West Cook News

Jeff Leef still proudly declares himself a “Reagan Republican,” which makes it all the more difficult for him to digest the stomach-churning depths to which he believes the current GOP has deteriorated.

“I never knew what a craven, unprincipled and politically incompetent group of pimps comprise the Republican Party in Illinois,” he told the West Cook News. “Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of this lot.”

Leef said his harsh assessment in based on his personal experiences, or lack thereof, with party leaders.

“I cannot get anyone in the Republican Party, other than (Chicago GOP Chairman) Chris Cleveland, to even have an unpaid intern return a call or an email,” Leef, the River Forest physician vying in the GOP primary for the seat held by longtime U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) in the 7th Congressional District, said. “This includes ward committeemen, the offices of our state reps, or the offices of (Gov. Bruce) Rauner, (U.S. House Speaker) Paul Ryan (R-WI), and the NRC.”

Leef insists that that’s no way to treat a candidate who truly has the state’s best interest at heart and professes to bleed, old-school Republican values.

Leef has based his candidacy on a platform of greater job creation, better schooling and curbing the staggering homicide rate of young black males in his district.

But Leef insists no one in GOP leadership or beyond has been willing to help him take his message to the masses.

“WTTW says they have no current plans to interview congressional candidates,” he said. "Really? What exactly do they do on 'Chicago Tonight'?”

For all his troubles, Leef said he’s been stalked on Facebook and someone recently left a threatening message for him at work that he’s since reported to police.

“Today was the third time in the last year when a tire on my car has been mysteriously punctured,” he said. “The most recent was today and my tire guy tells me that this one was definitely intentional.”

Still, Leef said he remains a Republican through and through.

“Under no circumstances would I ever become a Democrat; a party which too is more lost and more dishonest than ever,” he said.

The 7th Congressional District includes much of the West Side of Chicago and parts of Bellwood, Broadview Maywood, Oak Park, Westchester and River Forest.