After a complete election shutout Nov. 3, some members of the Griffith-Calumet Township Democratic Precinct Organization feel it may take several years before the party can be taken seriously again.
Once a firm stronghold in Lake County, the organization currently has only eight members, and six of them are elderly, said Precinct Committeeman Michael Ball. Ball ran for the town’s 5th Ward council seat to replace retiring Democrat Stan Dobosz, but lost to Republican businessman Tony Hobson.
Ball said the organization should be equipped with at least a chair and vice chair in each precinct, or at least 36 people. Neglect and complacency, however, have decimated the once powerful group, he said.
Ball also feels leadership errors played a great role in the election results. He said as much in an Election Night social media post, and his feelings haven’t changed more than two weeks later.
“Oh, I’m not over this, not by a long shot,” Ball said. “It’s going to take at least eight years for us to rebuild and be taken seriously again.”
Ball said one problem was money and how it was dispersed. A mailing, for example, was supposed to be sent to residents in town, but only 250 went out.
But Ball and other Democratic candidates Larry Stassin, Eddie Gonzalez and Karl Grimmer assumed it would be mailed to everyone in town.
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“We got (Lake County Chairman Sheriff John) Buncich involved in that one. Who sends out a mailing that small?” Ball said.
Additionally, because there are so few people in the organization, candidates often felt like they weren’t getting as much support, nor were they given a chance to debate the Republican challengers. Ball said his efforts included enlisting the aid of Lake County Councilwoman Christine Cid and County Surveyor Bill Emerson Jr. to canvas the 5th Ward but would’ve jumped at the chance to debate Hobson.
Chairman Wally Hartman, meanwhile, said the candidates complaining about his leadership “don’t understand the political process.” He said the party spent $4,500 on the race and told Buncich it wouldn’t finance any individual candidate.
Hartman also said he did exactly what the candidates wanted.
“The candidates didn’t want to print anything negative (about their opponents),” Hartman said. “If you don’t and stay positive, the good guys are going to finish last.”
Besides, with the county economic development income tax money the town has coupled with the improvements Griffith has done, it was going to be an uphill battle from the start.
“No one is going to complain about having their roads redone. These were candidates who have no political mind,” Hartman said.
Regardless of who did or didn’t do what, Buncich said he’s going to be butting into the workings of the Griffith-Calumet Township Precinct Organization a lot more now and is seeking a leadership change.
“When I was coming up in the party in the 1970s, Griffith was the stronghold. It was in the center of the county, and it was great,” he said. “This, however, should’ve never happened.”
Hartman, meanwhile, said he’s considering retirement.
“My wife has some health issues, plus I’m going to be 80 in May. I want to enjoy my retirement while I still can,” he said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.