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 Chicago, Illinois and America

  • 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
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Economy
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health

Politics at Moraine Valley?

Posted on January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Politics at Moraine Valley?
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Politics at Moraine Valley?

Hastings denies involvement; candidate disagrees

By Steve Metsch

An election challenge of five candidates for the Moraine Valley Community College board appears to be politically motivated, said one candidate.

Joseph Murphy, an 18-year incumbent whose candidacy is one of those targeted, said the challenges are “a big power play by (Orland Hills Mayor) Kyle Hastings.”

Hastings on Tuesday said he has nothing to do with challenges made by a former Orland Hills village employee.

A preliminary hearing on the challenges was held Monday in the MVCC board room. The challenges will likely be settled next week.

Lawyers for both sides – along with two candidates representing themselves – agreed to the 1 p.m. Jan. 18 hearing suggested by board attorney Judy Kolman.

Linda Ehlers, second from left, and Brendan Houlihan, behind her, are two of the five candidates whose petitions are being challenged. Photo by Steve Metsch.

 

The objections were filed by Craig F. Schmidt, a retired Orland Hills village employee.

According to the Illinois Public Schools Database, Schmidt earned $124,001 in 2017 as Assistant Public Works Director for the Orland Hills Public WorksDepartment.

Schmidt is no longer employed by Orland Hills, Hastings said.

“He’s retired. I do know he follows politics very closely. And, he’s up to date on many things, like a lot of people in the south suburbs are,” Hastings said.

Asked if he had told Schmidt to file the objections, Hastings replied: “No, I’m not that smart.”

Schmidt has filed objections to nomination papers filed by newcomers Linda Ehlers, Brendan Houlihan and Shadin Maali; and incumbents Sandra Wagner and Murphy.

Those five are running for three six-year terms on the board. Murphy and Wagner are up for re-election. Incumbent trustee Eileen O’Sullivan is not seeking office.

There are eight in total seeking the six-year terms. The other three candidates, according to nominating petitions obtained Tuesday from MVCC, have ties to Schmidt.

Schmidt is the notary public on nomination petitions filed by Bernadette Barrett, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, and Jaclyn O’Day, none of whom he’s challenged.

Late Monday, Murphy said Hastings is trying to take control of the board by having the five not affiliated with him removed from the ballot.

“He’s got his daughter (Kimberly Hastings) there already. Two years ago, he got his assistant village administrator, Brian O’Neill, elected to the board,” Murphy said.

“What he’s doing is he’s shooting to pick up more seats,” Murphy said. “Kyle has been very involved with this. He hand-delivered the petitions for the candidates he is running.”

Mayor Hastings said “I don’t think so” when asked if he was trying to get his people elected to the board, or trying to have others removed.

“I don’t think they’re my people,” he said “They’re representative of hundreds of people. They’re from Palos. They’re from Orland. It’s a good representation of the district.”

“They’re all highly qualified people,” he said, “and I hope they’ve all filled out the paperwork properly in order to stay on the ballot.”

Signatures on the challenged petitions will be reviewed sometime before Jan. 18 at the County Clerk’s office, Kolman said at Monday’s hearing.

“The sad part of this,” Joe Murphy said, “is you’re proven guilty until you are proven innocent. They’re saying signatures (on petitions) are fraudulent.”

Schmidt did not attend Monday’s hearing. His attorney, Jim Nally, said Schmidt “is a registered voter in the district” who is “exercising his right to challenge in the election code.”

“I don’t know if he’s picking on them. He’s making sure their nomination papers comply with the law. Many citizens file these complaints. There are 153 objections filed (for the April election) in Chicago. It’s a right any voter can exercise,” Nally said.

“The legal issues there are full and partial terms. You have to specify what you’re running for, the full or partial. Their nomination papers don’t specify and the vacancy and under the law they’re required to do that,” Nally said.

Hastings said Schmidt filed the challenges “because they didn’t fill the paperwork out properly, that’s what I hear.”

Matt Walsh, the attorney representing Maali, Houlihan and Wagner, said “we are very confident we’ll prevail.”

“We will be here on the 18thfor the hearing and we expect to walk out of here victorious,” Walsh said.

Ehlers, a retired chiropractor, decided to run because she has concerns about MVCC.

“With the college not lowering tuition, no longer hiring full-time professors, and paying thousands in pensions,” she said, “local citizens need to pay attention”

Murphy enjoys being on the board, noting the new recreation center and other physical improvements to the campus during his tenure.

“In 18 years, I hired one person. That’s the president. I’m not over there to get my brother (or) my cousin a job,” Murphy said

“Kyle wants to knock off Murphy and Wagner because he knows we’re out for the good of the college, not the good of our pocketbooks,” he added.

An alumnus of Moraine Valley, Hastings said he often boasts about the college wherever he travels in Illinois.

“Not only the quality education I had, but the quality education they continue to provide. Whomever is on the board, I hope they maintain the highest quality.”’

“There are a lot of good trustees on the board and a lot of good candidates vying for the positions. All of us are going to win because of the quality of people,” Hastings said.

The Regional and The Reporter newspapers

 

MVCC BOARD CANDIDATES

Six-year term

Bernadette Barrett

Beth McElroy Kirkwood

Sandra Wagner

Jaclyn O’Day

Shadin Maali

Joseph P. Murphy

Brendan F. Houlihan

Linda Ehlers

Two-year term

Daniel Casey

Kevin O’Connor

Patricia Joan Murphy

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 67
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:candidates challenged, Craig Schmidt, Joseph Murphy, Mayor Kyle Hastings, Moraine Valley

Post navigation

Previous Post: Lyons 103 school supplies
Next Post: Mr. Everything of Summit retires

Related Posts

  • The King's Pawn mystery novel by Aaron Hanania
    Teenager uses iPhone 6 to write his first novel Books & Films
  • Dorothy Brown expungement summit Aug 1 2020
    Circuit Clerk Brown hosts virtual expungement summit Chicago
  • Orland Park Trustee Daniel "Dan" Calandriello
    Democrat Calandriello gears up for November General Election to represent the 17th Cook County District Cook County
  • Goalie Garret Sparks of the Chicago Wolves. Courtesy of the Chicago Wolves.
    Chicago Wolves beat Tucson Roadrunners 3 to 0 Entertainment
  • Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoes legislation that would force suburban taxpayers to pay for waste and corruption at the Chicago Public Schools. The bill would take the majority of school funding from the suburbs and earmark it to bailout Chicago Public Schools, which are in debt to the amount of more than $17 billion. Photo courtesy of Governor Rauner
    Rauner protects suburban schools against Chicago fund grab Editors Pick
  • Justice Mayor Kris Wasowicz is thrilled that the state has signed off on a tollway interchange at 88th/Cork Avenue. U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, left, and IDOT Engineer Tony Quigley listen as the mayor talks of expected economic developments. Photo by Steve Metsch.
    Tollway interchange for Justice News

More Related Articles

Congressman Sean Casten Sean Casten Releases several Digital campaign Ads on Reproductive Rights and healthcare elections
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia For Pekau, it is always about him, even in closing Secretary of State’s Office Blogger
Patty Murphy, domestic violence activist with Pillars Community Health Obituary: Patty Murphy, domestic violence activist Health
Safe farmers market News
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois Logo View the solar eclipse from Cahokia Mounds on April 8 Culture
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin Judge sets bond at $1 million for two Chicago gunmen accused in Oak Brook shootings  Crime

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 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
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
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown
    October 30, 2025
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 30, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 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