John Curry - 32nd Ward Republican Committeeman

Proven Leadership

In 2007, John Curry was appointed 32nd Ward Republican Committeeman by Cook County Republican Central Committee Chairman Elizabeth Doody Gorman.  Previously, John was elected 32nd Ward Republican Committeeman in 1996 and 2000, and thus served two four-year terms in that position (1996-2004).

Summary of Accomplishments

* Appointment of Republican election judges and precinct coordinators

* Improved Republican vote by over 26%

* Issued regular Republican Party mailings

* Issued first Republican sample ballots within the ward

* Organized regular Republican events within the ward

* Instituted awards for Republican volunteers within the ward

* Instituted ballot security programs for elections within the ward

* Raised funds for Republican campaign efforts

* Instituted phone call system for ward Republicans

* Slated and elected as alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention representing the ward

* Appointed Treasurer of the Cook County Republican Party in 2002

The Position of Ward Committeeman

The Ward Committeeman is the chief party official of his city ward.  It is a party position for which there is no pay or compensation.  The position was created by Illinois law, and it is an elected position, the election for ward committeeman being held on the General Primary Election, which for the coming term is on February 5, 2008.  (The description here of the position of Republican Ward Committeeman both in law and by custom applies equally to the position of Democratic and Green Ward Committeeman for the Democratic and Green Parties.)

The primary job of the Republican Ward Committeeman is the appointment of Republican precinct election judges in the ward and ward precinct captains or precinct coordinators.  No other official has the power to appoint such persons within the ward.  Informally, the Republican Ward Committeeman is expected to conduct and supervise within the ward the Republican Party campaign for its candidates standing for election in the General Election in November.  This work includes the dissemination of campaign literature and material promoting Republican candidates and involvement in "get out the vote" efforts on election day.

Each Republican Ward and Township (suburban) Committeeman together comprise the Cook County Republican Central Committee, and each Committeeman enjoys a weighted vote (based on Republican party primary election vote within his ward or township) on the Central Committee.  There are 50 Ward Committeemen and 30 suburban Township Committeemen on the the County Central Committee.  The Central Committee recruits and may slate candidates for county-wide office in Cook County, such as the office of County Board President and State's Attorney.  The Central Committee also coordinates the County general election campaign effort with the Illinois Republican Party for congressional and state-wide Republican candidates.  The Ward and Township Committeemen also meet in convention to elect the Cook County Republican Chairman, who is empowered to run and direct the Cook County Republican Organization and Central Committee.  The current Cook County Republican Chairman is Elizabeth Doody Gorman, who also serves as a Cook County Board Commissioner for the southwest suburbs. 

John's Record as Committeeman

Before John began serving as Committeeman in 1996, there had not been an organized effort on behalf of the Republican Party in the 32nd Ward in many years.  His immediate predecessor did not even live in the ward and had appointed no judges, no precinct coordinators, and no precinct captains.  The historical record seems to indicate that approximately one in ten voters in the ward at that time voted Republican.  It is not known that any Republican candidate ever carried the ward before that time.

After John was elected in 1996, he improved the status of the Republican Party in the 32nd Ward considerably.  He held regular Republican events within the ward for the first time.  At these events, he instituted the practice of presenting awards for Republican volunteers who provided excellent service to the Party within the ward.  He actively recruited and appointed Republican election judges and precinct coordinators.  (He also obtained the discharge of ineligible election judges.)  John also instituted ward-based ballot security programs within the ward to combat voter fraud.  An informal survey of election results since 1996 indicates that John's work improved the Republican vote within the ward by more that 26%.  As of 2004, the Republican vote within the ward was improved to the extent that approximately one in four voters in the ward voted Republican.  In 1998, the ward voted Republican for Governor for the first time in anyone's memory.

In every general election during his service as Ward Committeeman, John has generated a Republican sample ballot for use by Republicans within the ward.  He also performed regular Republican mailings for Republican voters in the Ward.

John's leadership in the ward was recognized when he was slated to run as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention for the 4th Congressional District in 2000.  He was further recognized by his appointment as Treasurer for the Cook County Republican Organization and Central Committee in 2002.

Polish Community Interests

The 32nd Ward has a long history as a Polish-American community.  The six-corners of Ashland, Division, and Milwaukee, just outside the ward, was once considered the "Polish Downtown".  Nelson Algren, the famous Chicago writer who wove many stories about the Polish-American city experience into his works, lived just outside the ward.  St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, which still has Mass said in Polish, is located in the Ward.

John Curry has always supported the interests of Polish-Americans in his political career.  He attended the Centennial Celebration of St. Mary of the Angels.  He was a strong supporter of the Solidarity Freedom movement in Poland during the Communist era.  One prominent Polish-American in the ward has stated:  "John has been good for our community."

Ukrainian Community Interests

The "Ukrainian Village" community of Chicago is almost entirely located within the 32nd Ward.  John Curry has always been supportive of the interests of a free Ukraine and of Ukrainian-Americans.  Prominent Ukranian-American public official State Senator Walter Dudycz endorsed John as Ward Committeeman when he served in the State Senate.  Several years ago, John spoke out on the Bruce Dumont radio show in favor of American asylum for Ukrainian refugee Walter Polavchek.  John later attended the citizenship naturalization ceremony for Walter Polavchek in Washington, D.C.  As President of the Illinois Conservative Union, John regularly advocated freedom from communism for the nations of Eastern Europe.