July 29 Morning Edition

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF KELLER: Party chairman Mary Keller: DuPage Republicans facing unity challenges – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190729/party-chairman-dupage-republicans-facing-unity-challenges
(FROM THE ARTICLE: His rise within the ranks of the DuPage Republican Party came one small step at a time, and now Marty Keller is chairman of the political organization that traditionally has found voter favor in the state’s second-largest county. Keller, of Wheaton, got involved in his party first as a precinct committeeman in Milton Township. From that start in 2004, he has stepped into roles as an elected Milton Township trustee and then as the employed executive director of the township’s Community Emergency Response Team; as chairman of the Milton Township Republicans; and then as vice chairman and now chairman of the countywide organization. Keller recently sat down with the Daily Herald to share the party’s outlook after a 2018 election that found Democrats winning an unprecedented number of county, state and national seats. Here is an edited version of the conversation.)
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PHOTO: Casten seeking second term after ‘awesome, humbling’ first months in Congress – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190729/casten-seeking-second-term-after-awesome-humbling-first-months-in-congress
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Casten’s opponent from the Republican Party could be former Wheaton City Council member and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, who held the statewide position during former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration. Or it could be former Wheaton City Council member, state representative and gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives, who ran against Rauner in the 2018 primary. Casten campaign spokeswoman Chloe Hunt said in a news release that both potential Republican challengers would take opposite stands from Casten on issues such as abortion and taxes. “Jeanne Ives and Evelyn Sanguinetti both embrace an extreme partisan ideology that would deny a woman’s right to choose and raise our health care costs,” Hunt said. “They both strongly support President Trump and they both are wildly out of touch with the concerns of the 6th Congressional District.” Ives launched her campaign by filing a statement of candidacy July 18 with the Federal Election Commission. Sanguinetti has been campaigning since April. Sanguinetti’s campaign has criticized Casten for being “out of touch” with his constituents, for rubber-stamping priorities of House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi instead of being “a centrist,” and for saying he wants to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. . .The National Republican Congressional Committee, for example, is calling out Casten and fellow freshman U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of the 14th District for votes related to military spending, saying they both are playing to a “socialist base” and putting “partisan extremism ahead of the safety of our brave troops.”)
— Wage gap was oversimplified – Joe H. Heater, Palatine
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20190729/wage-gap-was-oversimplified

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago is counting on a casino windfall, but Indiana gambling rivals are renovating, expanding – ABDEL JIMENEZ
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-chicago-casino-faces-competition-with-indiana-20190725-6ok4wnepg5dgfdfw23xti6gb5y-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cresco Labs’ 56 marijuana dispensaries around the country soon will have the same name: Sunnyside – Ally Marotti
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-cresco-rebrands-dispensaries-sunnyside-20190729-tqckmdq72vh35br34qbs3apbhu-story.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Affordable housing in thriving Naperville is elusive. This mother of twins knows all too well. – SARAH FREISHTAT and ERIN HEGARTY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-affordable-housing-naperville-st-20190726-4ylxy7adebalnoukff6ezxxcwu-story.html

ABC7
— 48 shot, 8 fatally in Chicago weekend shootings
https://abc7chicago.com/48-shot-8-fatally-in-chicago-weekend-shootings/5427056/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Immigration issues are federal government’s responsibility – Mayor Jim Langfelder (DIERSEN: Concerning immigration, constructively, Democrats have joined with Mexico and with other foreign countries in declaring war on America.)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190728/mayor-jim-langfelder-immigration-issues-are-federal-governments-responsibility
— Lawmakers: Push for affordable housing solutions just beginning – Rebecca Anzel (DIERSEN: What did you do to help you afford better housing? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.) 
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190728/lawmakers-push-for-affordable-housing-solutions-just-beginning

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— A closer look at Davis supporter – PETER ELLERTSEN, Springfield
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-a-closer-look-at-davis-supporter/article_1115aa66-9e21-5473-a3eb-34b9f9eac5a0.html

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Task force to study property tax relief in Illinois – Doug Finke
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20190728/task-force-to-study-property-tax-relief-in-illinois

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois Inmate Numbers Decline – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=288169#.XT7dzBh_OM8

SAUK VALLEY
— Getting older, going broke: Who’s going to pay for long-term care? – Teresa Wiltz (DIERSEN: For those who have pensions and/or Social Security, those payments can/will go toward long-term health care until you die.) 
https://www.saukvalley.com/2019/07/28/getting-older-going-broke-whos-going-to-pay-for-long-term-care/adys0j4/

CHICAGO DEFENDER
— Cook County Invests Half a Million Dollars to Support Pregnant Women and Moms in County Jail
https://chicagodefender.com/cook-county-invests-half-a-million-dollars-to-support-pregnant-women-and-moms-in-county-jail/

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— End censorship of conservative thought – Mike Steffen, Moline
https://qconline.com/opinion/letters/letter-end-censorship-of-conservative-thought/article_e09579b8-04d5-5447-b967-fbc726971e90.html
— This nation has never been so divided – Peggy Huffstutler, Coal Valley
https://qconline.com/opinion/letters/letter-this-nation-has-never-been-so-divided/article_a0b744c2-bc32-55b1-9e5d-03c0a4632f85.html

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois tied for nation’s most lax lawmaker/lobbyist revolving door laws: none. – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-tied-for-nation-s-most-lax-lawmaker-lobbyist-revolving/article_595a07ae-afdd-11e9-a68d-933fde915ad7.html

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Three voters in my precinct speak against the East Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan.
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/512807273-city-of-wheaton-city-council-met-june-24

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— PRESIDENT’S CAMPAIGN CONDEMNS PHONY TRUMP FUNDRAISERS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/07/presidents-campaign-warns-about-phony-trump-fundraising-groups.html
— IT’S OFFICIAL: THE PURPOSE OF TEACHING IS POLITICAL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/07/its-official-the-purpose-of-teaching-is-political.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker shifts on Trump impeachment
https://capitolfax.com/2019/07/29/pritzker-shifts-on-trump-impeachment/

FOX NEWS
— On immigration, Trump speaks for America while Democrats pander to their base – Steve Hilton
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/steve-hilton-on-immigration-trump-speaks-for-america-while-democrats-pander-their-base
— Trump is right – Baltimore mistreated by elected Dems, residents deserve better – Todd Starnes 
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/todd-starnes-trump-is-right-baltimore-mistreated-by-elected-dems-residents-deserve-better

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Donald Trump’s immigration policies on winning streak – Stephen Dinan (DIERSEN: When were you on a winning streak? I was a) during 1972-1974 when IRS promoted me from GS-7, currently $46,554/year, to GS-12, currently $82,579/year and b) during 1986-1988 when GAO assigned me to audits of IRS and promoted me to GS-13, currently, $98,198/year.) 
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/28/trump-immigration-policy-winning-streak-courts/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Immigration top 2020 issue, 3-to-1 over healthcare, illegals ‘affect my life’ – Paul Bedard 
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/immigration-top-2020-issue-3-to-1-over-health-care-illegals-affect-my-life

AMERICAN THINKER
— It’s No Longer about Equality – Jeffrey Folks
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/07/its_no_longer_about_equality.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Minorities achieved legal equality in the 1960s, and they proceeded to claim the equivalent of reparations in the form of affirmative action, minority set-asides, preferential admissions based on race, and thousands of informal arrangements in the workplace granting preference in terms of evaluations and workload. As minorities gained these preferences, some became more aggressive. Some version of the Squad’s tactic of calling out whites and daring them to talk back became commonplace across society. Many Americans have witnessed blacks stepping to the front of the line and expecting to be served first. Many have seen minorities promoted ahead of more experienced whites with the idea that minorities need to be “represented.” But what we see now is different. It is not just society helping out those who have been disadvantaged in the past. It is a form of aggressive prejudice against, disdain for, and potential violence against whites. As I see it, the Squad epitomizes this new stage in race relations. It’s fortunate we have a president who recognizes what these women are about and is willing to stand up to them.)
— Reparations: A flawed stratagem – Sam Younnokis (DIERSEN: From what I see, if the Democrats defeat Trump in 2020, they will appoint “Reparations Czars” in each precinct in America who will determine how much reparations each resident of the precinct must pay. The more of the following that you are, the more reparations that you would have to pay: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/07/reparations_a_flawed_stratagem.html
— Rats and DemocRATS – a natural combination – Ethel C. Fenig
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/07/rats_and_democrats__a_natural_combination.html

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— Demography and the Populists’ Destiny A new book challenges the conventional wisdom on immigration and racism, in defiance of the woke Left. – W. JAMES ANTLE III 
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/demography-and-the-populists-destiny/

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Woke Racism – Victor Davis Hanson
https://www.amgreatness.com/2019/07/28/woke-racism/

BREITBART
— Mexican Women Have Right to U.S. Healthcare, U.S.-Born Children, Says Democrat Senator – NEIL MUNRO
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2019/07/28/mexican-women-have-right-u-s-healthcare-u-s-born-children-says-democrat-senator/
— ‘White Guilt’ Steers Democrat Support for Uncontrolled Immigration – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/28/democrat-opposition-immigration-controls-surges/
— Donald Trump: Al Sharpton a ‘Con Man’ Who ‘Hates Whites And Cops’ – CHARLIE SPIERING
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/29/donald-trump-al-sharpton-a-con-man-who-hates-whites-and-cops/

BLAZE

— Baltimore Sun journalist on CNN says press should stop being afraid of their bias against ‘evil’ Trump being seen as biased In an epic self-own, he says reporters can get people to vote against Trump if they ditch their fear of being called biased. – Caleb Howe (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I am NOT a reporter or journalist because I proclaim my conservative and Republican bias. I would focus on those in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois a) who claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican and b) who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/journalist-says-bias-is-not-biased

DAILY CALLER
— $12K A Day: How White Liberals Profit From Pushing ‘White Privilege’ – JAKE DIMA AND PETER HASSON (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs call you a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things who should be gotten rid of if you do not demonize, denigrate, and condemn individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) 
https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/28/white-liberals-profit-privilege/
— Multiple Voice Of America Reporters Have Posted Anti-Trump Content On Social Media – SHELBY TALCOTT
https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/28/voice-of-america-trump-reporters/
— Are The 4 ‘Housewomen’ Of The Apocalypse Better For Democrats, Or For Trump? – Daniel Oliver
https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/28/oliver-four-housewomen/

TOWNHALL
— Democrat Prospects Are Bleak As The Wacky Pack Takes Over – Kurt Schlichter
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2019/07/29/democrat-prospects-are-bleak-as-the-wacky-pack-takes-over-n2550727
— Trump Should Never Release His Tax Returns – David Thomas Roberts (DIERSEN: Democrats use tax return information to destroy Republicans. In 1978, the Democrats at Money Magazine and the Democrats at IRS used my tax returns to hint/imply/argue/shout that my education deductions were improper and should be disallowed. They hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the graduate business courses that I took at Loyola 1972-1976 and the graduate accounting courses that I had taken at DePaul since 1976 a) were not job-related, b) did not help me carry out my job duties, c) were taken by me to qualify me for a “new trade or business,” d) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and e) were a distraction.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/davidthomasroberts/2019/07/29/trump-should-never-release-his-tax-returns-n2550685
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The latest data available from the IRS showed 2.2 million tax return errors in 2015 without an audit involved. Several years ago, Money Magazine gave a rather mundane sample family tax return to complete to 45 tax professionals and received 45 different tax outcomes, some as much as 160 percent different in the amount of taxes due or refunds to be received. It is literally impossible for anyone with complex tax returns to absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt if our tax professional did it right.)

GOPUSA
— Trump administration’s plan to relocate federal workers hits resistance
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-administrations-plan-to-relocate-federal-workers-hits-resistance/
— ‘America’ and ‘American’ vanish in a college guide for how not to offend
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=73244

PJ MEDIA
— The Democrats, Not Trump, Are the Racists – ROGER L. SIMON 
https://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/the-democrats-not-trump-are-the-racists/

WORLD NET DAILY
— CAN THE 3-HEADED DEMOCRATIC PARTY WIN? Lowell Ponte thumps racist leftists blaming their shortcomings on the right
https://www.wnd.com/2019/07/can-the-3-headed-democratic-party-win/

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Open Borders Devalue Citizenship — and the Rights It Affords – Frank Miele
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/07/29/open_borders_devalue_citizenship_–_and_the_rights_it_affords.html

NATIONAL REVIEW
— How Extreme Is the Equality Act? – JOHN MCCORMACK
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/07/how-extreme-is-the-equality-act/

THE HILL
— Most oppose cash reparations for slavery: poll – MORGAN GSTALTER (DIERSEN: Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion are reparations.) 
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/455099-most-oppose-cash-reparations-for-slavery-poll
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says that Trump is “The Great Divider.”
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/455039-donald-trump-the-great-divider

POLITICO
— Trump will sign budget deal, Mulvaney says – MAYA PARTHASARATHY (DIERSEN: What budgeting experience do you have? I served on the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Executive Committee 1983-1996 and as its Treasurer 1983-1986. I served on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee 2003-2007 and as its Treasurer 2003-2006. Since 1999, I have unsuccessfully urged the Milton Township Republican Central Committee to develop annual budgets, to get those budgets approved by the membership, and to follow those budgets.) 
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/28/mulvaney-trump-will-sign-budget-deal-1438252

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Accuses Black Congressman and Allies of Being Racist, Deepening Feud – Peter Baker
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/28/us/politics/trump-elijah-cummings-baltimore.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater promotes hatred of Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/28/opinion/trump-racist-baltimore.html
— How to Answer Tricky Personal Questions at a New Job Navigating the gauntlet of questions from the new people in your life. – Allie Volpe (DIERSEN: I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. My new Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates asked me lots of personal questions to get information to use against me. They asked questions to confirm that I was conservative, Republican, Missouri Synod Lutheran, 100% German American, draft avoider, a Crete resident 1948-1972, and that my ancestors had been in America since 1844. To paint my wife and I as being undeservedly filthy rich DINKs, they asked me questions to confirm my wife’s employment and job perks, that we owned a home in Wheaton, that we owned three cars – a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, 1978 Chevy Chevette, and a 1972 Corvette, and that we owned a town home in University Park and had rental income from it.) 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/29/smarter-living/how-to-answer-tricky-personal-questions-at-a-new-job.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater promotes hatred against Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/28/opinion/trump-george-wallace-rallies-the-squad.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Kicking Trump out is the important thing. Fights over how to do it shouldn’t get in the way.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kicking-trump-out-is-the-important-thing-fights-over-how-to-do-it-shouldnt-get-in-the-way/2019/07/28/0f3d1086-afeb-11e9-a0c9-6d2d7818f3da_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Donald Trump is American democracy’s worst nightmare come true.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/07/28/donald-trump-is-american-democracys-worst-nightmare-come-true/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says Trump’s attacks on Baltimore are “Louder and more hateful” and an “escalation of his strategy to denigrate diverse, liberal areas.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/louder-and-more-hateful-big-city-leaders-say-trumps-attacks-on-baltimore-are-escalation-of-his-strategy-to-denigrate-diverse-liberal-areas/2019/07/28/45448ad0-b16a-11e9-951e-de024209545d_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Trump thinks racist rhetoric will help him in 2020. The data suggest otherwise. Backlash to Trump’s rhetoric could offset any gains.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/29/trump-thinks-racist-rhetoric-will-help-him-data-suggest-otherwise/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “President Trump’s Baltimore tweets were racist — but he also fails to grasp what ails our cities Decades of racist policies — not absentee congressmen — explain cities’ biggest struggles.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/07/29/president-trumps-baltimore-tweets-were-racist-he-also-fails-grasp-what-ails-our-cities/?utm_term=.b09b006b1cf7

USA TODAY
— Liberal groups seek to make Supreme Court an issue in 2020 presidential race – Richard Wolf (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents seek to make an issue of in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, and in your county? My critics/opponents in my precinct are making an issue of possible Roosevelt Road rezoning issues. Will they blame me for possible Roosevelt Road rezoning that they object to?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/07/28/pack-court-liberals-conservatives-fight-over-supreme-court-size/1821303001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Donald Trump’s depressing racist vitriol brings out the worst in too many Americans.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/07/29/trump-racist-attack-cummings-baltimore-plays-to-supporters-column/1853047001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Administration Boasts of Spending Deal Win Mick Mulvaney says the deal enables Republicans to beat back Democratic policy goals – Andrew Duehren
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-boasts-of-spending-deal-win-11564405377
— String of Wins Lift Trump Re-election bid likely benefited from border-wall ruling and budget deal, even as China fight takes toll – Catherine Lucey and Andrew Restuccia (DIERSEN: When did you have a string of wins? For me, it was a) during 1972-1974 when IRS promoted me from GS-7, currently $46,554/year, to GS-12, currently $82,579/year and b) during 1986-1988 when GAO assigned me to audits of IRS and promoted me to GS-13, currently, $98,198/year.) 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-sees-week-of-largely-positive-news-but-there-may-be-speed-bumps-ahead-11564340764

KIPLINGER
— Should You Move or Stay Put in Retirement? – JANET BODNAR (DIERSEN: Who wants you to move? Members of Group A want members of Group B to move. What percent of those in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois are members of Group A? Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T010-C022-S002-should-you-move-or-stay-put.html

KOENIG RUBLOFF
— FOR SALE: VACANT LOT: 518 West Roosevelt Road, Wheaton – $394,900
http://www.koenigrubloff.com/landlots-for-sale/518-W-Roosevelt-Road-Wheaton-IL-60187-262649747

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What kind of experience do you want your city council member to have? The following are typical city council functions (SEE: https://www.nlc.org/city-councils): “Review and approve the annual budget; Establish long- and short-term objectives and priorities; Oversee performance of the local public employees; Oversee effectiveness of programs; Establish tax rates; Enter into legal contracts; Borrow funds; Pass ordinances and resolutions; Modify the city’s charter; Regulate land use through zoning laws; Regulate business activity through licensing and regulations; Regulate public health and safety; Exercise the power of eminent domain; Communicate policies and programs to residents; Respond to constituent needs and complaints; and Represent the community to other levels of government.” – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.