One of Illinois’ top Republican insiders announced Friday that he would not seek another term on the party’s central committee, leaving some uncertainty as to who his successor would be in strongly Republican McHenry County.
Albert Jourdan, 63, said he would not run for central committeeman from the 16th Congressional District one day after he announced his retirement as McHenry County GOP chairman.
The departure of Jourdan, who was chairman of the GOP state organization from 1988 to 1993, marks a crossroads in a county that traditionally has had more influence in state Republican politics than might be expected.
Candidates apparently were not jumping at the chance to replace Jourdan, who led the county GOP for 30 years and was the acknowledged kingmaker for local politicians moving into the state arena.
Jack Schaffer, vice chairman of the county party, said Friday that he would run for the chairman’s post when McHenry County’s precinct committeemen meet March 30 to elect officers.
But another oft-mentioned candidate, Charles Nelson, Nunda Township supervisor and a longtime opponent of Jourdan, said Friday that other obligations prevented him from seeking the post.
And William LeFew, county treasurer and former mayor of Harvard, said he would run for county chairman only if Schaffer did not.
Jourdan himself would shed no light on a possible successor.
“I think it is premature to decide which candidate to support. Let’s see who surfaces,” Jourdan said.
Jourdan said Friday he was stepping aside to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He said the political posts have taken enormous amounts of time.
“It’s time to move on with my life. . . . I knew when I was going to do this, and now I’m ready,” Jourdan said, adding that he began telling associates two years ago that he planned to retire after the 1998 primary election.
Jourdan’s stature in the state Republican central committee comes from his success in delivering votes for the party in the 16th Congressional District. Representatives to the central committee are selected by congressional district, and their votes are weighted according to the number of Republican ballots cast in their districts.
Jourdan’s district, based in McHenry County, ranks third in the state in delivering Republican votes, behind GOP bastions in DuPage County and Peoria.
“There’s no question that McHenry is very important,” said Thomas Hardy, press secretary to Gov. Jim Edgar. “Republican candidates for governor and Senate need big pluralities out of the collar counties, and McHenry’s been a big producer of those.”
Jourdan added to the county’s position with his skill at behind-the-scenes maneuvering. As chairman and on the central committee, he had significant say in shaping the state party platform and raising money for candidates.
LeFew said the contacts Jourdan had built would be hardest for his successor to match.
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“When people needed things, he was the man to go to to get it done,” LeFew said.
Despite his earlier hints at retirement, the news of Jourdan’s departure came as a surprise.
“At every election, he says this one is his last,” said County Clerk Katherine Schultz. “This time he meant it.”