The Southern Illinoisan: "McKenna chosen as new GOP chairman

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SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- Illinois' new Republican Party chairman pledged Saturday to win back GOP power by raising money but also energizing the party on the streets.

The state central committee elected Andrew McKenna Saturday as the party works to stop a downward spiral that has sapped the GOP's power statewide.

McKenna will serve until April 2006, completing the term of Judy Baar Topinka, the state treasurer who agreed to take the job temporarily.

Despite landslide Democratic victories in Illinois for national offices last fall, McKenna pointed to Republican gains in the General Assembly and Supreme Court as momentum builders for 2006. Still, he acknowledged, change will be slow and must start at the grass roots.


Andrew McKenna: Democratic Public Enemy Number One

Anyone think he will be successful in 'energizing the party at the street level'? I think it could happen. We have no reason to let up. We only have a 10-9 advantage in the House of Reps. It's not like we totally dominate the state. We'll just have to work harder to get more people energized on the street level.