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Tag: Democratic primary

Bloomberg targets gun violence in his presidential bid

Posted on February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Bloomberg targets gun violence in his presidential bid

Bloomberg targets gun violence in his presidential bid Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is taking on the challenge of fighting gun violence in his campaign to become president and win the Democratic Party nomination. Bloomberg will be on the Illinois ballot on March 17 and is considered a formidable candidate, despite his late entry…

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Chicago, Crime, elections, Federal, Government, News, Police, Politics

University of Chicago Law Student challenges Rush for Congress

Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on University of Chicago Law Student challenges Rush for Congress
University of Chicago Law Student challenges Rush for Congress

University of Chicago Law Student challenges Rush for Congress Law student Sarah Gad of the University of Chicago says her own personal experiences from seven years ago involving drug addiction has motivated her to understand the challenges facing many Illinois residents and to support pro bono legal work for those in need. Gad is an exemplary…

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Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, Features, Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Iowa caucus disaster smells like another effort to get Sanders

Posted on February 5, 2020February 7, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Iowa caucus disaster smells like another effort to get Sanders
Iowa caucus disaster smells like another effort to get Sanders

Iowa caucus disaster smells like another effort to get Sanders The Iowa Caucus debacle and the long delays in tabulating the final winners and losers has thrown the Democratic process in to a loop giving one apparent loser, Joe Biden, some wiggle room to avoid the negative publicity with his running only 4th — a…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Federal, National, Opinion, Politics, Regional Midwest, Technology

Bill Conway slams Kim Foxx in new TV Commercial

Posted on February 4, 2020February 6, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Bill Conway slams Kim Foxx in new TV Commercial
Bill Conway slams Kim Foxx in new TV Commercial

Bill Conway slams Kim Foxx in new TV Commercial New Ad from Afghanistan War veteran and Democratic candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney Bill Conway slams incumbent Kim Foxx for not fighting for the rights of victims of crime while defending the rights of hoaxers like Jussie Smollett. The Democratic Primary election is March 17,…

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Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, General Topics, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Television, Veterans

Marie Newman wins endorsements from leaders in the 3rd District

Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Marie Newman wins endorsements from leaders in the 3rd District
Marie Newman wins endorsements from leaders in the 3rd District

Marie Newman wins endorsements from leaders in the 3rd District Marie Newman Announces Endorsements from 12 Local Elected Officials and Political Organizations Marie Newman, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ Third District, announced Tuesday that she had received endorsements from eight state, county, and city elected officials, and four key independent political organizations, including: Alderman…

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Chicago, elections, Federal, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Marie Newman Endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

Posted on November 5, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Marie Newman Endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Marie Newman Endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

Marie Newman Endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky By Ray Hanania Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky announced Tuesday (Nov. 5, 2019) that she is endorsing Marie Newman, the leading Democratic candidate challenging Congressman Dan Lipinski for the 3rd District seat. Schakowsky is a leading moderate voice in the Democratic Organization and an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump….

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elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Iris Martinez announces candidacy for Cook County Circuit Clerk

Posted on October 17, 2019October 17, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Iris Martinez announces candidacy for Cook County Circuit Clerk
Iris Martinez announces candidacy for Cook County Circuit Clerk

Iris Martinez announces candidacy for Cook County Circuit Clerk Illinois Senator Iris Martinez announced Thursday (Oct. 17, 2019) that she will be a candidate in the Democratic Primary for the office of Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, succeeding Dorothy Brown who announced in August that she will not seek re-election. Martinez was elected to The…

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Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics

Newman receives endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez

Posted on September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Newman receives endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez
Newman receives endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez

Newman receives endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez Update: Newman’s announcement of an endorsement sparked criticism from Congressman Dan Lipinski. His comments are posted at the end of this story Marie Newman, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ Third Congressional District, announced Tuesday, Sept 17, that she will be receiving the endorsement of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). “I…

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Chicago, elections, Federal, Government, News, Politics

2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020

Posted on June 17, 2019June 18, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on 2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020
2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020

2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020 Rush Darwish declares run for US Congress IL-3 at packed rally in Palos Hills, focuses on grassroots support and taking down Trump At a Saturday, June 15 rally at Moraine Valley Community College to launch his congressional campaign for the 3rd District of Illinois, small business owner…

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Chicago, elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Trump factor in Illinois being over-played

Posted on March 20, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Trump factor in Illinois being over-played

Trump factor in Illinois being over-played Just like in the 2016 presidential election campaigns, the mainstream news media is getting it wrong.  Every newspaper predicted that Hillary Clinton would easily defeat Donald Trump in the November 8, 2016 presidential election. Every poll, every pundit and every journalist made the prediction as if it were a…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Crestwood, saving money at the expense of the public

Posted on March 9, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Crestwood, saving money at the expense of the public
Crestwood, saving money at the expense of the public

Crestwood, saving money at the expense of the public

In the heated race for the 6th Cook County Board District, Patricia Joan Murphy offers taxpayers a better chance of standing up to tax increases. Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta reflects Crestwood’s record of failing to defend taxpayer rights. Crestwood’s history and recent newspaper disclosures about Presta’s past problems with tax debt and red light cameras raises serious questions

By Ray Hanania

(Published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group March 8, 2018)

I first became acquainted with Crestwood in the late 1970s when a police officer there called claiming then Mayor Chester Stranczek ordered police to shoot stray dogs. The order would “save money” by not requiring the village to chase them down.

After I wrote the story, Stranczek and officials there got angry, first because I wrote the story and second because I refused to identify the officer, the whistle blower who I consider to be a hero. The anonymous phone threats wouldn’t stop.

Crestwood was known for refunding resident property taxes, and that meant they needed to find ways to save money. But it just doesn’t seem that the price the public has to pay so Crestwood can “save money” hasn’t been worth it at all.

A red light camera in Chicago, USA. Français :...
A red light camera (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I made it a habit not to drive through Crestwood, fearing I might get pulled over and who knows what could happen in a Crestwood jail? They might force me to drink the water there.

As it turned out, to save money, Crestwood officials figured they could save money by ignoring EPA safety regulations, mixing poisoned water into the village water system between 1985 and 2007. How many people got cancer from that outrageous “money-saving” practice?

The tiny, 3-square-mile village of under 11,000 residents can’t seem to get away from officials who want to “save money.”

Both ABC TV’s “I-Team” and the Chicago Tribune have slammed Crestwood for their abusive red-light camera system. In fact, of 85 suburban communities that have red light cameras, the Chicago Tribune asserts Crestwood is the “most prolific ticketer in the suburbs.”

Many of the Crestwood red light camera intersections have been denounced as “traps” intended to squeeze drivers for their money, rather than to make the community safer, as Crestwood asserts on its village website.

That’s a history no one should be proud of. So, I am surprised that the mayor there, Lou Presta, instead of rolling up his sleeves to change that poor public image, is instead running for the 6th Cook County District seat that was held for many years by the late Joan Patricia Murphy. Murphy died in September 2016 and was succeeded by Edward Moody, who decided not to run for election.

Murphy’s daughter, Patricia Joan Murphy, is on the ballot running to succeed where her mother left-off and is in a head-to-head battle with Crestwood’s Mayor, Presta to win the March 18 Democratic primary. Donna Miller is also in the race.

I know both Murphy and Presta, although not very well. Murphy has reached out repeatedly to provide me with information about her candidacy but Presta and Miller have not. When I did research on the three candidates, Crestwood’s pathetic history kept dominating the Google searches.

And there is the Sun-Times disclosure that Presta owes a lot of money in back taxes. Presta says it’s from a bad investment and he’s paying it all back.

I’m not sure how a person who owes the IRS can stand up for the needs of taxpayers. But that’s what Presta claims.

IN OTHER RACES: Bob Fioretti is mounting a strong campaign to unseat Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who was bruised by a stupid political decision to impose a one cent per ounce tax on sweetened drinks and soda pop. Even her supporters abandoned her when County Commissioner Sean Morrison introduced a repeal ordinance that passed despite her objections. Fioretti is a credible anti-tax alternative.

Kwame Raoul’s TV Commercials touting his candidacy for Illinois Attorney General are pretty lame. Raoul succeeded Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate. But then I heard him speak at a candidate’s breakfast hosted by the Lyons Township Democratic organization. I was moved by his comments and understanding of the issues including fighting gun related crimes, being an independent voice, and standing up to Gov. Rauner. I wish he would have put “that candidate” in his TV Ads. He is a very powerful speaker, not a meek successor to Obama. That needs to come out in the next two weeks because right now, name recognition is the driving force for most voters.

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

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Early voting now open to Illinois residents

Posted on March 5, 2018March 17, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Early voting now open to Illinois residents
Early voting now open to Illinois residents

Early voting now open to Illinois residents For or the March 20, 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election, traditional Early Voting will take place March 5-19. Early Voting locations and hours can be found here. While some calendars suggest that the Early Voting period in Illinois may begin as early as February 8 ballots will not be available by…

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elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

Posted on January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most
Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most Gov. Bruce Rauner launched a new series of ads attacking J.B. Pritzker, associating Pritzker with disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. But the ads are premature and come during the March 20 Democratic Primary rather than in the November General Election campaign. It suggests that Rauner fears Pritzker…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

Posted on January 18, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most
Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most Gov. Bruce Rauner launched a new series of ads attacking J.B. Pritzker, associating Pritzker with disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. But the ads are premature and come during the March 20 Democratic Primary rather than in the November General Election campaign. It suggests that Rauner fears Pritzker…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman

Posted on January 17, 2018November 30, 2020 By Ray Hanania No Comments on War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman
War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman

War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman Congressman Dan Lipinski is facing a stiff challenge from popular newcomer Marie Newman in the March 20, 2018 Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District. Both candidates released lists of endorsements on Wednesday with Lipinski receiving support from 30 mayors in the district and Newman receiving the…

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Chicago, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

NARAL stands with Marie Newman in 3rd District Congressional race

Posted on December 4, 2017December 4, 2017 By Press ReleaseChicago No Comments on NARAL stands with Marie Newman in 3rd District Congressional race
NARAL stands with Marie Newman in 3rd District Congressional race

NARAL stands with Marie Newman in 3rd District Congressional race NARAL Stands With Marie Newman as Ballot Signatures Submitted in IL-03. NARAL Volunteers Gathered Signatures From Voters Across The 3rd to Support Pro-Choice Champion NARAL Pro-Choice America congratulated Marie Newman today as she submitted signatures to qualify for the ballot in Illinois’ 3rd congressional district. The…

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elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

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