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Lipinski highlights endorsements from district’s elected officials

Lipinski Campaign Announces Sweeping Endorsements from Municipal Leaders Across Third Congressional District. Endorsements span nearly every municipality in the 3rd Congressional District

Building on his reputation as a problem solver who gets things done for the municipalities he represents, Congressman Dan Lipinski today announced endorsements from 28 mayors across Illinois’ Third Congressional District as he gears up for his 2020 Democratic Primary re-election campaign.

The mayoral endorsements cover nearly every region in Lipinski’s district, which sprawls from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago to southwest suburban Lockport. Among the mayors and village presidents endorsing Lipinski, several of whom have supported him in each and every election, include La Grange Village President Tom Livingston, Lemont Mayor John Egofske, Oak Lawn Mayor Dr. Sandy Bury, Romeoville Mayor John Noak and Western Springs President Alice Gallagher.

Lipinski is running in the Democratic primary election on March 17, 2020. He is being challenged by independent Marie Newman, who came within 2,000 votes of unseating him in the 2018 election, and by first-time candidate Rush Darwish.

Oak Lawn Mayor Bury said Lipinski has been a partner and leader in helping to deliver major developments and improvements to local and regional infrastructure and transportation, including securing more than $4 million to improve local roads, pedestrian walkways and to construct a public parking facility.

“I am proud to have worked with Congressman Lipinski to tackle significant issues for the residents of Oak Lawn and all of the Southland,” said Bury. “He is a tireless supporter of our Veterans and makes sure their benefits are preserved and utilized. Dan Lipinski is someone who brings people together and represents the values of our community and I am proud to endorse his re-election”

Lipinski, who serves as the most senior member from Illinois on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the support from the local leaders of his home district is the best possible endorsement he could receive.

“I am honored to have the continued support of so many elected officials in my district who work so hard every day to make their communities great places to live,” said Lipinski.

“We all share a calling to public service that benefits the residents we represent and I have made it my highest priority to work to resolve local issues and to make sure our communities have the best possible access to the federal resources they need.”

Lipinski with Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, Mrs. Diana Dominick and members of the Town of Cicero Board of Directors during a Senior Citizen reception held in December. Photo courtesy of th eTown of Cicero

Lipinski also serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and he has focused significant attention to secure federal funding to improve public transit and infrastructure across the communities that he represents. Over the course of his career he has secure more than $700 million in federal funds for local transportation projects for roads, bridges, public transit, rail, and bikes/pedestrians. This Congress he inserted a provision into a transportation funding bill directing the Federal Railroad Administration to identify potential issues contributing to the frequency and length of delays on Metra trains, and develop recommendations on addressing these challenges.

Other Mayoral Lipinski Endorsements Include:

LaGrange Village President Tom Livingston:

“Congressman Lipinski is a proven leader who continues to deliver for the residents of La Grange and the western suburbs. He has been very responsive and thoughtful in securing critical support for parking improvements, train station modernization, and enhancements to public safety,” said Livingston. “

He has been tuned into many of our important non-profits with measurable support including Aging Care Connections and Pillars Community Health. Most recently, he helped La Grange come to a much-needed agreement to pave the way for improved flood control in our community. Congressman Lipinski is someone who is consistently there to help us get things done and solve problems.”

Lemont Mayor John Egofske:

“As someone who knows Dan Lipinski personally and for all the support he has provided to our local issues here in our town of Lemont, I’m proud to support Congressman Lipinski.” said Egofske.

“The Congressman’s common-sense approach to addressing problems has benefited our region and the Village of Lemont and he has led the way in obtaining additional Metra service on the Heritage Corridor and continues to fight for additional commuter train service. He’s actively working with the village and the Army Corps of Engineers to provide sorely-needed federal resources for our local water infrastructure. In Congress, Dan Lipinski is a voice of reason and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come.”

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett:

“Congressman Lipinski has proven himself to be a workhorse rather than a show horse and he makes things happen to improve the quality of life for his constituents,” said Bennett.

“As Chairman of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and President of the Southwest Conference of Mayors, I understand the critical importance of having an advocate like Dan Lipinski working for us in Congress to secure federal funding for our highways, the CTA, PACE and Metra. In the City of Palos Hills, he has consistently been there for our seniors, veterans, first responders, and all of our residents. I’m proud to support his re-election.”

Romeoville Mayor John Noak

“Dan Lipinski is a champion for the hard-working families of Will County,” said Noak.

“He was instrumental in helping our efforts to construct a new Romeoville Metra station on the Heritage Corridor Line, which helps provide access to quality careers. He also recently secured $6 million for construction of a new air traffic control tower at Lewis University, which will significantly improve safety. He’s someone that’s deeply committed to the improvement of the I-80 Des Plaines River Bridge and to making additional investments along historic corridors, such as Route 53. Given what’s he’s done and will continue to do for us, I strongly believe we need Dan in Congress.”

Western Springs Village President Alice Gallagher:

“Dan Lipinski is always there for the residents of Western Springs and those in our surrounding communities to address issues both great and small,” said Gallagher.

“When it became clear Sterigenics was causing serious health concerns to residents, he led the successful charge to help close that facility. When Metra’s BNSF service experienced significant delays last year, he brought BNSF and Metra together in a public forum and held a hearing that resulted in significant improvements along the line. He’s also someone focused on bringing federal dollars back to Western Springs, including more than $3.5 million for walkways, bike paths, and streetscaping projects, and $2.5 million to help reconstruct our new Metra platform. As Dan’s village president and friend, I am standing with him on March 17th.”

The full list of mayors and village presidents in the Third Congressional District endorsing Lipinski includes:

Alice Gallagher of Western Springs

Bob Lovero of Berwyn

Bob Straz of Palos Heights

Chuck Tokar of Chicago Ridge

Dan Foy of Burbank

Dave Brady of Bedford Park

Dennis McGee of Merrionette Park

Jacob Vandenberg of Tinley Park

Jeff Walik of Stickney

Jerry Bennett of Palos Hills

John Carpino of Willow Springs