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The New Trier Republican Organization took the high road this morning at its endorsement session in Winnetka; the rules were clear, the voting was fair, and endorsements went to a whole bunch of candidates unconnected to Illinois GOP politics of the past.

There were 69 voting delegates (NTRO activists and/or precinct captains) who participated. Rep. Mark Kirk won the endorsement for U.S. Senate easily - but not by acclamation: he received 61 votes; Hinsdale conservative Patrick Hughes received 4 and perennial candidate Andy Martin, 1.

Much more remarkable were the governor’s race and the 10th District congressional election. Small-businessman and New Trier native Robert Dold took the endorsement with a slam-dunk 36 votes over Dick Green (20), State Rep. Beth Coulson (11) and Mike Cadigan (2).

Governor candidate Dan Proft cashed in on his articulate presentation of the way out of the anti-business, corrupt culture that has permeated Illinois politics (and sent governors to jail) for years. On the first ballot, Proft received 20 votes (and this is in moderate New Trier Township that went for Obama in 2008). The other candidates, most of whose familiar names have been part of the Illinois team for years, got votes as follows: Andy McKenna (14), Bill Brady (13), Kirk Dillard (10), Bob Schillerstrom (8) - downstate’s Adam Andrzejewski got 1 vote. In the second balloting, Proft and McKenna tied with 32 votes each, resulting in a joint endorsement from the township.

The hotly-contested endorsement for Illinois Comptroller also ended with a surprising vote and run-off: in the first vote Judy Baar Topinka received 25 votes; Jim Dodge got 22 and William Kelly 15. The run-off gave Topinka only 27 votes, with Dodge (who won the day with a thoroughly believeable pledge for ethics and transparency) taking the endorsement with 35 votes.

Endorsement of Wilmette’s Hamilton Chang for 17th State legislative district came easily, with 59 votes. Jason Plummer received 41 votes for Lt. Governor for the endorsement, with McKenna running mate Matt Murphy getting only 21. Steve Kim, running unopposed for the state attorney general position got the township endorsement by acclamation. Former State Sentor Roger Keats was enthusiastically endorsed for Cook County Board president.

The NTRO supported Winnetka attorney Michaela Nolan Ryan’s bid for Cook County judge; Ryan would be the sole Republican running for judge in the county - she is still working to get petitions signed to put her on the ballot.