March 25, 2009
REPUBLICANS SEEK WIN IN DES PLAINES, MORTON GROVE
Republicans need a "stimulus," and may find it on April 7, 2009 in Des Plaines and Morton Grove. The casino "jackpot" has made Des Plaines' mayoralty much-coveted, as it will generate $9-10 million annually in 2012 and after. The candidates are Mark Thompson, Marty Moylan, Dick Sayad, and Mike Lake. All are deemed "lightweights." Thompson is the township Republican Committeeman and has made numerous enemies ; Moylan is an IBEW business representative, and is getting strong union support; Sayad is a former Allis of major Tony Arredia, who is term-limited, and is not supporting Sayad; Mike Lake is a former aldermanic candidate. The issues are flooding, the casino, and city finances. Moylan is attempting to build a "big umbrella" by appealing to minorities, and is the front runner. In Morton Grove, Democratic mayor Rick Krier has raised taxes, and deems it "responsible." Republican Dan Staackmann says Krier promised "utopia" and failed to reduce taxes, generate new business, or end the garbage tax. Krier won with 55% in 2005, and will likely loose in 2009. In Lincolnwood, Mayor Jerry Turry is unopposed, but an independent is running for Trustee. Full Article...
March 18, 2009
DEMOCRATS SEEK TAKEOVER IN NILES, FRANKLIN PARK
Politics, like Hobbes once said about life, is mean, nasty, brutal and tawdry -- except in north suburban Niles for the past half-century. That changed when 47-year Mayor Nick Blase got indicted for taking bribes, and pled guilty to tax evasion and mail fraud in August 2008. Now Niles can join the real world. A nasty mayoral election is underway, with Democrat Kim Sychowski Biederman, backed by an armada of area Democrats, ripping the "unethical behavior" of Acting Mayor Bob Callero, and Callero accusing Biederman of trying to build a political machine; he adds that Biederman's husband Rob, a former political operative for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, would be running the show. "Voters still love Blase," said Callero, and the former mayor's organization is backing Callero. But Biedeman promises "change," and she is favored. In west suburban Franklin Park, Leyden Township Democratic committeeman Barrett Pedersen is coming on strong against 13-year Mayor Dan Pritchett, a Republican, ripping his "Friends and Family Plan" of putting relatives on the payroll. Pritchett takes credit for many improvements, and called Pedersen, whom he fired as village prosecutor, an opportunist and a liar. Pedersen is favored. Full Article...
March 11, 2009
CLUTTER, NOT "CLOUT" DECIDES 5TH DIST. DEM PRIMARY
Clutter and apathy topped "clout" in Illinois' 5th congressional district Democratic primary on March 3. As the old pop song said, "everybody loves somebody sometime," and the Big Four contenders -- John Fritchey, Sara Feigenholtz, Mike Quigley and Pat O'Connor -- had to contend with a flock of also-ran contenders who amassed 31% of the vote. In a turnout of under 55,000, or less than 15% of the district's registered voters, Quigley won with 22%, followed by Fritchey with 18%, Feigenholtz with 16%, and O'Connor with 12%. The Little 8 all had appeal to somebody, and generated a substantial vote; they were the "clutter." Fritchey's loss was a testament to the ineffectiveness of the local Democratic committeemen. As shown in the vote chart on this website (2009 5th Dist. Democratic primary), Fritchey got only 30% of the vote in the 36th Ward, and 23% in the 45th Ward. Regarding message, Feigenholtz flopped in her gender appeal, Fritchey failed to resonate as a "reformer"; but Quigley, a fierce critic of Todd Stroger, ran on an anti-Stroger, anti-tax, anti-spend platform, and got enough to win. Rahm Emanuel will not be able to come back and beat Quigley. Full Article...
March 4, 2009
"BAD ENDING" WILL KEY HARWOOD HEIGHTS' MAYORAL CONTEST
Beware the politician who promises a "new beginning." That means some other politician is responsible for a "bad ending." That's the situation in west suburban Harwood Heights, where mayoral candidate Mark Dobrzycki looms as 2009's John McCain, saddled to near-asphyxiation by the massive unpopularity of first-term Mayor Peggy Fuller, his ally. Both are Democrats. Republican Arlene Jezierny promises change, and that's already been demonstrated by the defection of two heretofor pro-Fuller trustees -- Jimmy Mougolias and Les Szendlak -- to her campaign. Both are now running on her ticket. When Fuller took office in 2005, she had a 5-1 majority of trustees; now, due to defeat and defection, she has a 1-5 minority. Wisely, Fuller is not running for re-election. Mougolias rips Dobrzycki as a "puppet" for Fuller, and Jezierny said Dobrzycki's election would make the village go from "bad to worse." Dobrzycki promises a "new beginning." Issues favor Jezierny, and she is well-organized.Expect a Jezierny win. Full Article...
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