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NEIU Professor Appointed 39th Ward Republican Committeeman

 Matt Podgorski, an adjunct professor of political science, was appointed 39th Ward committeeman.
Matt Podgorski, an adjunct professor of political science, was appointed 39th Ward committeeman.
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Flickr/Joselito Tamara; Submitted photo

SAUGANASH — An adjunct professor of political science at Northeastern Illinois University is the new 39th Ward Republican committeeman, Chicago Republican Party officials announced.

Matt Podgorski was appointed by Chicago GOP Chairman Sean Morrison after no official candidates ran for the unpaid position in March's primary election.

"[Podgorski] has a long record of supporting the Republican Party and its principles," Morrison said. "I am certain the 39th Ward will be well represented."

Podgorski, who works for a private firm as its director of strategy while teaching part-time at NEIU, said he was "grateful" for the appointment.

"I am looking forward to working towards strengthening the Republican base on the Northwest side of Chicago and supporting candidates running for local and statewide offices with financial and other resources," Podgorski said.

Podgorski and his wife, Erica have two children, Sophia, 9, and Jack, 4.

Committeemen slate candidates, oversee voter registration, work to boost voter turnout and ensure elections run smoothly. Each ward is supposed to have a Republican committeeman and a Democratic committeeman.

Forest Glen resident Robert Murphy is the Democratic committeeman in the 39th Ward.

Although two candidates filed to run for Republican committeeman in the 39th Ward, both were tossed off the ballot by elections officials for not having enough nominating signatures.

William "Bill" Miceli ran as an official write-in candidate after he was removed from the ballot.

The position of 45th Ward Republican Committeeman remains vacant. In April, Republican Party officials removed Roisin M. Dohl from the position after she won the uncontested election.

Dohl was one of 13 Republican committeemen fired Wednesday by the Cook County and Chicago Republican parties as part of an effort leaders said was designed to "end [Democratic] control over several Republican ward organizations" throughout the city.

The number of Republican ballots requested by voters across the Far Northwest Side nearly doubled in the March primary, as compared with the 2012 Republican presidential primary.

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