US Rep Danny Davis' dalliance with running for Cook County Board President has turned into a significant boost for the campaign of Todd Stroger. Davis is announcing he will seek reelection for US Rep, and depart the Cook County Board President race. This leaves his constituency to drift into another camp, most likely that of Todd Stroger.
Davis constituency has a stronger affinity with Stroger than any of the other candidates for the Democratic nomination. Davis had been making noises about undermining the independent medical board established last year. The CCHHS board is responsible for reforming Cook County medical hiring. Historically, the county health system was used as a recruiting tool for political "volunteers," who were hired as superfluous janitors or food service workers in exchange for political work on political campaigns of the Stroger Family and their associates.
Racial affinity will be a huge factor, if not the defining factor, in the outcome of this contest. Other than Stroger, the remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination are Dorothy Brown, Toni Preckwinkle, and Terrence O'Brien. Dorothy Brown was not considered a serious contender, given her flaccid campaign to unseat Mayor Daley in 2007. The discovery that many of Brown's petition signatures were gathered in a felony fraud scheme to use state Earnfare employees as collectors essentially guarantees an expensive and likely successful petition challenge. Toni Preckwinkle, though a black woman, has social class issues that gain her many white progressive votes, but alienate her from the constituency naturally attracted to Stroger or Davis. Terrence O'Brien is the only white candidate in the contest, which will guarantee him a large proportion of the white vote, but a Cook County election that is cast as white versus black will most likely result in a larger turnout of blacks than whites.
Bottom line, with Stroger in and Davis out, most of Davis' people will switch to Stroger.
In Rogers Park, our 49th Ward Democratic Committeeman David Fagus was a decades-long Stroger supporter, and has thus far been supporting Danny Davis. Now that Stroger is out, will Fagus go back to Stroger? Time will tell.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Transfer of Land for Park Development
To:
Senate President John Cullerton
cc:
Senator Heather Steans
State Representative Marlow Colvin
State Representative Harry J. Osterman
Alderman Joe Moore
Alderman Mary Ann Smith
Jennifer Clark, Loyola University
Eleanor Roemer, Friends of the Park
RE: TRANSFER OF ILLINOIS INT'L PORT AUTHORITY LAND FOR PARKS
Dear President Cullerton:
I am concerned by the announcement of cooperation among state and local authorities to assist Friends of the Parks (FOTP) in transferring lakefront property for conversion into parkland. I am concerned because FOTP has been engaged in the sleaziest possible tactics to deceive public policy makers and obscure strong opposition among voters in the neighborhoods of Rogers Park and Edgewater against destruction of our lakefront, the city's most attractive and useful parks.
Three recent referenda in Rogers Park (2) and Edgewater (1) showed strong opposition to lakefill. One of FOTP's lies has been that this is only lakefront precincts, when in fact well over 90% of precincts in both the 48th and 49th wards rejected landfill or major construction. FOTP, often working with Loyola University, has concocted bogus public meetings which invited only pro-landfill speakers, and planted pro-landfill "questioners" from outside the neighborhood while ignoring legitimate community members. Fortunately, the networks that organized these referenda are still in place and have been able to advise the community of FOTP's manipulations.
I request that you restrict this bill to matters that concern the area surrounding the Illinois Int'l Port Authority, unless and until an appropriate set of public meetings has been held in the Rogers Park / Edgewater areas of Chicago. Any assurance you may get from FOTP that they have consulted with our community is a lie - FOTP is known here for their ongoing campaign of lies and is vehemently despised for their deception against our voice in managing our local parks. Please hear from our neighborhood before making these decisions about our parks.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours,
--
Thomas J. Westgard
Senate President John Cullerton
cc:
Senator Heather Steans
State Representative Marlow Colvin
State Representative Harry J. Osterman
Alderman Joe Moore
Alderman Mary Ann Smith
Jennifer Clark, Loyola University
Eleanor Roemer, Friends of the Park
RE: TRANSFER OF ILLINOIS INT'L PORT AUTHORITY LAND FOR PARKS
Dear President Cullerton:
I am concerned by the announcement of cooperation among state and local authorities to assist Friends of the Parks (FOTP) in transferring lakefront property for conversion into parkland. I am concerned because FOTP has been engaged in the sleaziest possible tactics to deceive public policy makers and obscure strong opposition among voters in the neighborhoods of Rogers Park and Edgewater against destruction of our lakefront, the city's most attractive and useful parks.
Three recent referenda in Rogers Park (2) and Edgewater (1) showed strong opposition to lakefill. One of FOTP's lies has been that this is only lakefront precincts, when in fact well over 90% of precincts in both the 48th and 49th wards rejected landfill or major construction. FOTP, often working with Loyola University, has concocted bogus public meetings which invited only pro-landfill speakers, and planted pro-landfill "questioners" from outside the neighborhood while ignoring legitimate community members. Fortunately, the networks that organized these referenda are still in place and have been able to advise the community of FOTP's manipulations.
I request that you restrict this bill to matters that concern the area surrounding the Illinois Int'l Port Authority, unless and until an appropriate set of public meetings has been held in the Rogers Park / Edgewater areas of Chicago. Any assurance you may get from FOTP that they have consulted with our community is a lie - FOTP is known here for their ongoing campaign of lies and is vehemently despised for their deception against our voice in managing our local parks. Please hear from our neighborhood before making these decisions about our parks.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours,
--
Thomas J. Westgard
Investigators to Seek Orlando Mom's Religion?
Yesterday, a mentally deranged kook shot a bunch of fellow soldiers on an Army base in Texas. Today, a mentally deranged kook shot her own son, and then herself, on a target range in Florida.
The kook in Texas has an Arabic name, Malik Nadal Hasan, and the news coverage encouraged people to speculate that he was a Muslim terrorist by reporting that investigators were trying to find out his religion, and whether he may have converted to Islam and changed his name at some point.
The kook in Florida has an Irish name, Marie Moore, and the news coverage has, so far at least, done nothing to encourage people to speculate on how her religious beliefs and/or ethnicity may have played into her insane, murderous behavior.
It's not like there aren't any Irish terrorists in the world. It's not like there aren't any Irish terrorists in the United States. In fact, unless I'm badly mistaken, McVeigh is an Irish name. Coincidence?
The kook in Texas has an Arabic name, Malik Nadal Hasan, and the news coverage encouraged people to speculate that he was a Muslim terrorist by reporting that investigators were trying to find out his religion, and whether he may have converted to Islam and changed his name at some point.
The kook in Florida has an Irish name, Marie Moore, and the news coverage has, so far at least, done nothing to encourage people to speculate on how her religious beliefs and/or ethnicity may have played into her insane, murderous behavior.
It's not like there aren't any Irish terrorists in the world. It's not like there aren't any Irish terrorists in the United States. In fact, unless I'm badly mistaken, McVeigh is an Irish name. Coincidence?
Suddenly, It's All So Clear!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Andrea Raila Withdraws from Assessor's Race
Ben Joravsky reports today that Raila has withdrawn due to having an insufficient number of signatures. She said that, after talking with her lawyer, she didn't have the financial wherewithal to defend a challenge.
I'm certainly familiar with the disappointment of losing an election, but she almost seems lucky to get out now. If she didn't have an organization that could gather enough signatures, and she didn't have enough money to defend a challenge, then she wasn't going to be in a position to challenge Joe Berrios anyway. It was only a question of when and how she would be eliminated, not whether she had a real chance of winning.
She seemed like a good candidate. Maybe she'll pull herself together and take another run at elective office next cycle.
I'm certainly familiar with the disappointment of losing an election, but she almost seems lucky to get out now. If she didn't have an organization that could gather enough signatures, and she didn't have enough money to defend a challenge, then she wasn't going to be in a position to challenge Joe Berrios anyway. It was only a question of when and how she would be eliminated, not whether she had a real chance of winning.
She seemed like a good candidate. Maybe she'll pull herself together and take another run at elective office next cycle.
You Gotta Love The Reaction Speed of Hate
It's fascinating to watch the mainstream media whip up racial hatred whenever they get a chance. Gotta sell the papers somehow and it doesn't matter who you kill along the way.Just moments after Talking Points Media sends out a message that the Fort Hood shooting suspect has an Islamic name, and "this is going to get very dark," sure enough, I find this in the Associated Press:
The official says investigators are trying to determine if Hasan was his birth name, or if he changed his name and converted to Islam at some point in his life.
No doubt they are, just as (I'll assume, giving investigators the benefit of the doubt) they are trying to find out literally everything they can - a list of everyone he ever called or emailed, an inventory of everything he owns, his full life history, and good for them for investigating everything. So, while those investigators are trying to find out his religious background, his shoe size, his blood type, the Associated Press reports specifically and exclusively on the need to determine...
... if Hasan was his birth name, or if he changed his name and converted to Islam at some point in his life.
It rarely gets more clear than that. Out of the huge mass of things investigators are pursuing, the AP chooses to pursue the one area most likely to whip up hatred based on racial and religious prejudice. There's just a small jump, okay a huge prejudicial leap to feed the (as of this moment utterly baseless) prejudices that somehow, Islam is to blame here. As of this moment, we have no information to support any of that, but we have seen enough prejudice to know what the news media are doing.
I also remember when Timothy McVeigh was arrested. The AP didn't include any speculations about his religious background in the first hours of his arrest - in fact, the initial speculations were that the Oklahoma City bombings might have been committed by dark-skinned men of Arabic background.
Muslims get blamed when they do bad things, they get blamed when they don't.
Cook County Party Stability and Robustness
There's a lot of talk in the news about how certain elections across the country show, or don't show, how Obama is doing and whether the Democratic Party is losing ground. Here in Cook County, we have some other data we can parse to see if there are signs of change.
The filings for Cook County Committeemen positions in the three parties that appear on Illinois ballots show some interesting things about the stability and robustness of the parties. I started looking into this when I noticed that not all the seats were filled, meaning that some of these committeeman positions will almost certainly not be filled through upcoming elections.
Especially when you get to the third of three measurements below, you can get a really clear picture of the health of the three parties.
Seats Filled
The elections coming up are for Township Committeemen, not to be confused with Ward Committeemen, which is on a different date. That means there are 30 party seats available in this election cycle. Of those, here are the numbers that have at least one candidate who filed for the seat:
Democrats: 30 of 30 (100%)
(all townships have at least one Democrat running)
Greens: 4 of 30 (13%)
(running only in Berwyn, Oak Park, Orland, and Proviso)
Republicans: 28 of 30 (93%)
(no GOP candidates fielded in Calumet and Oak Park)
The Democrats' number is not so shocking, since Dems are strongly predominant in Cook County. The Greens' number is low, but as a new party I'm not surprised to see it at a low point (but see other measures below). The Republicans' number did surprise me - as one of the major national parties, I do find it surprising that they couldn't scrounge up a single person willing to run in two townships. When the bar is simply getting someone to show up, a baseline measure for politics, 93% isn't where you want your party to be starting.
Deep Bench
Another measure of how many people the party is able to inspire is the number of people on the ballot. It's a lot harder to have empty seats if multiple people want them.
Democrats: 9 of 30 races contested (30%); 42 total candidates (140%)
Greens: of 0 of 4 races contested (0%); 4 total candidates (100%)
Republicans: 10 of 28 races contested (38%); 42 total candidates (150%)
By these numbers, Democrats are still clearly healthy, but of greater interest is that Republicans come out looking a lot stronger, and Greens come out looking extremely weak. The percentages shown are the percentage of contested races, and the percentage of available candidates to the number of available seats. At 100%, Greens appear to have fully used all available candidates, whereas the Republicans are clearly in a frenzy of trying to reorganize their party. You don't have 1.5 candidates for every seat unless there are a lot of people interested in doing the job.
I should note that this measurement is questionable. If your party inspires a lot of challenges, it could be an indication that there is a struggle between current office holders and the party faithful. Still, if people are running for committeeman, it's an indication they care what the party does - the real fear is having people simply give up and walk away. (see below)
Seats and Incumbents Lost/Gained
Politics isn't entirely a zero-sum game. While it's true that parties and candidates work hard to bring voters away from the opposition, there is also a vast group of people eligible to vote who are strongly inclined not to do so. What the parties have in common is the idea that political participation is a social good. With that in mind, you always want to be adding to your list of filled seats, not losing people. Some loss of incumbents is inevitable - some people go on to other work, and everyone dies eventually. But you don't want to lose too many or else it looks like people are leaving by choice, not necessity. And losing filled seats is a very bad sign, since that's where it becomes clear that you have little backing:
Democrats:
Seats lost/gained: No change, 100% staffed.
Incumbents dropped: 4 of 30 incumbents declined to run. (8% incumbent loss rate)
(Elk Grove, New Trier, Riverside, and Stickney)
Greens:
Seats lost/gained: Net loss 8 of 13 seats held in last cycle (61% loss of seats)
(Lost: Bloom, Calumet, Evanston, Hanover, Maine, New Trier, Schaumburg, Wheeling, and Worth. Gained: Orland)
Incumbents dropped: 10 of 13 incumbents. (77% incumbent loss rate)
(Bloom, Calumet, Evanston, Hanover, Maine, New Trier, Proviso, Schaumburg, Wheeling, and Worth)
Republicans:
Seats lost/gained: Net loss 1 of 29 seats held in last cycle (3% loss of seats)
(Lost: Calumet, Oak Park. Gained: Cicero)
Incumbents dropped: 4 of 29 seats held last cycle (14% incumbent loss rate)
(Barrington, Calumet, Hanover, and Oak Park)
By this measure the Democrats pull away from the Republicans a little bit in being able to maintain stability in the party, but obviously the Green Party is suffering a devastating mortal bleed-out, losing vast numbers of seats and incumbents.
----------------------------------
List of Committeemen Incumbents: Democrats - Greens - Republicans
Barrington Democratic Township Committeeman
Bill Powers (incumbent)
Peter Gutzmer
Barrington Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Barrington Republican Township Committeeman
Paul S. Pavlus
(incumbent is Eugene Dawson, who is not running)
Berwyn Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert J. Lovero (incumbent)
Berwyn Green Township Committeeman
Rita Maniotis (incumbent)
Berwyn Republican Township Committeeman
Anthony Castrogiovanni (incumbent)
Robert Bembenek Jr.
Bloom Democratic Township Committeeman
Terry L. Matthews (incumbent)
Joseph A. Faso
Karen L. Wingfield-Bond
Bloom Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Robin Barret, who has not filed to run)
Bloom Republican Township Committeeman
Douglas M. Troiani (incumbent)
Miriam Shabo
Bremen Democratic Township Committeeman
M. Maggie Crotty (incumbent)
Bremen Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Bremen Republican Township Committeeman
Patrick E. Rea (incumbent)
Calumet Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert "Bob" Rita (incumbent)
Calumet Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Anna Stange, who has not filed to run)
Calumet Republican Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is John J. Stevo, who declined to state whether he is running)
Cicero Democratic Township Committeeman
Charles G. Hernandez (incumbent)
Roberto Garcia
Cicero Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Cicero Republican Township Committeeman
Jose L. Del Angel
Ed Ledvina
Craig A. Pesek
(no incumbent)
Elk Grove Democratic Township Committeeman
Christine Cegelis
(Incumbent is Brian J. McPartlin, who has not filed to run)
Elk Grove Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Elk Grove Republican Township Committeeman
Michael H. Sweeney (incumbent)
Evanston Democratic Township Committeeman
Jeffrey M. Schoenberg (incumbent)
Evanston Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Carol Kent, who has not filed to run)
Evanston Republican Township Committeeman
Linda Thompson LaFianza (incumbent)
Hanover Democratic Township Committeeman
Jason Provenzano
Gertrude "Trudy" Zaja
Jim Steven Dasakis (incumbent)
Hanover Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Hanover Republican Township Committeeman
Timothy O. Schneider
(incumbent is Mike Kelly, who is not running)
Lemont Democratic Township Committeeman
Edward M. Smollen (incumbent)
Lemont Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lemont Republican Township Committeeman
Sigitas "Sig" Vaznelis (incumbent)
Leyden Democratic Township Committeeman
Barrett F. Pedersen (incumbent)
Frank L. McPartlin
Leyden Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Leyden Republican Township Committeeman
Bradley A. Stephens (incumbent)
Lyons Democratic Township Committeeman
Steven M. Landek (incumbent)
Lyons Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lyons Republican Township Committeeman
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
James Pittacora
Maine Democratic Township Committeeman
Laura M. Murphy (incumbent)
Maine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Maine Republican Township Committeeman
Mark Thompson (incumbent)
Rosemary E. Mulligan
New Trier Democratic Township Committeeman
Dean Maragos
(incumbent is Wilbert F. Crowley, who is not running)
New Trier Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Larry Kaminski, who has not filed to run)
New Trier Republican Township Committeeman
Tolbert Chisum (incumbent)
Niles Democratic Township Committeeman
Lou Lang (incumbent)
Niles Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Niles Republican Township Committeeman
Joseph R. Hedrick (incumbent)
Northfield Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael Kreloff (incumbent)
Northfield Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Northfield Republican Township Committeeman
June O'Donoghue (incumbent)
Jill A. Brickman
Norwood Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert F. Martwick (incumbent)
Norwood Park Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Norwood Park Republican Township Committeeman
Michael J. Gadzinski (incumbent)
Oak Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Don Harmon (incumbent)
Oak Park Green Township Committeeman
Kip Robbins (incumbent)
Oak Park Republican Township Committeeman
- no candidate
(incumbent is Marlene Lynch, who has not filed to run)
Orland Democratic Township Committeeman
Daniel J. McLaughlin (incumbent)
Orland Green Township Committeeman
Matthew J. Ogean
(no incumbent)
Orland Republican Township Committeeman
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
Gerald F. Maher
Palatine Democratic Township Committeeman
Sue A. Walton (incumbent)
Palatine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palatine Republican Township Committeeman
Collin Corbett
Aaron B. Del Mar
Gary J. Skoien (incumbent)
Palos Democratic Township Committeeman
Samuel J. Simone (incumbent)
Palos Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palos Republican Township Committeeman
Lee Roupas (incumbent)
Proviso Democratic Township Committeeman
Karen A. Yarbrough (incumbent)
John Conteduca
Proviso Green Township Committeeman
Suzanne von Leuschner
(incumbent is Kevin O'Connor, who has not filed to run)
Proviso Republican Township Committeeman
Michael A. Corrigan (incumbent)
Fred Potter
Kerry Dodero Beswick
Joseph A. Benning
Rich Democratic Township Committeeman
Tim Bradford (incumbent)
Rich Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Rich Republican Township Committeeman
Patrice J. Barr (incumbent)
River Forest Democratic Township Committeeman
John F. Hosty (incumbent)
Thomas Cargie
River Forest Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
River Forest Republican Township Committeeman
Thomas C. Cronin (incumbent)
Riverside Democratic Township Committeeman
John Michael Allegretti
Wilfred O. Brennan
(incumbent is John Toman, who is not running)
Riverside Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Riverside Republican Township Committeeman
Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent)
Schaumburg Democratic Township Committeeman
Rocco Terranova (incumbent)
Schaumburg Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Christopher Harlos, who has not filed to run)
Schaumburg Republican Township Committeeman
Anita Forte-Scott
Michael Adelizzi (incumbent)
Stickney Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael J. Looney
(incumbent is Virginia Petri, appointed, who is not running)
Stickney Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Stickney Republican Township Committeeman
Michael Olik (incumbent)
Thornton Democratic Township Committeeman
Frank M. Zuccarelli (incumbent)
Thornton Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Thornton Republican Township Committeeman
Judy A. Diekelman (incumbent)
Wheeling Democratic Township Committeeman
Kathleen Sances (incumbent)
Wheeling Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is David Kalbfleisch, who has not filed to run)
Wheeling Republican Township Committeeman
Ruth O'Connell (incumbent)
Worth Democratic Township Committeeman
John O'Sullivan
Dennis M. Magee (incumbent)
Alfredo "Al" Pedroza
Worth Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Kurt Leslie, who has not filed to run)
Worth Republican Township Committeeman
Shaun Colin Murphy (incumbent)
The filings for Cook County Committeemen positions in the three parties that appear on Illinois ballots show some interesting things about the stability and robustness of the parties. I started looking into this when I noticed that not all the seats were filled, meaning that some of these committeeman positions will almost certainly not be filled through upcoming elections.
Especially when you get to the third of three measurements below, you can get a really clear picture of the health of the three parties.
Seats Filled
The elections coming up are for Township Committeemen, not to be confused with Ward Committeemen, which is on a different date. That means there are 30 party seats available in this election cycle. Of those, here are the numbers that have at least one candidate who filed for the seat:
Democrats: 30 of 30 (100%)
(all townships have at least one Democrat running)
Greens: 4 of 30 (13%)
(running only in Berwyn, Oak Park, Orland, and Proviso)
Republicans: 28 of 30 (93%)
(no GOP candidates fielded in Calumet and Oak Park)
The Democrats' number is not so shocking, since Dems are strongly predominant in Cook County. The Greens' number is low, but as a new party I'm not surprised to see it at a low point (but see other measures below). The Republicans' number did surprise me - as one of the major national parties, I do find it surprising that they couldn't scrounge up a single person willing to run in two townships. When the bar is simply getting someone to show up, a baseline measure for politics, 93% isn't where you want your party to be starting.
Deep Bench
Another measure of how many people the party is able to inspire is the number of people on the ballot. It's a lot harder to have empty seats if multiple people want them.
Democrats: 9 of 30 races contested (30%); 42 total candidates (140%)
Greens: of 0 of 4 races contested (0%); 4 total candidates (100%)
Republicans: 10 of 28 races contested (38%); 42 total candidates (150%)
By these numbers, Democrats are still clearly healthy, but of greater interest is that Republicans come out looking a lot stronger, and Greens come out looking extremely weak. The percentages shown are the percentage of contested races, and the percentage of available candidates to the number of available seats. At 100%, Greens appear to have fully used all available candidates, whereas the Republicans are clearly in a frenzy of trying to reorganize their party. You don't have 1.5 candidates for every seat unless there are a lot of people interested in doing the job.
I should note that this measurement is questionable. If your party inspires a lot of challenges, it could be an indication that there is a struggle between current office holders and the party faithful. Still, if people are running for committeeman, it's an indication they care what the party does - the real fear is having people simply give up and walk away. (see below)
Seats and Incumbents Lost/Gained
Politics isn't entirely a zero-sum game. While it's true that parties and candidates work hard to bring voters away from the opposition, there is also a vast group of people eligible to vote who are strongly inclined not to do so. What the parties have in common is the idea that political participation is a social good. With that in mind, you always want to be adding to your list of filled seats, not losing people. Some loss of incumbents is inevitable - some people go on to other work, and everyone dies eventually. But you don't want to lose too many or else it looks like people are leaving by choice, not necessity. And losing filled seats is a very bad sign, since that's where it becomes clear that you have little backing:
Democrats:
Seats lost/gained: No change, 100% staffed.
Incumbents dropped: 4 of 30 incumbents declined to run. (8% incumbent loss rate)
(Elk Grove, New Trier, Riverside, and Stickney)
Greens:
Seats lost/gained: Net loss 8 of 13 seats held in last cycle (61% loss of seats)
(Lost: Bloom, Calumet, Evanston, Hanover, Maine, New Trier, Schaumburg, Wheeling, and Worth. Gained: Orland)
Incumbents dropped: 10 of 13 incumbents. (77% incumbent loss rate)
(Bloom, Calumet, Evanston, Hanover, Maine, New Trier, Proviso, Schaumburg, Wheeling, and Worth)
Republicans:
Seats lost/gained: Net loss 1 of 29 seats held in last cycle (3% loss of seats)
(Lost: Calumet, Oak Park. Gained: Cicero)
Incumbents dropped: 4 of 29 seats held last cycle (14% incumbent loss rate)
(Barrington, Calumet, Hanover, and Oak Park)
By this measure the Democrats pull away from the Republicans a little bit in being able to maintain stability in the party, but obviously the Green Party is suffering a devastating mortal bleed-out, losing vast numbers of seats and incumbents.
----------------------------------
List of Committeemen Incumbents: Democrats - Greens - Republicans
Barrington Democratic Township Committeeman
Bill Powers (incumbent)
Peter Gutzmer
Barrington Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Barrington Republican Township Committeeman
Paul S. Pavlus
(incumbent is Eugene Dawson, who is not running)
Berwyn Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert J. Lovero (incumbent)
Berwyn Green Township Committeeman
Rita Maniotis (incumbent)
Berwyn Republican Township Committeeman
Anthony Castrogiovanni (incumbent)
Robert Bembenek Jr.
Bloom Democratic Township Committeeman
Terry L. Matthews (incumbent)
Joseph A. Faso
Karen L. Wingfield-Bond
Bloom Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Robin Barret, who has not filed to run)
Bloom Republican Township Committeeman
Douglas M. Troiani (incumbent)
Miriam Shabo
Bremen Democratic Township Committeeman
M. Maggie Crotty (incumbent)
Bremen Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Bremen Republican Township Committeeman
Patrick E. Rea (incumbent)
Calumet Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert "Bob" Rita (incumbent)
Calumet Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Anna Stange, who has not filed to run)
Calumet Republican Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is John J. Stevo, who declined to state whether he is running)
Cicero Democratic Township Committeeman
Charles G. Hernandez (incumbent)
Roberto Garcia
Cicero Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Cicero Republican Township Committeeman
Jose L. Del Angel
Ed Ledvina
Craig A. Pesek
(no incumbent)
Elk Grove Democratic Township Committeeman
Christine Cegelis
(Incumbent is Brian J. McPartlin, who has not filed to run)
Elk Grove Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Elk Grove Republican Township Committeeman
Michael H. Sweeney (incumbent)
Evanston Democratic Township Committeeman
Jeffrey M. Schoenberg (incumbent)
Evanston Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Carol Kent, who has not filed to run)
Evanston Republican Township Committeeman
Linda Thompson LaFianza (incumbent)
Hanover Democratic Township Committeeman
Jason Provenzano
Gertrude "Trudy" Zaja
Jim Steven Dasakis (incumbent)
Hanover Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Hanover Republican Township Committeeman
Timothy O. Schneider
(incumbent is Mike Kelly, who is not running)
Lemont Democratic Township Committeeman
Edward M. Smollen (incumbent)
Lemont Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lemont Republican Township Committeeman
Sigitas "Sig" Vaznelis (incumbent)
Leyden Democratic Township Committeeman
Barrett F. Pedersen (incumbent)
Frank L. McPartlin
Leyden Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Leyden Republican Township Committeeman
Bradley A. Stephens (incumbent)
Lyons Democratic Township Committeeman
Steven M. Landek (incumbent)
Lyons Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lyons Republican Township Committeeman
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
James Pittacora
Maine Democratic Township Committeeman
Laura M. Murphy (incumbent)
Maine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Maine Republican Township Committeeman
Mark Thompson (incumbent)
Rosemary E. Mulligan
New Trier Democratic Township Committeeman
Dean Maragos
(incumbent is Wilbert F. Crowley, who is not running)
New Trier Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Larry Kaminski, who has not filed to run)
New Trier Republican Township Committeeman
Tolbert Chisum (incumbent)
Niles Democratic Township Committeeman
Lou Lang (incumbent)
Niles Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Niles Republican Township Committeeman
Joseph R. Hedrick (incumbent)
Northfield Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael Kreloff (incumbent)
Northfield Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Northfield Republican Township Committeeman
June O'Donoghue (incumbent)
Jill A. Brickman
Norwood Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert F. Martwick (incumbent)
Norwood Park Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Norwood Park Republican Township Committeeman
Michael J. Gadzinski (incumbent)
Oak Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Don Harmon (incumbent)
Oak Park Green Township Committeeman
Kip Robbins (incumbent)
Oak Park Republican Township Committeeman
- no candidate
(incumbent is Marlene Lynch, who has not filed to run)
Orland Democratic Township Committeeman
Daniel J. McLaughlin (incumbent)
Orland Green Township Committeeman
Matthew J. Ogean
(no incumbent)
Orland Republican Township Committeeman
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
Gerald F. Maher
Palatine Democratic Township Committeeman
Sue A. Walton (incumbent)
Palatine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palatine Republican Township Committeeman
Collin Corbett
Aaron B. Del Mar
Gary J. Skoien (incumbent)
Palos Democratic Township Committeeman
Samuel J. Simone (incumbent)
Palos Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palos Republican Township Committeeman
Lee Roupas (incumbent)
Proviso Democratic Township Committeeman
Karen A. Yarbrough (incumbent)
John Conteduca
Proviso Green Township Committeeman
Suzanne von Leuschner
(incumbent is Kevin O'Connor, who has not filed to run)
Proviso Republican Township Committeeman
Michael A. Corrigan (incumbent)
Fred Potter
Kerry Dodero Beswick
Joseph A. Benning
Rich Democratic Township Committeeman
Tim Bradford (incumbent)
Rich Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Rich Republican Township Committeeman
Patrice J. Barr (incumbent)
River Forest Democratic Township Committeeman
John F. Hosty (incumbent)
Thomas Cargie
River Forest Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
River Forest Republican Township Committeeman
Thomas C. Cronin (incumbent)
Riverside Democratic Township Committeeman
John Michael Allegretti
Wilfred O. Brennan
(incumbent is John Toman, who is not running)
Riverside Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Riverside Republican Township Committeeman
Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent)
Schaumburg Democratic Township Committeeman
Rocco Terranova (incumbent)
Schaumburg Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Christopher Harlos, who has not filed to run)
Schaumburg Republican Township Committeeman
Anita Forte-Scott
Michael Adelizzi (incumbent)
Stickney Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael J. Looney
(incumbent is Virginia Petri, appointed, who is not running)
Stickney Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Stickney Republican Township Committeeman
Michael Olik (incumbent)
Thornton Democratic Township Committeeman
Frank M. Zuccarelli (incumbent)
Thornton Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Thornton Republican Township Committeeman
Judy A. Diekelman (incumbent)
Wheeling Democratic Township Committeeman
Kathleen Sances (incumbent)
Wheeling Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is David Kalbfleisch, who has not filed to run)
Wheeling Republican Township Committeeman
Ruth O'Connell (incumbent)
Worth Democratic Township Committeeman
John O'Sullivan
Dennis M. Magee (incumbent)
Alfredo "Al" Pedroza
Worth Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Kurt Leslie, who has not filed to run)
Worth Republican Township Committeeman
Shaun Colin Murphy (incumbent)
Cook County Assessor's Race 2010
Click here for all candidates for all positions.
By Party, In Order of Filing:
Joseph Berrios - Democrat - campaign website -
Joe Berrios is President of the Cook County Democratic Party and has served on the Cook County Board of Review for 21 years.
Robert Shaw - Democrat - no campaign website -
Robert Shaw has served in a variety of political positions, including Chicago alderman and Board of Review Commissioner.
Andrea Raila - Democrat - campaign website -
Andrea Raila is a private consultant who assists property owners in adjusting their tax bills.
Raymond A. Figueroa - Democrat - campaign website -
Raymond Figueroa was a Chicago alderman, and is also a retired Cook County Judge.
Eugene "Gene" Staples - Democrat - no campaign website -
Gene Staples is a real estate broker and former Forest Park policeman.
Robert C. Grota - Green - no campaign website -
Robert Grota is employed by the Cook County Assessor's office.
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall - Republican - no campaign website -
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall is the Evanston Township Assessor and a real estate broker.
By Party, In Order of Filing:
Joseph Berrios - Democrat - campaign website -
Joe Berrios is President of the Cook County Democratic Party and has served on the Cook County Board of Review for 21 years.
Robert Shaw - Democrat - no campaign website -
Robert Shaw has served in a variety of political positions, including Chicago alderman and Board of Review Commissioner.
Andrea Raila - Democrat - campaign website -
Andrea Raila is a private consultant who assists property owners in adjusting their tax bills.
Raymond A. Figueroa - Democrat - campaign website -
Raymond Figueroa was a Chicago alderman, and is also a retired Cook County Judge.
Eugene "Gene" Staples - Democrat - no campaign website -
Gene Staples is a real estate broker and former Forest Park policeman.
Robert C. Grota - Green - no campaign website -
Robert Grota is employed by the Cook County Assessor's office.
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall - Republican - no campaign website -
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall is the Evanston Township Assessor and a real estate broker.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Local Resident Speaks at Nazi Event
I've been pooh-poohed for saying there's racism in Rogers Park, at least by the people I've been calling racist. Details. But at least one Rogers Park resident gives speeches from behind a podium decked with swastikas. The photo's a bit cloudy, but the source of the photo names Soren Renner as the speaker. Unfortunately, addressing a group of people like this is consistent with some things Soren has said to me personally. The image in the background is Adolph Hitler, scowling as though someone peed in his Cheerios.
Is that clear enough for everyone? Do you see the racism now?
In his Autobiography, Malcolm X talks about the difference between Southern racism and Northern racism. In the South, they'll look you in the eye and tell you what they think of you, whereas in the North, they'll shake your hand and pretend to be your friend, at least until you try to move into their neighborhood or date their daughter. Malcolm X preferred the frank racism of the South to the smarmy, deceitful racism of the North. Honest racism is at least honest, he figured.
Even when it comes to our racists, it turns out Rogers Park is diverse in that way too. Frank racists? Check. Smarmy racists? Check. "We got both kinds, country and western!" That's a quote from the Blues Brothers. Here's another:
illnazis
Ben | MySpace Video
Calumet Republican Township Committeeman
Disorganized and confused, but intensely paranoid!
So, I was going through my list of candidates who filed for county positions, and I noticed that nobody was running for Calumet Republican Township Committeeman. That's a little odd, so I called up the incumbent to find out if there was some kind of mistake. List of GOP Committeemen.
I reached John Stevo and asked if he was running for reelection. "Sorry, who is this?" So I tell him my name and ask again if he's running. "I can't confirm that." So I ask if someone else is running. "I don't understand why you're asking." The conversation went on like that until I gave up on him. Shifty, no answers.
Okay, WTF, people. It's not a state secret who is running for office. In fact, it's the ultimate in not a secret, now that the filings are public. Even Todd Stroger is able to answer whether or not he's running for office.
Cook County Democrats don't have all their ducks in a row, but if this Stevo guy is any indication, they have nothing to fear from the local GOP. They haven't filed candidate papers, and the incumbent can't answer any questions.
{{{{gong}}}} Next contestant!
----------------------------------
Republicans also haven't filed a candidate for Oak Park Township. The current officeholder is Marlene Lynch, who I haven't yet been able to reach.
So, I was going through my list of candidates who filed for county positions, and I noticed that nobody was running for Calumet Republican Township Committeeman. That's a little odd, so I called up the incumbent to find out if there was some kind of mistake. List of GOP Committeemen.
I reached John Stevo and asked if he was running for reelection. "Sorry, who is this?" So I tell him my name and ask again if he's running. "I can't confirm that." So I ask if someone else is running. "I don't understand why you're asking." The conversation went on like that until I gave up on him. Shifty, no answers.
Okay, WTF, people. It's not a state secret who is running for office. In fact, it's the ultimate in not a secret, now that the filings are public. Even Todd Stroger is able to answer whether or not he's running for office.
Cook County Democrats don't have all their ducks in a row, but if this Stevo guy is any indication, they have nothing to fear from the local GOP. They haven't filed candidate papers, and the incumbent can't answer any questions.
{{{{gong}}}} Next contestant!
----------------------------------
Republicans also haven't filed a candidate for Oak Park Township. The current officeholder is Marlene Lynch, who I haven't yet been able to reach.
Illinois State Senate, District 7
Candidates filing are:
Adam Robinson - Republican - campaign website
Jim Madigan - Democrat - campaign website
Heather Steans - Democrat - campaign website
Our incumbent is Heather Steans.
Adam Robinson - Republican - campaign website
Jim Madigan - Democrat - campaign website
Heather Steans - Democrat - campaign website
Our incumbent is Heather Steans.
Candidates for IL-09 Congressional Seat
Our incumbent is Jan Schakowsky, of course, but there are a total of five candidates running:
Susanne Atanus - Republican - campaign website
Joel Barry Pollak - Republican - campaign website
Janice D. Schakowsky - Democrat - campaign website
Simon Ribeiro - Green - campaign website
Morris "Moe" Shanfield - Green - campaign website
Schakowsky's challenger from last cycle, John Nocita, has radically scaled back his efforts, running for 10th District State Senate this time around.
Susanne Atanus - Republican - campaign website
Joel Barry Pollak - Republican - campaign website
Janice D. Schakowsky - Democrat - campaign website
Simon Ribeiro - Green - campaign website
Morris "Moe" Shanfield - Green - campaign website
Schakowsky's challenger from last cycle, John Nocita, has radically scaled back his efforts, running for 10th District State Senate this time around.
All Candidates Who Filed for Cook County Positions
(By party, in order of filing)
Cook County Assessor
Democrat:
Joseph Berrios
Robert Shaw
Andrea Raila
Raymond A. Figueroa
Eugene "Gene" Staples
Green:
Robert C. Grota
Republican:
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall
Cook County Clerk
Democrat:
David D. Orr
Republican:
Angel Garcia
Cook County Treasurer
Democrat:
Maria Pappas
Republican:
Carol A. Morse
Cook County Sheriff
Democrat:
Thomas J. Dart
Sylvester E. Baker, Jr.
Green:
Marshall P. Lewis
Republican:
Frederick Collins
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner
Democrats:
Barbara McGowan
Michael A. Alvarez
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos
Todd Connor
Stella B. Black
Wallace Davis, III
Theodore "Teddy" Aguilar
Maureen Kelly
Mary Ann Paolantonio Salemi
Kathleen Mary O'Reilley
Jerry J. Marzullo
Kari K. Steele
Green:
Nadine Bopp
Diana Horton
John "Jack" Ailey
Republican:
Paul Chialdikas
Jimmy Lee Tillman II
Cook County Board President
Democrats:
Toni Preckwinkle
Terrence J. O'Brien
Danny K. Davis
Dorothy A. Brown
Todd H. Stroger
Green:
Thomas Tresser
Sean Burke
Republicans:
John Garrido III
Rogers A. Keats
Cook County Board - 1st District
Democrats:
Mary Collins
Derrick Smith
Earlean Collins
Adekunle "Ade" B. Onayemi
Chris Harris
Oddis "O.J" Johnson
Green:
Ronald Lawless
Cook County Board - 2nd District
Democrat:
Robert B. Steele
Desiree Grode
Robert Palmer
George Blakemore
Frank M. Bass
Erold Elysee
Dennis Beninato
Green:
Michael Smith
Cook County Board - 3rd District
Democrat:
Jerry "Iceman" Butler
Monica Torres-Linares
Ronald Oliver
Cook County Board - 4th District
Democrat:
Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
William M. Beavers
Karen W. Sommerfield
Denise Dixon
Green:
Joseph A. Barton
Cook County Board - 5th District
Democrat:
Deborah Sims
Sheila Y. Chalmers-Currin
Republican:
Miriam Shabo
James Thigpen
Cook County Board - 6th District
Democrat:
John Fairman
Joan Patricia Murphy
Nick Valadez
Republican:
William R. Moran
Michael Hawkins
Sandra K. Czyzniewicz
Cook County Board - 7th District
Democrat:
Joseph Mario Moreno
Jesus Garcia
Green:
Paloma Andrade
Cook County Board - 8th District
Democrat:
Edwin Reyes
Ariel Rosa
Javier "Xavier" Nogueras
Omar N. Lopez
Cook County Board - 9th District
Democrat:
Cary Capparelli
Green:
Brock Merck
Republican:
Peter N. Silvestri
Cook County Board - 10th District
Democrat:
Bridget Gainer
Kevin W. Graham
Cook County Board - 11th District
Democrat:
John P. Daley
Republican:
Carl Segvich
Cook County Board - 12th District
Democrat:
John A. Fritchey
Ted Matlak
Cook County Board - 13th District
Democrat:
John Michael Keefe
Larry Suffredin
Green:
George E. Milkowski
Republican:
Linda Thompson LaFianaza
Cook County Board - 14th District
Democrat:
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins
Republican:
Gregg Goslin
Patrick O'Donoghue
Kurt "IKE" Eichaker
Cook County Board - 15th District
Democrat:
Jim Steven Dasakis
Republican:
Timothy O. Schneider
Cook County Board - 16th District
Democrat:
Bill Russ
Jeffrey R. Tobolski
Eddy Garcia
Green:
Alejandro Reyes
Alex Matos
Republican:
Tony Peraica
Brian A. Sloan
Cook County Board - 17th District
Democrat:
Victor A. Forys
Patrick Maher
John J. Maher
Donna Sanders
Green:
Richard Dalka
Matthew J. Ogean
Republican:
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman
Gerald F. Maher
Mark Thompson
Board of Review - 1st District
Democrat:
Brendan F. Houlihan
Republican:
Dan Patlak
Sean M. Morrison
List of Committeemen Incumbents: Democrats - Greens - Republicans
Barrington Democratic Township Committeeman
Bill Powers (incumbent)
Peter Gutzmer
Barrington Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Barrington Republican Township Committeeman
Paul S. Pavlus
(incumbent is Eugene Dawson, who is not running)
Berwyn Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert J. Lovero (incumbent)
Berwyn Green Township Committeeman
Rita Maniotis (incumbent)
Berwyn Republican Township Committeeman
Anthony Castrogiovanni (incumbent)
Robert Bembenek Jr.
Bloom Democratic Township Committeeman
Terry L. Matthews (incumbent)
Joseph A. Faso
Karen L. Wingfield-Bond
Bloom Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Robin Barret, who has not filed to run)
Bloom Republican Township Committeeman
Douglas M. Troiani (incumbent)
Miriam Shabo
Bremen Democratic Township Committeeman
M. Maggie Crotty (incumbent)
Bremen Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Bremen Republican Township Committeeman
Patrick E. Rea (incumbent)
Calumet Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert "Bob" Rita (incumbent)
Calumet Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Anna Stange, who has not filed to run)
Calumet Republican Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is John J. Stevo, who declined to state whether he is running)
Cicero Democratic Township Committeeman
Charles G. Hernandez (incumbent)
Roberto Garcia
Cicero Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Cicero Republican Township Committeeman
Jose L. Del Angel
Ed Ledvina
Craig A. Pesek
(no incumbent)
Elk Grove Democratic Township Committeeman
Christine Cegelis
(Incumbent is Brian J. McPartlin, who has not filed to run)
Elk Grove Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Elk Grove Republican Township Committeeman
Michael H. Sweeney (incumbent)
Evanston Democratic Township Committeeman
Jeffrey M. Schoenberg (incumbent)
Evanston Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Carol Kent, who has not filed to run)
Evanston Republican Township Committeeman
Linda Thompson LaFianza (incumbent)
Hanover Democratic Township Committeeman
Jason Provenzano
Gertrude "Trudy" Zaja
Jim Steven Dasakis (incumbent)
Hanover Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Hanover Republican Township Committeeman
Timothy O. Schneider
(incumbent is Mike Kelly, who is not running)
Lemont Democratic Township Committeeman
Edward M. Smollen (incumbent)
Lemont Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lemont Republican Township Committeeman
Sigitas "Sig" Vaznelis (incumbent)
Leyden Democratic Township Committeeman
Barrett F. Pedersen (incumbent)
Frank L. McPartlin
Leyden Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Leyden Republican Township Committeeman
Bradley A. Stephens (incumbent)
Lyons Democratic Township Committeeman
Steven M. Landek (incumbent)
Lyons Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lyons Republican Township Committeeman
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
James Pittacora
Maine Democratic Township Committeeman
Laura M. Murphy (incumbent)
Maine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Maine Republican Township Committeeman
Mark Thompson (incumbent)
Rosemary E. Mulligan
New Trier Democratic Township Committeeman
Dean Maragos
(incumbent is Wilbert F. Crowley, who is not running)
New Trier Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Larry Kaminski, who has not filed to run)
New Trier Republican Township Committeeman
Tolbert Chisum (incumbent)
Niles Democratic Township Committeeman
Lou Lang (incumbent)
Niles Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Niles Republican Township Committeeman
Joseph R. Hedrick (incumbent)
Northfield Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael Kreloff (incumbent)
Northfield Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Northfield Republican Township Committeeman
June O'Donoghue (incumbent)
Jill A. Brickman
Norwood Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert F. Martwick (incumbent)
Norwood Park Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Norwood Park Republican Township Committeeman
Michael J. Gadzinski (incumbent)
Oak Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Don Harmon (incumbent)
Oak Park Green Township Committeeman
Kip Robbins (incumbent)
Oak Park Republican Township Committeeman
- no candidate
(incumbent is Marlene Lynch, who has not filed to run)
Orland Democratic Township Committeeman
Daniel J. McLaughlin (incumbent)
Orland Green Township Committeeman
Matthew J. Ogean
(no incumbent)
Orland Republican Township Committeeman
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
Gerald F. Maher
Palatine Democratic Township Committeeman
Sue A. Walton (incumbent)
Palatine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palatine Republican Township Committeeman
Collin Corbett
Aaron B. Del Mar
Gary J. Skoien (incumbent)
Palos Democratic Township Committeeman
Samuel J. Simone (incumbent)
Palos Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palos Republican Township Committeeman
Lee Roupas (incumbent)
Proviso Democratic Township Committeeman
Karen A. Yarbrough (incumbent)
John Conteduca
Proviso Green Township Committeeman
Suzanne von Leuschner
(incumbent is Kevin O'Connor, who has not filed to run)
Proviso Republican Township Committeeman
Michael A. Corrigan (incumbent)
Fred Potter
Kerry Dodero Beswick
Joseph A. Benning
Rich Democratic Township Committeeman
Tim Bradford (incumbent)
Rich Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Rich Republican Township Committeeman
Patrice J. Barr (incumbent)
River Forest Democratic Township Committeeman
John F. Hosty (incumbent)
Thomas Cargie
River Forest Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
River Forest Republican Township Committeeman
Thomas C. Cronin (incumbent)
Riverside Democratic Township Committeeman
John Michael Allegretti
Wilfred O. Brennan
(incumbent is John Toman, who is not running)
Riverside Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Riverside Republican Township Committeeman
Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent)
Schaumburg Democratic Township Committeeman
Rocco Terranova (incumbent)
Schaumburg Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Christopher Harlos, who has not filed to run)
Schaumburg Republican Township Committeeman
Anita Forte-Scott
Michael Adelizzi (incumbent)
Stickney Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael J. Looney
(incumbent is Virginia Petri, appointed, who is not running)
Stickney Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Stickney Republican Township Committeeman
Michael Olik (incumbent)
Thornton Democratic Township Committeeman
Frank M. Zuccarelli (incumbent)
Thornton Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Thornton Republican Township Committeeman
Judy A. Diekelman (incumbent)
Wheeling Democratic Township Committeeman
Kathleen Sances (incumbent)
Wheeling Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is David Kalbfleisch, who has not filed to run)
Wheeling Republican Township Committeeman
Ruth O'Connell (incumbent)
Worth Democratic Township Committeeman
John O'Sullivan
Dennis M. Magee (incumbent)
Alfredo "Al" Pedroza
Worth Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Kurt Leslie, who has not filed to run)
Worth Republican Township Committeeman
Shaun Colin Murphy (incumbent)
Cook County Assessor
Democrat:
Joseph Berrios
Robert Shaw
Andrea Raila
Raymond A. Figueroa
Eugene "Gene" Staples
Green:
Robert C. Grota
Republican:
Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall
Cook County Clerk
Democrat:
David D. Orr
Republican:
Angel Garcia
Cook County Treasurer
Democrat:
Maria Pappas
Republican:
Carol A. Morse
Cook County Sheriff
Democrat:
Thomas J. Dart
Sylvester E. Baker, Jr.
Green:
Marshall P. Lewis
Republican:
Frederick Collins
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner
Democrats:
Barbara McGowan
Michael A. Alvarez
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos
Todd Connor
Stella B. Black
Wallace Davis, III
Theodore "Teddy" Aguilar
Maureen Kelly
Mary Ann Paolantonio Salemi
Kathleen Mary O'Reilley
Jerry J. Marzullo
Kari K. Steele
Green:
Nadine Bopp
Diana Horton
John "Jack" Ailey
Republican:
Paul Chialdikas
Jimmy Lee Tillman II
Cook County Board President
Democrats:
Toni Preckwinkle
Terrence J. O'Brien
Danny K. Davis
Dorothy A. Brown
Todd H. Stroger
Green:
Thomas Tresser
Sean Burke
Republicans:
John Garrido III
Rogers A. Keats
Cook County Board - 1st District
Democrats:
Mary Collins
Derrick Smith
Earlean Collins
Adekunle "Ade" B. Onayemi
Chris Harris
Oddis "O.J" Johnson
Green:
Ronald Lawless
Cook County Board - 2nd District
Democrat:
Robert B. Steele
Desiree Grode
Robert Palmer
George Blakemore
Frank M. Bass
Erold Elysee
Dennis Beninato
Green:
Michael Smith
Cook County Board - 3rd District
Democrat:
Jerry "Iceman" Butler
Monica Torres-Linares
Ronald Oliver
Cook County Board - 4th District
Democrat:
Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
William M. Beavers
Karen W. Sommerfield
Denise Dixon
Green:
Joseph A. Barton
Cook County Board - 5th District
Democrat:
Deborah Sims
Sheila Y. Chalmers-Currin
Republican:
Miriam Shabo
James Thigpen
Cook County Board - 6th District
Democrat:
John Fairman
Joan Patricia Murphy
Nick Valadez
Republican:
William R. Moran
Michael Hawkins
Sandra K. Czyzniewicz
Cook County Board - 7th District
Democrat:
Joseph Mario Moreno
Jesus Garcia
Green:
Paloma Andrade
Cook County Board - 8th District
Democrat:
Edwin Reyes
Ariel Rosa
Javier "Xavier" Nogueras
Omar N. Lopez
Cook County Board - 9th District
Democrat:
Cary Capparelli
Green:
Brock Merck
Republican:
Peter N. Silvestri
Cook County Board - 10th District
Democrat:
Bridget Gainer
Kevin W. Graham
Cook County Board - 11th District
Democrat:
John P. Daley
Republican:
Carl Segvich
Cook County Board - 12th District
Democrat:
John A. Fritchey
Ted Matlak
Cook County Board - 13th District
Democrat:
John Michael Keefe
Larry Suffredin
Green:
George E. Milkowski
Republican:
Linda Thompson LaFianaza
Cook County Board - 14th District
Democrat:
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins
Republican:
Gregg Goslin
Patrick O'Donoghue
Kurt "IKE" Eichaker
Cook County Board - 15th District
Democrat:
Jim Steven Dasakis
Republican:
Timothy O. Schneider
Cook County Board - 16th District
Democrat:
Bill Russ
Jeffrey R. Tobolski
Eddy Garcia
Green:
Alejandro Reyes
Alex Matos
Republican:
Tony Peraica
Brian A. Sloan
Cook County Board - 17th District
Democrat:
Victor A. Forys
Patrick Maher
John J. Maher
Donna Sanders
Green:
Richard Dalka
Matthew J. Ogean
Republican:
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman
Gerald F. Maher
Mark Thompson
Board of Review - 1st District
Democrat:
Brendan F. Houlihan
Republican:
Dan Patlak
Sean M. Morrison
List of Committeemen Incumbents: Democrats - Greens - Republicans
Barrington Democratic Township Committeeman
Bill Powers (incumbent)
Peter Gutzmer
Barrington Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Barrington Republican Township Committeeman
Paul S. Pavlus
(incumbent is Eugene Dawson, who is not running)
Berwyn Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert J. Lovero (incumbent)
Berwyn Green Township Committeeman
Rita Maniotis (incumbent)
Berwyn Republican Township Committeeman
Anthony Castrogiovanni (incumbent)
Robert Bembenek Jr.
Bloom Democratic Township Committeeman
Terry L. Matthews (incumbent)
Joseph A. Faso
Karen L. Wingfield-Bond
Bloom Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Robin Barret, who has not filed to run)
Bloom Republican Township Committeeman
Douglas M. Troiani (incumbent)
Miriam Shabo
Bremen Democratic Township Committeeman
M. Maggie Crotty (incumbent)
Bremen Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Bremen Republican Township Committeeman
Patrick E. Rea (incumbent)
Calumet Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert "Bob" Rita (incumbent)
Calumet Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Anna Stange, who has not filed to run)
Calumet Republican Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is John J. Stevo, who declined to state whether he is running)
Cicero Democratic Township Committeeman
Charles G. Hernandez (incumbent)
Roberto Garcia
Cicero Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Cicero Republican Township Committeeman
Jose L. Del Angel
Ed Ledvina
Craig A. Pesek
(no incumbent)
Elk Grove Democratic Township Committeeman
Christine Cegelis
(Incumbent is Brian J. McPartlin, who has not filed to run)
Elk Grove Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Elk Grove Republican Township Committeeman
Michael H. Sweeney (incumbent)
Evanston Democratic Township Committeeman
Jeffrey M. Schoenberg (incumbent)
Evanston Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Carol Kent, who has not filed to run)
Evanston Republican Township Committeeman
Linda Thompson LaFianza (incumbent)
Hanover Democratic Township Committeeman
Jason Provenzano
Gertrude "Trudy" Zaja
Jim Steven Dasakis (incumbent)
Hanover Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Hanover Republican Township Committeeman
Timothy O. Schneider
(incumbent is Mike Kelly, who is not running)
Lemont Democratic Township Committeeman
Edward M. Smollen (incumbent)
Lemont Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lemont Republican Township Committeeman
Sigitas "Sig" Vaznelis (incumbent)
Leyden Democratic Township Committeeman
Barrett F. Pedersen (incumbent)
Frank L. McPartlin
Leyden Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Leyden Republican Township Committeeman
Bradley A. Stephens (incumbent)
Lyons Democratic Township Committeeman
Steven M. Landek (incumbent)
Lyons Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Lyons Republican Township Committeeman
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
James Pittacora
Maine Democratic Township Committeeman
Laura M. Murphy (incumbent)
Maine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(Incumbent is Rick Stabile, who has not filed to run)
Maine Republican Township Committeeman
Mark Thompson (incumbent)
Rosemary E. Mulligan
New Trier Democratic Township Committeeman
Dean Maragos
(incumbent is Wilbert F. Crowley, who is not running)
New Trier Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Larry Kaminski, who has not filed to run)
New Trier Republican Township Committeeman
Tolbert Chisum (incumbent)
Niles Democratic Township Committeeman
Lou Lang (incumbent)
Niles Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Niles Republican Township Committeeman
Joseph R. Hedrick (incumbent)
Northfield Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael Kreloff (incumbent)
Northfield Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Northfield Republican Township Committeeman
June O'Donoghue (incumbent)
Jill A. Brickman
Norwood Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Robert F. Martwick (incumbent)
Norwood Park Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Norwood Park Republican Township Committeeman
Michael J. Gadzinski (incumbent)
Oak Park Democratic Township Committeeman
Don Harmon (incumbent)
Oak Park Green Township Committeeman
Kip Robbins (incumbent)
Oak Park Republican Township Committeeman
- no candidate
(incumbent is Marlene Lynch, who has not filed to run)
Orland Democratic Township Committeeman
Daniel J. McLaughlin (incumbent)
Orland Green Township Committeeman
Matthew J. Ogean
(no incumbent)
Orland Republican Township Committeeman
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
Gerald F. Maher
Palatine Democratic Township Committeeman
Sue A. Walton (incumbent)
Palatine Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palatine Republican Township Committeeman
Collin Corbett
Aaron B. Del Mar
Gary J. Skoien (incumbent)
Palos Democratic Township Committeeman
Samuel J. Simone (incumbent)
Palos Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Palos Republican Township Committeeman
Lee Roupas (incumbent)
Proviso Democratic Township Committeeman
Karen A. Yarbrough (incumbent)
John Conteduca
Proviso Green Township Committeeman
Suzanne von Leuschner
(incumbent is Kevin O'Connor, who has not filed to run)
Proviso Republican Township Committeeman
Michael A. Corrigan (incumbent)
Fred Potter
Kerry Dodero Beswick
Joseph A. Benning
Rich Democratic Township Committeeman
Tim Bradford (incumbent)
Rich Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Rich Republican Township Committeeman
Patrice J. Barr (incumbent)
River Forest Democratic Township Committeeman
John F. Hosty (incumbent)
Thomas Cargie
River Forest Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
River Forest Republican Township Committeeman
Thomas C. Cronin (incumbent)
Riverside Democratic Township Committeeman
John Michael Allegretti
Wilfred O. Brennan
(incumbent is John Toman, who is not running)
Riverside Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Riverside Republican Township Committeeman
Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent)
Schaumburg Democratic Township Committeeman
Rocco Terranova (incumbent)
Schaumburg Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Christopher Harlos, who has not filed to run)
Schaumburg Republican Township Committeeman
Anita Forte-Scott
Michael Adelizzi (incumbent)
Stickney Democratic Township Committeeman
Michael J. Looney
(incumbent is Virginia Petri, appointed, who is not running)
Stickney Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Stickney Republican Township Committeeman
Michael Olik (incumbent)
Thornton Democratic Township Committeeman
Frank M. Zuccarelli (incumbent)
Thornton Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
-no incumbent
Thornton Republican Township Committeeman
Judy A. Diekelman (incumbent)
Wheeling Democratic Township Committeeman
Kathleen Sances (incumbent)
Wheeling Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is David Kalbfleisch, who has not filed to run)
Wheeling Republican Township Committeeman
Ruth O'Connell (incumbent)
Worth Democratic Township Committeeman
John O'Sullivan
Dennis M. Magee (incumbent)
Alfredo "Al" Pedroza
Worth Green Township Committeeman
-no candidate
(incumbent is Kurt Leslie, who has not filed to run)
Worth Republican Township Committeeman
Shaun Colin Murphy (incumbent)
Dorothy Brown's Signature Issue
It will be interesting to see how Dorothy Brown's campaign deals with the reimbursement request from the state. If you were a political donor considering her as a recipient, you might not be excited by the idea of your money going to pay back the State for fraudulent activities.
Not to mention the inevitable petition challenges that will come from this situation. You just know every other candidate is sharpening their knives and waiting for the right moment.
Don't Save the Papers
They're not worthy of saving. Take a look at the BS cover on the Sun-Times today:
If you break this story down, it's this: Not much happened, and we don't know why. It's a case of minimal property damage, minimal personal injury. Possibly there was an equipment malfunction, and possibly the driver and/or the mother were insufficiently attentive to their safety responsibilities, but at this point nobody really knows that.
If this is a front-page story, then we have no need for a newspaper. This is purely a matter of exploiting the basest emotions and ignoring anything noble or intelligent about the reader. Last I heard, TMZ.com and People Magazine were making a profit doing exactly this, and frankly they do it better.
The more serious downside of this story is that it promotes the false idea that public transportation is unsafe. The truth is that taking a train or bus is vastly safer than getting into a car.
The Tribune doesn't fare much better in the substance department; their cover is a drunk driver crash, although there could be a public-policy hook with rethinking how to handle people with drunk driving problems. Maybe if we had better public transportation, bad driving would be decreased?
These newspapers keep telling us how important they are. Bullshit. They're corporate money-makers no better or more important than Miley Cyrus. Entertaining for children, perhaps, but not much more.
If you break this story down, it's this: Not much happened, and we don't know why. It's a case of minimal property damage, minimal personal injury. Possibly there was an equipment malfunction, and possibly the driver and/or the mother were insufficiently attentive to their safety responsibilities, but at this point nobody really knows that.
If this is a front-page story, then we have no need for a newspaper. This is purely a matter of exploiting the basest emotions and ignoring anything noble or intelligent about the reader. Last I heard, TMZ.com and People Magazine were making a profit doing exactly this, and frankly they do it better.
The more serious downside of this story is that it promotes the false idea that public transportation is unsafe. The truth is that taking a train or bus is vastly safer than getting into a car.
The Tribune doesn't fare much better in the substance department; their cover is a drunk driver crash, although there could be a public-policy hook with rethinking how to handle people with drunk driving problems. Maybe if we had better public transportation, bad driving would be decreased?
These newspapers keep telling us how important they are. Bullshit. They're corporate money-makers no better or more important than Miley Cyrus. Entertaining for children, perhaps, but not much more.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
CTA Accidents Wildly Overreported
I'm not saying it's not news on the Morse El stop. Somehow, a child in a stroller got caught in the train's doors and swept away as the train took off, leaving the mother screaming, "The train took my baby!" The baby fell out onto the tracks, after which the mother rescued the kid. It's a horrifying scare with a happy and heroic ending. Tribune Article.
It's also an incident that involved no serious personal injury and no serious property damage. Can you imagine what a newspaper would look like if it included every scary incident involving a car or truck, in which nobody was seriously injured, and property damage was minimal? You wouldn't be able to lift a paper that size.
Newspapers have a serious bias against public transportation. When I drive an hour or more in Chicago, I normally see at least one accident that blocks traffic and requires a tow truck or an ambulance (or both). The year I worked in Downers Grove, I normally saw at least one such accident a day, and not uncommonly, one on the trip out and another on the trip back in. Sometimes even more than that. Across the greater Chicagoland area, there must be 50 serious incidents a day, if not more, and if you include every fenderbender and swiped guardrail, hundreds if not thousands.
Americans have the perception that, when you get into a car you have control over your safety, but when you get into a train you have to trust the driver. The hard statistical truth is, even when we ourselves drive carefully, we are far more likely to be injured or delayed by the incompetence of other drivers on the road than we would be if we had taken the train.
Not to mention the economic cost of creating a transportation system in which people drag a ton of steel around to move one person. We spend a lot of money to build asphalt roads, clear them of snow, maintain their signals, not to mention the cost of importing oil from the Middle East and the ecological impact of building vehicles that normally contain only a driver. Somehow those costs are never threatened and don't make the front page - while the CTA's funding is threatened every year, with front page coverage.
I sympathize with the mother and child, and the onlookers on the platform. It must have been terrifying. Just like thousands of car-related incidents suffered yearly by car drivers and passengers.
It's also an incident that involved no serious personal injury and no serious property damage. Can you imagine what a newspaper would look like if it included every scary incident involving a car or truck, in which nobody was seriously injured, and property damage was minimal? You wouldn't be able to lift a paper that size.
Newspapers have a serious bias against public transportation. When I drive an hour or more in Chicago, I normally see at least one accident that blocks traffic and requires a tow truck or an ambulance (or both). The year I worked in Downers Grove, I normally saw at least one such accident a day, and not uncommonly, one on the trip out and another on the trip back in. Sometimes even more than that. Across the greater Chicagoland area, there must be 50 serious incidents a day, if not more, and if you include every fenderbender and swiped guardrail, hundreds if not thousands.
Americans have the perception that, when you get into a car you have control over your safety, but when you get into a train you have to trust the driver. The hard statistical truth is, even when we ourselves drive carefully, we are far more likely to be injured or delayed by the incompetence of other drivers on the road than we would be if we had taken the train.
Not to mention the economic cost of creating a transportation system in which people drag a ton of steel around to move one person. We spend a lot of money to build asphalt roads, clear them of snow, maintain their signals, not to mention the cost of importing oil from the Middle East and the ecological impact of building vehicles that normally contain only a driver. Somehow those costs are never threatened and don't make the front page - while the CTA's funding is threatened every year, with front page coverage.
I sympathize with the mother and child, and the onlookers on the platform. It must have been terrifying. Just like thousands of car-related incidents suffered yearly by car drivers and passengers.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Claude Walker: Star of Pat Quinn's Latest Ad
If you know Claude Walker from his political work in Rogers Park, you'll enjoy watching him star in this campaign video for Pat Quinn:
Claude is also in this one:
Claude has a website here.
Claude is also in this one:
Claude has a website here.
Paul Vallas Mired In Louisiana Slavery Scandal
Wondering why Paul Vallas didn't run for Cook County Board President this cycle? Could be, he knew he had some radioactive baggage from Louisiana that would have scuttled any chances. The following video is an introduction to part of the story:
In all, there were hundreds of Filipino teachers placed illegally in Louisiana through a California company named Universal Placement. At least some of the teachers were subjected to modern and ancient slavery techniques by the company, including holding their travel documents, having the company siphon off their wages, and secluded from the greater community by isolating them in housing selected by the company, and by preventing them from associating with other Filipinos in the area. The teachers claim that the company used threats of deportation to keep them in line. Here are some more details in one of many news reports. Here's another source.
This is a developing story. Universal Placement operates in many states and foreign countries, so as this story progresses we will no doubt unearth many additional interesting details.
A place like Universal Placement wouldn't have existed 30 years ago, and if they did, they wouldn't have been hired by a state education department to find teachers. Using this company comes from the vogue of privatization, which has grown because it works well at what it sets out to do - make money and bring in teachers. The trouble is that, with private contractors, you have to be super-clear about a variety of other goals that government agencies are a lot more likely to observe, like not committing slavery as a means to making money.
In all, there were hundreds of Filipino teachers placed illegally in Louisiana through a California company named Universal Placement. At least some of the teachers were subjected to modern and ancient slavery techniques by the company, including holding their travel documents, having the company siphon off their wages, and secluded from the greater community by isolating them in housing selected by the company, and by preventing them from associating with other Filipinos in the area. The teachers claim that the company used threats of deportation to keep them in line. Here are some more details in one of many news reports. Here's another source.
This is a developing story. Universal Placement operates in many states and foreign countries, so as this story progresses we will no doubt unearth many additional interesting details.
A place like Universal Placement wouldn't have existed 30 years ago, and if they did, they wouldn't have been hired by a state education department to find teachers. Using this company comes from the vogue of privatization, which has grown because it works well at what it sets out to do - make money and bring in teachers. The trouble is that, with private contractors, you have to be super-clear about a variety of other goals that government agencies are a lot more likely to observe, like not committing slavery as a means to making money.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Using Media Effectively
Remember the important lesson we learned at the Nixon / Kennedy debates? Kennedy was a young, good-looking man who stood up straight, looked composed, energetic, and dignified. Rather like Obama, come to think of it. In contrast Nixon was hunched over, mumbling and patting at his sweaty face with a handkerchief. On the new medium of TV, Kennedy's appearance made the best use of making a visual impression, and he went on the win the election. People watch more TV than ever, not to mention the wide expansion of photographs in print media and the explosion of the Internet. It's not like photographs are going away any time soon. Republicans got schooled hard in making a visually attractive appearance. So how are the parties doing in the visual impression department?
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