LG WOMAN BECOMES GOPs 2009 LINCOLN 'FELLOW'

Katie Justak of La Grange grew up in politics, learning at a young age the importance of party loyalty.

That's one reason why she was selected as one of only 10 Republican women to participate in the 2009 Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service Series -- a monthly fellowship meeting in several cities across the state and in Washington, D.C., designed to teach everything there is to know about GOP political campaigns.

"I think this fellowship is a rare opportunity to get more exposure to the different tiers of government and the different aspects of public service ... and I'm looking forward to what's ahead," said the 33-year-old Justak in a recent interview. "It's a great opportunity to network and meet people from all facets of politics."

The series of workshops began in January in Chicago, where they learned the "nuts and bolts" of the program and met people of varied political experience who have graduated from the series, from former Gov. George Ryan's leiutenant governor, Corinne Wood to Village Trustee Pam Fenner in the far western suburb of Carol Stream.

Each month features keyote speakers and written couse work and in January the guest was Andy McKenna, chairman of the Illinbois Republican Party.

The next meeting was a two-day stint focusing on public speaking at the end of February.

This month, the group travels to Springfield.

The nearly 2-year village resident and wife of Mel Justak, a wills and estates attorney, was the qualifications co-chairman of this election season's nonpartisan Citizens' Council of La Grange.

She was introduced to politics at a young age by her father, Ray Narbone, who for years was active in the Republican Party of far south suburban New Lenox, where she grew up.

A longtime party chairman, her Dad was a tax collector in the early 1980s and got her involved in various political campaigns before his retirement from politics nearly 20 years ago.

"I then remained active in campaigns through high school and college," she said, adding she was a big fan of former president Ronald Reagan. "I've always been interested in politics and I have always followed it."

She said when she looks back on when she devloped an interest in politics, it was in the Reagan years.

After college, she worked public relations jobs -- starting off in consumer marketing and later switching to healthcare, with a couple of well-known PR fims in Chicago, before accepting a position with the American Academy of Periodontology, as a liaison between the academy, dental students and educators.

"It was a unique opportunity and I enjoyed being in that role," she recalled, noting that in the ensuing years she began to raise a family and moved from the city to La Grange.

Justak said she applied for entry into the series in October after finding out about it from fellow New Lenox native, State Rep. Renee Kosel, R-81st District, whose campaigns she has worked on in the past and who served as her participating sponsor.

She said despite all of the hype over Democrat President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, "now is a good time to be a Republican and to be involved ... no matter what your political affiliation."

She said she believes there is "a lot of talent" in the GOP in the way of future party leaders and that this past election started a new momentum among the party loyal, especially with the election of Michael Steele as the new embattled chairman of the Republican National Committee.

"The party," she said, "is looking for some new direction."

Justak says she has gotten to know people from both parties and has focused most on communications.

"What it comes down to is just wanting to participate in the community in a different way," she said. "My interest comes down to wanting to make a positive difference at the local level, which (in La Grange municipal contests) is nonpartisan."

She said the Citizens' Cuncil is just one way to get involved and a real opportunity at that.

"Were all concerned citizens looking out for the greater interests of the community," she said, adding she "probably will be involved" in the pre-election distribution of voter brochures touting the mostly uncontested campaigns of Council-recommended candidates running in village, park district and library races on Tuesday, April 7.

She said as a result of her participation in the Lincoln Series, she will be looking to get more involved and really determine where exactly she would like to focus her efforts in the future.

Ironically, Justak found herself immersed what in recent weeks has become a spirited political dispute involving opposing factions of the Republican Organization of Lyons Township (ROLT).

A registered Republican who just moved here 20 months ago, she was part of a handful of party members who were barred from voting for a slate of candidates at a party caucus meeting held earlier this month at the Robert Coulter American Legion Post in La Grange.

She, as well as others, were prohibited because they hadn't been current on party dues.

At the head of the line was La Grange businessman Michael LaPidus and his friend, fellow downtown businessman Steve Palmer, along with former State Rep. Eileen Lyons and others.

LaPidus, who unsuccessfully ran for township GOP committeeman against Cook County

Commissioner Tony Peraica in 2004 and who plans to run for the seat against Peraica again in 2010, turned his dispute into a legal challenge and won.

He not only has filed complaints with the Cook County States Attorney's Office, the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois State Board of Elections accusing the Peraica-led party of "pay to play" politics, but led a petition objection that caused the GOP to replace its slate slate of township candidates -- despite the fact a coalition ticket was in the works between the Republicans and Democrats for weeks.

Justak said she supported LaPidus in his crusade to get the caucus vote declared illegal.

"I tried (to get in to vote) when I got there, but I was unable to join because I didn't pay dues, that's what I understand," she said, contending she and others should have been allowed to vote. "All Republicans should have had the ability to vote or been (admitted) as part of the caucus."

Opponents of Laidus called the challenge an exercise in futility that only resulted in a huge waste of money -- but LaPidus and his supporters it revealed the kind of exclusionary tactiocs Peraica uses to carry out his job.