Category: elections

Kennedy will respect Arabs, Muslims as Illinois governor

September 16, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 6 Comments

Kennedy will respect Arabs, Muslims as Illinois governor Illinois gubernatorial candidate Christopher Kennedy told a gathering of influential Arab and Muslim community activists Saturday that he would defend their rights as Americans and respect their cultural and religious identities. Kennedy said when his family immigrated to America, they faced the same racism and discrimination now…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board

April 20, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board The Orland Park Village Board is apparently pretending that village voters really didn’t mean to support “change” in the last election, voting to oust 24-year incumbent Dan McLaughlin and replacing him with a little known, well-intentioned challenger, Keith Pekau. The board has named Joe LaMargo, the former head…

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost

April 6, 2017October 21, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost A poorly run re-election campaign by seven-term incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin combined with a hot-topic issue of salary and pension hikes, and a laser-focused issues campaign of a non-political challenger, Keith Pekau, running on the Republican Party banner did what no one thought could happen April 4 in Orland Park….

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections

April 5, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections Two Muslim candidates who had strong political backing lost their bids for election on Tuesday in Suburban Chicago contests. Dave Shalabi, who was appointed to a position on a local school board two years ago, lost his bid to remain on the influential school board. Bahira Karim fails in…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

April 5, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race Republican challenger Keith Pekau easily unseated 23 year incumbent Dan McLaughlin as Mayor of Orland Park in a contest that focused on the mayor’s bid to boost his salary by more than 375 percent and to spike his pension from $30,000 a year to $110,000. By Ray Hanania…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit

April 4, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit The high profile battle for the office of mayor of Orland Park in southwest suburban Chicago is fueled by the board’s decision to give the 23 year incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin a massive salary boost and huge pension after only one term in office. The salary and pension spike has…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention

April 4, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention The battle between Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau has the attention of the entire state apparently creating a wild election contest filled with a lot of unusual issues, supporters and claims By Ray Hanania The battle to lead Orland Park, one of the fastest growing suburbs…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Kennedy promises to bring diversity to Illinois government

March 23, 2017September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy promises to bring diversity to Illinois government Christopher Kennedy, the son of slain former New York Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, told an overcrowded gathering of American Arabs outside of Chicago that he would defend the rights of immigrants and fight to bring diversity back to Illinois government when elected governor of the…

Editors Pick, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Gorman gives Rauner some added ‘Big Mo’

December 29, 2013November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gorman gives Rauner some added ‘Big Mo’ By RAY HANANIA Southwest News-Herald Newspaper Friday, December 27, 2013 Winnetka Businessman Bruce Rauner may be new to politics, but he apparently knows more about Republican politics than his rivals. Rauner won the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Party over GOP rivals State Sen. Kirk Dillard and Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford,…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

David Orr and Making Voting Just So ‘Easy’

June 20, 2013November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

David Orr and Making Voting Just So ‘Easy’ By RAY HANANIA Southwest News-Herald Friday, June 21, 2013 Despite the low voter turnout, voting is already easy. But not everyone wants to take the time to vote. In fact, the vast majority of residences who could vote don’t even register to vote. They don’t want to….

elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Low turnout in Chicagoland elections reflects hypocritical monitoring systems

April 9, 2013November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Low turnout reflects hypocritical monitoring systems By Ray Hanania Southwest News-Herald Newspaper Friday April 12, 2013 Everyone likes to blame the low voter turnout each year on the “low quality” or the “corruption” of elected officials in government, but I like to blame it on something else, the hypocrisy of the monitoring systems. Those “monitoring…

elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland