Kane County Republican Party Chairman Denny Wiggins is now a paid consultant for State Senator Chris Lauzen’s congressional campaign. Hmmm! The party chairman working for one candidate in an open primary? Sounds kind of like one of my kids offering me 50 bucks to love them more than the other.
Ah! But this is the same Denny Wiggins we’ve already discussed. You see, Mr. Wiggins is not only our Republican chairman, but the director of government affairs for the Home Builders Association of Greater Fox Valley. Mr. Wiggins tried to tell me it wasn’t a conflict of interest for someone in his position to lobby our County Board on behalf of home builders.
Our good chairman remains undaunted and unclear on the concept of a conflict of interest. He said, “Because I’m the party chairman, I’m not supposed to support anyone?” Stunned into speechlessness by that remark, I’ll just quote Geneva mayor and congressional candidate Kevin Burns, “I trust Mr. Wiggins will do the right thing and step down as party chair. After all, he cannot serve two masters.”
So first Wiggins said he would quit the chairmanship. Then he said he would “consider” resigning if a majority of the GOP Executive Committee asked him to step down. Then he asked for a leave of absence. When the committee voted 5-3 for his resignation, Wiggins said he was “leaning toward stepping down.”
Apparently three executive committee members don’t understand the meaning of “appearance of impropriety.”
Then Wiggins said this, “I wouldn’t step down unless somebody stepped up to the plate that I felt didn’t have a personal agenda, somebody that I felt strongly that they had the best interest of the party at heart.”
Think Lauzen will try to change his name again?