Lake County Democrats, Republicans Select New Leaders

View the original article here by Steve Sadin.

Leadership is changing in Lake County’s Democratic and Republican parties as the GOP hopes to regain the dominance and control it held eight years ago, while the Democrats aim to expand their control of the county’s elective offices.

State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, was elected chair of the Lake County Democrats on Monday at the organization’s biennial convention in Waukegan. Dawn Abernathy of Mundelein became Lake County Republican Central Committee chair on April 15 in North Chicago.

Abernathy replaces Keith Brin of Highland Park, who chose not to seek reelection after two terms at the helm. Didech takes over for Lauren Beth Gash of Highland Park, who held the job since 2020. She also decided not to continue in the leadership role.

Gash endorsed Didech when she announced she was not planning to continue in her position as chair. She said she wanted to be sure the organization she and others built over the years remains strong.

“Before I made the announcement I would not be running for a fourth term, I wanted to be sure there was a candidate I could fully support,” Gash said. “I am happy Dan Didech offered to run. I’ve worked with him for many years, and he is highly qualified to take the role.”

Both Didech and Abernathy have similar goals — to widen their party’s share of political offices at all levels in Lake County. Republicans held a majority of seats on the Lake County Board until 2018 and now hold only five of the 19 seats. Democrats currently hold all countywide offices.

Making it clear he and the Democrats’ First Vice Chair, state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, are working together as a team, Didech said they want to expand the party’s footprint even more.

“We want to utilize the resources we have to activate people who will protect Democratic incumbents and flip Republican-held seats,” Didech said.

Spending eight years on the Mundelein Board of Trustees, Abernathy recognizes the losses the GOP has had in Lake County since 2018 and 2020, losing control of county government. She plans to use her experience to rebuild the local party.

“It was time for a woman to take the reins,” Abernathy said. “I also have no desire to be anything more, not another elected office or higher in the Republican Party. I can put all my focus on Lake County.”

Saying that numerous factors led to the Republican loss of power in Lake County, Abernathy said the GOP has work to do with voter turnout and possibly changing some perceptions.

“We didn’t have the ‘bench’ trained and waiting,” she said. “We also need to have better outreach to the voters, better-trained candidates and get our messaging out to voters. We also have a lot of voter apathy. This is also something I want to address. People don’t think their vote matters.”

Along with making Democratic gains, Didech said he and Dias also intend to focus on elections for school and library boards throughout the county. There are issues like support for the immigrant and LGBTQ communities, which he said are lacking in parts of the county.

“One of my top priorities as Lake County Democratic chair for the next year will be stopping the MAGA takeover of the College of Lake County Board of Trustees,” Didech said. “Increased turnout is a continual problem,” he added, referring to off-year elections when school and library boards are chosen.

Abernathy, who is a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, said in an email that her focus will be on helping Republican candidates running for the U.S. Congress, the Illinois General Assembly and county offices win in November.

“The Lake County Republican Central Committee is not interested in turning a non-partisan election into partisan politics,” she said in the email. “We have listened to the residents, and they want their elected officials to govern and are tired of the party politics.”

Brin was elected Republican State Central Committee person for the 10th Congressional District, replacing Mark Shaw, who could not seek another term in the office because of term limits. Brin said he wants to help build a stronger statewide GOP.

“The state party’s investment in building up local Republican organizations and infrastructure will begin to yield election results quickly, while also setting the stage for future elections,” Brin said. “I’m ready to put in the time, my skills, and my experience to help our party show Illinois that we can do a better job for their families and communities.”

Gash said she will remain involved with the Illinois 10th Congressional District Democrats, a group she helped found in 2003.