McKenna Admits Directing GOP-funded Poll to Include his Name

The Illinois Republican Party has reprimanded its former chairman, gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna.

The state party commissioned a poll last April about how prospective candidates would fare.In a statement ... McKenna admits that it was under his urging as chairman that the party pay for the poll, and under his instruction that it include his name as a possible candidate for governor.At the time ... no one knew he was going to actually run. McKenna stepped down as chairman in August, and launched his campaign in October.

An inquiry by the party's leading State Central Committee has now concluded McKenna was in the wrong.McKenna says he's sincerely sorry.

The new chairman, Pat Brady, says he takes McKenna at his word that any violation of the party's spirit and bylaws was unintentional.

"The central committee reviewed it, and found what it found, and we have a process", says Brady. "We have to protect the integrity of that party. And we went through that process and we're satisfied with the conclusion."

Brady says the matter is now closed. McKenna does not have to reimburse the party, or take any other actions.

But at least one other candidate for governor ... DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom ... criticizes McKenna for tapping into party resources will laying the groundwork for his own campaign bid. He says the conduct shows McKenna's not the "honest government outsider" he purports to be.