Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations Illinois Legislature
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” Crime
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves announce 2025-2026 Training Camp Roster Entertainment
Lauren Staley-Ferry, Will County Board member and candidate for Will County Clerk in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election

Will County Clerk race shows how little media cares about real issues

Posted on March 17, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Will County Clerk race shows how little media cares about real issues
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Will County Clerk race shows how little media cares about real issues

The race for Will County Clerk will determine who will be responsible for maintaining the county’s records, and managing department budget costs, things the mainstream news media apparently doesn’t seem to concerned about. What they are worried about is an incident that happened 18 years ago that today has no meaning.

By Ray Hanania

You just have to wonder about government and the news media, like in Will County where issues don’t seem to matter as much as controversy.

About 18 years ago, Lauren Staley-Ferry was working in a small Arizona real estate company. She was a young kid and, according to media reports, her boss decided to give everyone in the office a $500 bonus, except her. Lauren got angry and took a company check and wrote it out for $500 for herself.

It’s the kind of thing young people sometimes do.

The important question, though, is do they take responsibility and make-up for it? Do they let that single infraction reflect the rest of their life?

Lauren Staley-Ferry, Will County Board member and candidate for Will County Clerk int he March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election
Lauren Staley-Ferry, Will County Board member and candidate for Will County Clerk in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election

In Lauren’s case, it was one incident, an aberration. It wasn’t a pattern at all. She didn’t do it again. It wasn’t repeated, like it happens with others who continue doing bad things, even after they’ve been caught.

Lauren left Arizona and years later tried to settle the debt. After the issue resurfaced and her efforts to repay were rebuffed, she donated $500 to the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. The foundation “provides education, resources and support for women to positively transform their lives and strengthen our community.”

Lauren went on into professional banking where she excelled, under the right management.

In 2013, she was encouraged by the Democratic Party in Will County to run for a seat on the Will County Board where she has worked tirelessly for the past three years.

Encouraged by the public’s response to her leadership, she decided to take on more public service, running for Will County Clerk in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election.

She didn’t just advance her own career, she spent a lot of time volunteering to help others in a lot of other situations.

Sounds like the perfect ending to the story.

Lauren Staley-Ferry, Will County Board member and candidate for Will County Clerk in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election
Lauren Staley-Ferry, Will County Board member and candidate for Will County Clerk in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election

But the mainstream news media doesn’t like perfect endings to any story. Worse, they don’t really care about the taxpayers or the real issues taxpayers face. They care about controversy.

The media makes it sound like Lauren Staley-Ferry has been avoiding responsibility. She hasn’t. She’s taken responsibility for her actions and has arranged many times to try to repay the money. I spoke with her and she said the media only cares about that past, not the issues she raises about Will County.

She issued a statement, twice, explaining what she did was wrong. She apologized for it and has taken responsibility.

But you know today’s news media. They don’t care about truth as much as they do screaming headlines, controversy and gory tragedy.

“If it bleeds, it leads” is the mantra of the traditional news media, which is why the traditional news media today is dying.

Hope doesn’t die and neither does good leadership.

Instead of talking about the issues, though, the media has been hammering Lauren about one single issue. Who cares about the people of Will County when you have a drama to fuel?

Lauren told me she spent 20 minutes recently answering every question from a reporter, including talking about the election, the issues facing Will County, and what she hopes to do when elected. He only wrote about the old controversy.

The media only wants to hammer away at that one little story from the far distant past. Maybe they don’t care about Will County. Maybe, they don’t care about who’s best to serve as Will County Clerk.

The media just wants to be snarky, to sell newspapers. They pretend that single little bump from 18 years ago is more important than the many challenges facing Will County that voters have to sift through on their own, with no help from the media out there.

Lauren Staley-Ferry is seeking to succeed Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots is retiring in 2018 after serving four terms in office.

In this case, I think Lauren Staley-Ferry has earned the public’s confidence, even if she continues to get the news media’s snide.

You can visit Lauren Staley-Ferry’s website at www.lauren4clerk.com.

(Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Email him through his website at www.Hanania.com.)

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations - October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” - October 8, 2025
  • The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs - October 8, 2025
NPV: 69
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes Tags:2018 Democratic primary election, controversy over facts, Lauren Staley-Ferry, March 20, news media bias, Will County Clerk, Will County taxpayers

Post navigation

Previous Post: Why conspiracy theories are necessary
Next Post: Trump factor in Illinois being over-played

Related Posts

  • SD 103 boots two principals News
  • Fire’s farewell saddens fans News
  • JR Pritzker Ewing
    Pritzker supports criminals and disguises truth about Safe-T Act Chicago
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad and son reunited after Leving team’s hard-fought court victory Dads' Rights
  • A Sauk Village man has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty and violation of owner’s duties after three emaciated horses were found on his property, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
    Sauk Village Man Charged with Animal Cruelty, Other Misdemeanors Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Threatening FEMA Employees and Law Enforcement Officers Crime

More Related Articles

Nick Uniejewski logo Nick Uniejewski announces for Illinois State Senate District 6 elections
Attorney and WVON Radio Talk Show host Kimberley Egonmwan. Photo courtesy of WVIN Egonmwan calls for City to protect Black women from violence Chicago
Flu Shot Clinics are starting at the Township in September. In attempt to continue to further protect the community this year, Orland Township residents will have the opportunity to receive their seasonal flu-shots on select days in the coming months. Fight The Flu at Orland Township coronavirus
Veteran community leaders and Trustees Pamela Jeanes, Brent Woods, Richard Riley and Tasneem Abuzir stand as they prepare to take the Oath of Office administered by Clerk Jane Nolan Palos Township swears in new board Cook County
Cicero officials, businesses and residents joined together on November 17 and 18 to raise money for the Mexico and Puerto Rico which suffered greatly as a result of Hurricane Maria Cicero officials, businesses and residents raise money for hurricane relief Government
Milwaukee County Ramp Up program will make public areas accessible for everyone Abele and Milwaukee County will make Bradford Beach “accessible.” Environment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations
    October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”
    October 8, 2025
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair 
    October 8, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme