'I Am Changing Parties As a Matter of Conscience'

After much soul-searching over the avalanche of Democrat corruption consuming his state, Mark Curran had a moment of clarity and did the only courageous thing: He became a Republican.

Flanked by some of the state's most prominent Republicans, Democratic Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran announced Monday he is joining the GOP.

"I am changing parties as a matter of conscience," Curran said at a news conference at the Lake County GOP headquarters in Libertyville.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), former Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan and state Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) joined Curran at the event, where the name of embattled Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich was raised frequently.

Curran, who was elected sheriff two years ago, said he had been contemplating a move to the GOP well before Blagojevich's arrest last week on corruption charges.

"It was a process," said Curran, who signaled his changing allegiances last September when he endorsed longtime Republican State's Atty. Michael Waller for re-election.

May he be the first of many.

Normally the heroic tale of the little guy braving the entrenched corrupt machine and crossing over would be lauded with glowing profiles, trips across the talk-show circuit and honorees such as the Profiles in Courage Award.

Instead, Curran probably will have his life ruined by the forces of tolerance.