Rock Island County (RICo) GOP Central Committee Chairman William Bloom will be stepping down from his position in a notification released prior to the most recent Central Committee Meeting.
“I intend to remain an elected PC in the RICo GOP, and I intend to continue working as a member of the IT committee,” wrote Bloom, who is stepping down after taking a contract position with John Deere. “I will also advise the incoming Chairman if requested to do so.”
Bloom will officially relinquish the chairmanship on March 31, when current First Vice Chairman Mike Steffen will take over as acting chairman. Per Illinois law, the next permanent chairman must be elected to the position. The GOP Central Committee has scheduled that election for its April 20 meeting in the group’s Rock City headquarters.
Steffan has expressed his willingness to stand in the upcoming election, which would see him complete the current term if he won, serving until the primary in April 2018. If Steffan is elected to the chairmanship, it will leave his current first vice chairman position open.
Minority Caucus leader Drue Mielke, who Bloom praised as a highly successful member of the County Board, has expressed his willingness to take on the first vice chairman position, and Russell Christ has volunteered to take on the second vice chairman position. Each of these positions will be filled through election, though the chairmanship is only open to elected chairs. The vice chairman elections will be open to anyone interested in running, who can put their names into consideration through a nomination and second.
Reflecting on his time in the chairmanship, Bloom noted the successes and challenges of his tenure in the office.
“We have made a lot of progress in Rock Island County in some areas. In others there remains much to accomplish,” said Bloom. “We have made great strides in advancing our cause at the state office and in the county board. In some of the metropolitan races, while these are strictly nonpartisan, Republicans have stepped forward to help lead our cities. We continue to struggle with volunteers and with finances. These areas must be addressed in the coming year.”
Bloom’s notification also included updates on a range of upcoming activities.
On April 7-8, the IFRW will host its Spring Convention 2017 in Moline with a dinner and evening river cruise.
On April 13, the AFP Grassroots Leadership Academy will run a training session at the Bettendorf Public Library from 6-8 p.m. This session will be the first of six, with the others running each Thursday except for the second week of May, when it will take place on Tuesday, May 9. Those who attend all six training session and complete six volunteer hours between April 13 and May 18 will be eligible for certified activist status. The training sessions are run by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.
The Greater Quad-cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 2017 Annual Gala on April 22 at the Bettendorf Event Center from 5:30-9:30 p.m. The event will celebrate the achievements of the Chamber, its members and its supporters and feature entertainment, dinner, a silent auction and an awards ceremony.
Finally, on April 29 the Rock Island County Republicans will host their Lincoln Day Dinner at the Viking Club of Moline from 5-8 p.m., featuring a social hour, dinner and speeches from state Sen. Neal Anderson (R-East Moline) and Illinois Rising's Dan Proft.
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