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Mulligan withdraws write-in candidacy, citing party ‘gamesmanship’
Rosemary Mulligan
Updated: April 2, 2012 1:55AM
Just days after filing as a write-in candidate for the 55th State Representative District Republican primary, 10-term Illinois legislator Rosemary Mulligan announced she is dropping out of the March 20 race.
Mulligan made her announcement Jan. 25, saying the 55th District Republican race was shaping up to be a divisive one that would take away her focus from another difficult budget year in Springfield.
“There’s a lot of things I’ve had on my plate that I want to do and do a good job, as opposed to rushing home from Springfield and campaigning every weekend and then going right back,” Mulligan said.
The representative has also expressed frustration and disappointment with the Illinois House Republican Organization’s decision not to back her in the election.
“I was really not happy with all the gamesmanship that was going on,” Mulligan said. “In talking to friends and family, they basically said, ‘Why are you still doing it?’ and I said, ‘That’s a good question.’ ”
Mulligan, of Des Plaines, first withdrew from the March 20 Republican primary in early-January after challenges to her nominating petitions were filed with the Chicago Board of Elections and it appeared that her name would be removed from the ballot. She then filed to run as an official write-in candidate, both in the 55th and 20th State Representative Districts. She plans to withdraw from the 20th District race, as well.
Two Park Ridge residents, Kelly Schaefer and Susan Sweeney, have also filed to run as write-in candidates in the 55th District Republican primary.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Marty Moylan on Nov. 6.
Mulligan plans to remain in office until the end of her term in January 2013.
