West Cook News

Jeff Leef says Illinois Lottery Control Board Chairman Blair Garber’s social media remarks about East St. Louis being the “shi**hole of the universe” proves just how much of a joke the entire Republican Party has become.

“It pains me to say this, but the Illinois Republican party is a joke,” Leef told the West Cook News. “Leadership is non-existent. We are sorely in need of (Rep.) Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) to start a total revamp from top to bottom.”

In the wake of his Twitter rant, Garber, who was appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and also serves on the Republican State Central Committee, was forced to resign, though many argue the damage stemming from his insensitivity has already been done.

“Anyone can say something stupid or inappropriate in the heat of the moment, but Blair Garber's tweet was not an off-the-cuff remark,” Leef said. “He tweeted it out to the universe. As he is an idiot, he is a fine representative of the current administrative body of the Illinois GOP.”

Leef, a River Forest Republican who is running for the set held by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, a Democrat, in the 7th Congressional District, said the GOP’s reputation is taking another hit by party leaders allowing “neo-Nazi, Holocaust-denier” Arthur Jones to run unopposed in the 3rd Congressional District.

“If the Illinois GOP were even borderline competent, they would have launched a write-in candidate campaign,” he said. “Had anyone in the Illinois GOP thought to inform me that this was occurring, I would have backed out of my race and ran against this monster. Although I am dedicated to the voters of the 7th District, some things are so important you simply cannot allow it to happen.”

Leef said the mainstream media’s reaction to Jones has been predictable.

“This miscreant has been featured on CNN, ABC, and others as well as in The Washington Post,” he said. “I've repeatedly called much of our Republican leadership both craven and unprincipled. Add lazy and incompetent to their resume.”

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