Oberweis Only Republican Candidate Responding to City Club Debate

Jim Oberweis is the only Republican contender accepting the debate challenge issued by The City Club of Chicago (of which I’m chairman and Jay Doherty, president and CEO). Incredibly no other Republican candidate has accepted despite repeated invitations extended by the Club. The date is Wednesday, January 25, noon, at Maggiano’s banquet hall. No responses have been received from State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, State Sen. Bill Brady and Ron Gidwitz. If no responses are forthcoming, the entire presentation will be given over to Jim Oberweis. Doherty, debate coordinator Paul Green and I feel that Oberweis shouldn’t be penalized if the others won’t come. Assuredly, having the room to himself when the others have either declined or not responded will be a big plus to the dairy magnate.

Similarly, the City Club will be sponsoring a Democratic gubernatorial debate featuring Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Edwin Eisendrath. No date has been set but challenger Eisendrath has indicated he will be present whenever the debate is set. No response has been heard from Gov. Blagojevich. Similarly to the Republican situation, if there is no interest from the governor, Eisendrath will have the floor to himself.