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[Scene at a recent high-level GOP gathering to find future candidates for top state and federal slots.]

“Lincoln, Abraham…deceased. Simon, Paul…deceased…wrong party…. Bob Schillerstrom…who? Oh, not interested, is he, or is he? Ah, here’s one with clear ambition…John J. G. Ryan, inner city school teacher turned lawyer that became a pharmaceutical analyst for a Wall Street firm…believes in getting rid of the public schools, some babble about free market principles and kindergarteners being smart consumers of education that need the government off their backs. Sounds good. Any numbers on this guy?”

“O.K., back to Bob Fullerham…Tom Anglestrom…whatever - is he in or out? Hey, was he the assistant bar tender in that sitcom, you know, life in a bar, ‘where everyone knows your name….’”

“You say he’s in the papers?”

Schillerstrom can dare to think big
Daily Herald
6/27/2004

Like many other Republicans, DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom is probably aghast at the demise of Jack Ryan as his party’s choice for U.S. Senate. If there was any hope that Ryan would be the one to pull the GOP up out of its deep doldrums, that wish won’t come true.

But in a peculiar way, the fall of Ryan could work to give rise to Schillerstrom’s higher political ambitions. That is not to declare that Schillerstrom would be the choice to replace Ryan, even though his name is being bantered about. But at this time, he doesn’t appear to be on the short list.

Still, as the Republicans are asking who out there can be trusted to run statewide - and are finding the pickings slim - it presents an opportunity for a star to rise in the Republican Party. Even someone like Schillerstrom, who is not well-known outside of DuPage County.

Schillerstrom has denied he is seeking any office beyond chairman of the DuPage County Board. But he has given plenty of indications otherwise.

Why else would he have set up his own Web site - www.bobforillinois.com? Why else would his associates have passed around, during the GOP convention last month, water bottles shaped like Illinois with “Bob” printed on them?

Speculation has it that Schillerstrom is gearing up for a run at statewide office, with the governor’s office perhaps in his sights. That is, if he stops being a long shot for the Senate and gets to run for that office, if the offer comes his way.

And why shouldn’t Schillerstrom think big when there are few big names in the party to carry the torch? He would have to really boost his name recognition, of course. But once Schillerstrom got his name out there, GOP voters might like that he is a moderate who would appeal to the mainstream.

He has been able to exert his influence beyond DuPage County in persuading the state legislature to approve a transfer of DuPage Water Commission funds to the county budget.

Schillerstrom elevated his profile by presiding over a reversal in the county board’s long-held opposition to expansion of O’Hare International Airport.

Now both of those moves also created a lot of local political anger that could hurt Schillerstrom if he seeks higher office. And that Schillerstrom served six months probation for possession of marijuana in 1977 could present a problem. Then again, the line of politicians admitting to marijuana use is a long one, and voters don’t seem to think it’s a big deal. Remember the chuckles former President Clinton brought with his “I didn’t inhale” comment?

It is far too early to endorse Schillerstrom as a good GOP choice for governor, if that is his ambition. But with the turmoil in the Republican Party and its inability to field a winning candidate of late, Schillerstrom can dare to think of a statewide campaign without it necessarily being written off as laughable.

For that matter, it’s a good time for other Republicans who have ambitions for higher office but who lack name recognition. They can wish upon a star, and hope to become a rising one in their troubled party.