republican State Central Committee members Jack Dorgan, Angel Garcia and Mark Shaw.