Kankakee Times

George Pearson, former Will County Republican Central Committee executive director, is running for Republican State Central committeeman in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District in Wednesday's election. Pearson agreed this week to a question-and-answer interview by email with the Kankakee Times.

Question: Why are you running?

Answer: At Great Lakes Naval Academy, every recruit division commander drilled into us the mantra, "Attention to detail! (and you'll never foul [get entangled])." During my nautical science classes, it was hammered into us the importance to "stay a true course." Often times, we lose our way. We become distracted by ensuing chaos, by the thundering of crashing waves or the brewing storm on the horizon. Then we lose focus, panic sets in and we veer off course. I was taught by my father, reinforced by the Navy and at the police academy, that fear and panic will destroy you. All too often I have seen my party, the Republican Party that I hold so dear, operating out of positions of fear and panic, and it has been devastating.  

For example, in 2003 I witnessed my party attack our sitting U.S. senator, the first Republican to win the Illinois U.S. Senate seat in 20 years, forcing him to "retire" after serving only one term. That led to a vicious 2004 primary of a bruised and battered victor whose 1999 sealed divorce was made public by some very disreputable and unscrupulous political hacks ruining his campaign. So, out of fear, the Republican State Central Committee, the Illinois GOP, dumped him in the final weeks of the general election. The SCC had no one willing to jump into a race at the last hour, so "we" panicked. The steering committee brought in an outsider by the name of Allen Keys. The rest of that story ends with a young state senator who had barely completed his first term before becoming a U.S. senator and midway through that term, was thrust into the limelight at the Democratic Convention, becoming the 44th U.S. president of these United States. Those two terms lead to our current 45th president.

Those decisions and others like it have led to a great chasm in our party. I have witnessed Republicans support Democrats over mire friendship believing those same Democrats would have their back. However, that is rarely the case.  It has been like watching Charley Brown attempt to kick the football being held by Lucy.

I am guided by a set of principles and by those phrases from my training days; that every mission, every task, every job I am placed, I am mandated to pay attention to the details and make course corrections to disentangle situations. I believe the state party has lost its true course and is endanger of running aground. I am running to assist with righting this ship before the Illinois GOP is relegated to the pages of history. I am committed to finding and supporting Republicans whose desire is to serve the good people of Illinois with sound conservative principles and not their fleeing political agenda. I want to help steer this party to multiple paths of victory.

Q: What is your background?

A: I have lived in Will County since 2001, where my wife and I build our first home to escape the death grips of crooked Cook County government. I raised my family right here in Illinois. I am the father of four remarkable children; two young men serving in the Army and Air National Guard and two beautiful daughters still in school. I am a former police officer where I have been awarded several times for leadership, academic achievement and Meritor Service in and around my communities. I served in the United States Navy where I was acknowledged for leadership, innovation and distinguished service.  I graduated as RPOC from Great Lakes Naval Base and earned the "Honor Recruit" award. I served as a village of Monee trustee, the chairman of the village of Monee Fire and Police Commission, the interim executive director for the Will County Republicans where I helped raise funds, train candidates and set the message.  I still serve as the Monee Township 8th Precinct committeeman. I have worked on and for several good campaigns throughout the 2nd Congressional District, even when it was the 11th (Congressional District) before the last remap. I have represented some of best men and women as their campaign manager and/or coordinator. I volunteered for Marty Ozinga's Congressional bid against Debbie Halvorsen. I worked as the campaign coordinator for David McAloon and Isaac Hayes for Congress. I was the campaign manager for Brian Woodworth and Dr. Nick Stella for Congress. I worked for Dr. Eric Wallace on his bid for U.S. Senate. I volunteered for Judy Ogalla for Will County Board and Heather Van Cleave Farquhar for CM201u School Board.  I consulted for local elections in Monee, Calumet City and University Park. I have spoken at several tea party events in Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Iroquois and Will counties. I have been a featured guest on several news broadcasts from ABC 7, NBC 5 and more frequently on WGN Channel 9. I have had several radio interviews on WLS AM890 and WIND AM560 to WVON 1690AM to discuss various political and public policy issues as well as delivering a clear message as to who we are as Republicans and what our true agenda should represent; the voters of Illinois.

Q: How will your success as a member of the Will County Republican Central Committee transfer to the State Central Committee?

A: Great question! My success in WCRCC was based on my ability to change the mindset of how politics strategy, a complete paradigm shift. I asked some simple but difficult questions, "Why haven't we had more political wins? Why have we not done a better job at recruiting the next generation? A better job at training next eligible candidate and getting good Republicans motivated and involved?

Our platform is our guiding light and our SCC is supposed to help with that direction and ensure our candidates hold true to that platform, period.  My success in Will has been because we try hard to stay true to the platform and support candidates that adhere to those guiding principles, that is what makes Will County successful.  Hopefully, I can bring that zeal to win again back to the Central Committee.  I will ask the tough questions and force analytical thinking; push for a real strategy to victory and define what victory truly means to all of us.  I will inspire, I will encourage, and I will confront for resolution, not conflict. Above all, I will ask each person, what is their "Why"?

Q: What are your goals as a member of the State Central Committee?

A: My goal is the adaptation of a solid messaging campaign and real engagement on every issue. When our elected officials earnestly engage with all of our voters, we win hearts and minds. I want to rid ourselves of talking points and to have real conversations to connect with people. I will share my ability to draw in folks looking for a voice of reason and real passion, not hyperbole.  I will find and help develop candidates to challenge all elections. That is my goal, that is my vision and that will be our success. Civil engagement has always prevailed because people want to be challenged, they want to know if they are doing the right thing.  I have been taught from a young age that "iron sharpens iron." My success will be measured by our Republican candidates' acceptance by the voters, My goal is to remind our candidates that it is ok to confront wrong, that it is good to stand on our Party platform and principles and be not deterred by childish name-calling and labels. I have a little experience with that.

Q: Why are you the best candidate for State Central Committee?

A: Today, I have a fresh perspective and the ability to sit in a room with anyone to have a real discussion and/or an honest debate about Illinois' present state. Today, I have better ideas to move our party and our state forward. Today, I have a better course of action to regain lost grounds in education, economics and community safety. Today, I have a better message that really is inclusive without the divisive actions and threats made to corral, check and chastise our candidates and elected officials. Today, I am the better of the two choices in the 2nd CD.  Who knows what tomorrow may hold, but for today, I am ready, willing and able to face those challenges and create a game plan to overcome them.

Q: How will you support the Republican Party platform?

A: I will support the state platform as I have the Will County and National Republican Committee Platform for the last 29 years, with honest debate and sincere engagement with voters and with those elected and appointed Precinct Committeemen within the 2nd Congressional District. Our current platform was ratified by the elected/appointed Precinct Committeeman and I will take the oath of office (once again) to support that platform. I will not support any changes to the current platform without due debate and consultation with every precinct committeeman within the 2nd CD. I will push for and support all Republican candidates who adhere to our state and national platform. Support is earned, it is never given.