Shaw Removed as GOP Vice Chair, is Tracy Next?
GOP Central Committeeman Mark Shaw speaks to reporters in 2017. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
The Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee has removed Vice Chairman Mark Shaw, a longtime figure in state party politics, from his position in party leadership.
In a 2 1/2 hour meeting held over Zoom Monday night, central committee members voiced their frustration with Shaw, the 10th District GOP state central committeeman, for his role in an alleged delegate scandal at last month’s state GOP convention.
Shaw was seeking the open RNC National Committeeman post at last month’s convention and is accused of obtaining a delegate badge and voting as a delegate even though he wasn’t appointed by his county chairman. Shaw also allegedly arranged delegate badges for a number of supporters who weren’t appointed delegates.
He lost the race to fellow state central committeeman Dean White of St. Charles on the third ballot.
Shaw did not attend the meeting, but was represented by Jennifer Neubauer, his deputy central commiteewoman and an attorney at his Lake County law firm.
But, in a weekend e-mail to party leaders, Shaw said allegations against him were “based on half-truths and outright lies that I perpetrated voter fraud and incited physical violence at the recent IRP State Convention.”
“These charges are false,” he said.
State party officials told The Illinoize prior to Monday’s meeting it was expected to be held in a private executive session and formal action wasn’t likely. Central committee members voted to suspend their bylaws and make a vote to remove Shaw from his post.
“He was given all due process,” one committee member told The Illinoize on the condition on anonymity after the vote. “The party bent over backward to give him the opportunity to defend himself and he didn’t do it.”
Now attention turns to Chairman Don Tracy, who could face his own vote to remove him in the coming weeks. Tracy, who didn’t have a vote on Shaw’s status, only called for Shaw’s resignation after central committee members directed Tracy to do so.
Tracy has been criticized for his leadership during the Shaw controversy.
“Don didn’t do himself any favors tonight,” another committeeperson said.
Another committee member told The Illinoize Monday a move on Tracy’s chairmanship is “likely.”
