Welcome to Rock Island County Republican Party. If you believe that America should remain the land of opportunity, you are home!
Rock Island County Republican Chairman's Message
Answering Our Call to Duty to Serve
Public service is a calling. I have been honored to serve as Rock Island County Republican Chairman these past years assuring that the Rock Island County Republican Party has a solid and respected voice in our county and that we continue to create positive change and demand accountability through participating in our great two-party system of government.
But my first role in serving the community was volunteering to give a positive and informative voice to my village. Just prior to 9/11, I accepted a volunteer position as editor for "The Village News" a grassroots effort of residents of the Village of Coal Valley to have a community newsletter informing residents and promoting our village. The first issue would come out October 1st, 2001 and I had the entire newsletter (which was printed in those days) completed and ready to go to press by first week of September. The horrific and heinous acts of 9/11 changed that issue entirely and starting over, I wrote about how our community came together during those dark days.
I am still is producing and writing our Coal Valley Village. It is an honor to volunteer and participate in my community, sharing talents and time and giving back. This month's issue can be found at https://coalvalleyil.org/newsletters/202112.pdf .
As I attended our village board meetings, I grew to understand the importance of the duties of those serving as our elected officials. In 2007 I became a Trustee on our Village Board, something that I never envisioned doing but I felt it was another way to work to make the community better.
I was asked by Precinct Committeeman to consider running for county board in 2011. I thought long and hard and said that I would not run but would work at the village level. Well, I reconsidered my decision and answered that call. My county board role has been one of reform of government and accountability to the people we serve.
It often is not easy. Change can meet with tremendous opposition. But if it is the right thing to do, such as assuring that laws that are written to protect residents applies to ALL residents, then it needs to be done! I did Freedom of Information Requests with the Illinois Department of Health shedding light on unsafe conditions in vulnerable neighborhoods in my community. Their voices were not being heard.
My slogan became and still is “I represent ALL the residents and realize that the most vulnerable of our residents may not have the loudest voice.” Prior to being elected to county board, I filed a request for review with the Illinois Attorney General pointing out that the public was clearly discouraged from addressing our Rock Island County Board. We (the residents I was working for) won, and public comments section was added to our agenda and our freedom of speech and right to address our elected officials was upheld!
In today's polarized political landscape, I want to tell you how important it is to me to represent the Democrats, independents, and Republicans in my county board district and first working in a bi-partisan fashion with my colleagues for what is best for Rock Island County.
Today we are seeing people shouting and blaming everyone they can find in a shotgun approach. Those that believe that destroying now and then building back later are wrong. From experience, I can tell you that real reform happens from within. It isn't storming institutions and government; it's done by answering a call to serve and reform.
As you are reading this, please think about what your calling might be. Part of that calling to improving your community might be public service. It might employ working in your community. It might be running for an elected office, working in your political party, addressing your concerns with your elected representatives, and/or working for candidates who address issues important to you. The guiding force should always be For The People.
I look forward to a bright New Year for Rock Island County and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Drue
Drue Mielke Rock Island County Republican Party Chairman
Latest News: Rock Island County Posts Proposed Maps Rock Island County has posted the proposed reapportionment maps for the county board districts. Click links below to view: Google Maps Version PDF Version
Rock Island County board member Drue Mielke asks a question about racial equity during a special governance, health and administration committee meeting on Nov. 4, 2021, to review new maps after reducing the number of board districts from 25 to 19.
Illinois Candidates are encouraged to submit their upcoming events to RICoGOPChairman@DrueMielke.com. Posting does not indicate endorsement.
Helmick for Congress fundraiser! Dec 10th fundraiser has been rescheduled to February 2022
We are a group of community volunteers dedicated to the Republican principles of less government, lower taxes, and more personal freedoms. We are your neighbors – part of the fabric of our community. Our members serve as Republican Precinct Committeemen, deputy committeemen, elected officials and/or in volunteer positions. We strive to help educate and empower voters to understand the important issues of the day from the White House to the local Court House.
The Rock Island County Republicans Headquarter hours are Tuesday 10:30-1p. and Wednesday 11-2p. or by appointment. The Headquarters phone is 309-558-0454. Our Rock Island County Republican headquarters is located at 500 -16th Street, Rock Island near the T&T Asian Market.
Welcome to the Rock Island County Republican Party!
Welcome to the Rock Island County Republican Party website! Let me be the first to welcome you to the Rock Island County Republican Party.
Most of us have or used to have elderly loved ones, children and loved ones who we want to see reach their full potential and have full and productive lives. All of us are concerned about the future of America, our state, our county, our town.
We believe that America is a great country. We believe that American values are worth fighting for and defending. We believe that what makes America unique is that from the day they are born American children are taught that they can become anything, that anything is possible in America. If this sounds familiar, you are in the right place.
Under attack lately is what is known as “American exceptionalism”. What makes America exceptional is the lack of social boundaries that restrict where a person can end up. Americans see insurmountable problems and immediately start working on solutions. Americans invented flight, space flight, mass production, and electronic communications. Americans are responsible for most of the great inventions that have changed the face of the planet. It is our “can-do spirit” that makes America Exceptional.
What makes a Republican is their strong belief in America. Republicans come in all colors and beliefs. A Republican is anyone who thinks big government supported by big taxes hurts their ability to achieve their dreams and take care of their priorities. A Republican is someone who thinks that children deserve the right to take risks to achieve success and that people are best off if the rules encourage people to become their best and achieve their highest level of human potential. If you are concerned by other’s efforts at building and continuously expanding government and decreasing individual freedom, then you are a Republican.
Republicans believe that ALL PEOPLE, regardless of every division created to segment and divide, should be encouraged to be everything their human potential will allow them to become and that when people achieve their full potential, we all are better off. It is people, not big government that makes America great! Lets Make America Great again!
