New Will Co. GOP Chairman Wants To Beat Glasgow, Walsh

JOLIET, IL - Two elected offices in Will County government that have been controlled by long-time Democrats are definitely vulnerable in next year's elections, says George Pearson, the new Will County Republican Central Committee chairman. Pearson told Joliet Patch he likes his party's prospects in the race for Will County State's Attorney as well as Will County Executive.

James Glasgow is now in his 15th consecutive year as the Democratic State's Attorney after retaking political power in 2004. Glasgow also served two four-year terms during the 1990s.

As for the Will County Executive, Larry Walsh Sr. is also finishing up his fourth consecutive term as a Democrat. However, Walsh has been battling a second bout of cancer since December, and, according to Pearson, there has been political infighting within the Will County Democratic Party, and that makes Walsh's position vulnerable heading into 2020.

Pearson said that some within Will County's Democratic circles wanted Walsh to step down so State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant would become the new County Executive. Pearson said he's also aware of at least one male Democrat who might want to succeed Walsh.

Pearson said there are two questions that need to be resolved in the near future: who is actually running the Will County Executive Office on a daily basis these days and is Larry Walsh Sr. running for a fifth term in 2020?

"If he's not running for a fifth term, who's running?" Pearson asked on Sunday.

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In another key political race, Pearson believes the Republicans have a strong shot at winning the Will County State's Attorney's Office. Glasgow has ran the office since defeating Jeff Tomczak in 2004 after losing the office in 2000.

"Crime is rising in Joliet, and we've had a rash of car break-ins and burglaries to the east," Pearson said. "It's getting to the point that those who are causing the commotion, those offenses, they no longer fear the justice system."

The Illinois Sunshine website that tracks local and state political campaign donations shows Larry Walsh as having $191,410 available in his campaign coffers as of April 28. However, Walsh's campaign has not raised any new funds since last November.

As for Glasgow, his political campaign has raised a total of $104,063, including $16,140 in new funds just last week, the Illinois Sunshine website shows.

The following contributions to Glasgow's re-election coffers were reported on April 23, according to Illinois Sunshine. They are as follows:

• $5,000 Kozol Bros. Inc.
• $5,000 AFT Local 604 COPE II
• $1,140 Tracy Johnson & Wilson
• $1,000 O'Halloran, Kosoff, Geitner & Cook, LLC
• $1,000 IBEW Illinois Pac
• $1,000 Jerry & Lorraine Davidson
• $1,000 Iron Workers Local Union #444
• $1,000 Herb Lande

At the moment, Glasgow has not made a public announcement about his candidacy for 2020, but Pearson assured Patch that Glasgow will be seeking another four-year term of office.

"Oh yeah, he's definitely running," Pearson said.

"We have five viable candidates seeking the State's Attorney's Office," Pearson said on the GOP side. "There's a lot of rumblings in the courthouse about justice not being served. This is why society is falling apart. People move to Will County for a better future, for a better way of life, and I would like to know where these elected officeholders stand on issues like countywide illegal immigration and the Second Amendment."

And if Walsh doesn't run for county executive next year, Pearson said, that presents a great opportunity for the Republicans to regain control of that office.

"We won't be running against the machine that Larry Walsh had built," Pearson said.

Who is George Pearson, new Will County Republican Chairman?

George Pearson is a former United States Sailor who served as the Executive Director of the Will County Republican Central Committee, currently services as its Chairman.

He has worked as a Republican campaign manager and strategist for multiple federal, state and local races. Pearson, a recipient of both the Tim O’Shea Academic and Leadership awards, has been a contributing commentator and analyst on WGN-TV since 2018. Pearson is the Republican view of the WGN-TV “Political Duo.”

His political commentaries have also been featured on AM560 The Answer, The Talk of Chicago WVON 1690 and ABC-7. George Pearson currently serves as the Chairman of the Will County Republican Central Committee.

- George Pearson's bio information was provided to Patch