Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Cook County voter turnout was 18.8 percent in the Tuesday election. Oak Park and River Forest voters were above that figure, but Forest Park was below it.
On Tuesday, 18.8 percent of voters made it out to the polls in suburban Cook County to vote in this year's local election, according to the Cook County Clerk's website. Voter turnout in the area varied, but River Forest had the highest at 31.15 percent of the 7,770 registered voters. Oak Park was also above the county average, with 22.87 percent of the 35,578 registered voters casting a ballot. Forest Park was below the rest of the county, at 15.89 percent of the 8,981 registered voters. While the turnout was higher than other area counties, it was an average turnout for a local election in Cook County. Since 2005, turnout in Cook County has ranged from as low as 16.7 percent of voters casting their ballot in 2011 to as high as 27 …
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Coming soon to a mailbox and yard near you!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Dog "crate gate" deflects attention away from pressing issues and towards a now infamous Irish Setter.
More than an average sized poodle-bomb hit the fan for both Romney and Obama when the “crate gate” scandal broke. The story hinges on a personal story Romney shared as an example of his ability to manage a crisis. In 1983, Romney strapped his dog Seamus’ crate to the roof of his car and headed off on vacation with his family. Seamus thanked the Romney family for taking him along by dumping the contents of his intestines all over the family vehicle. Romney did not comment on whether or not the windows were open. “Served him right” you say? Not so fast. 1983 was the same year Chrysler introduced the first minivan, but most moms and dads still drove station wagons or large sedans. With five sons, the Romneys probably had a wagon. With Ann …
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Former educator brings experience to District 97 Board.
Jim O'Connor, 38, brings over ten years of experience working in public education. He's served four years as a high school teacher math and science teacher in Arkansas and Chicago, six as a principal at the Kipp Ascend Charter School, and one year as a district administrator in Elgin District U-46. He now works in education public policy, focusing on excellence and equity in the education system O'Connor and his wife, Hannah, have two children: a daughter who is a kindergartner at Irving Elementary School and a three-year-old son. Four candidates — O'Connor, Denise Sacks and incumbents Bob Spatz and Peter Traczyk — are running for the four vacant seats in this uncontested race. (Editor's note: Sacks and Traczyk were sent candidate …
41.879678
-87.799371
Oak Park Elementary School District 97
970 Madison St, Oak Park, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-jim-oconnor-district-97-board-member
246152
/locations/3844890
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Liz Fischer, a River Forest homemaker and writer, runs for District 90 School Board.
Liz Fischer, a homemaker and writer in River Forest, is one of three candidates running unchallenged on the District 90 School Board ballot. Ralph Martire and incumbent James Weiss will also appear on the ballot. (Editor's note: Weiss was sent a candidate questionnaire, but has not returned it.) Born and raised in Oak Park, she attended OPRF high school and has lived in River Forest since 1997. She has three children with husband Bruce, including two currently in the District 90 school system. Fischer said she decided to run for the board because she sees it as a way to give back to her community, working toward a brighter future. In her spare time she enjoys Pilates, hockey, cycling, and browsing in bookstores. Patch: District 90's Board …
41.888236
-87.818877
River Forest School District 90
7776 Lake St, River Forest, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-liz-fischer-district-90-school-board-member
1297319
/locations/3844129
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Residents throw support behind 'Triple J' candidates.
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Saturday, March 26, 2011
Editor's note: The following letter was sent to us Friday by Lisa Lowry and Kelly O'Connor. The upcoming April 5th elections will determine numerous issues of importance to our village.There are referendums and candidates who represent various priorities for our youth in this community. For a moment we ask you to consider this question. What kind of environment do we want our high school to be? What kind of educational environment do we want our kids to be in 40 hours a week? Currently we have a teen drug/alcohol use rate that nearly doubles the national average. This is alarming, but not fixed in stone. Our kids have spoken, loud and clear and now as responsible adults we need to listen. Please remember USE is typically underreported …
Friday, March 25, 2011
Commissioner looks to step up to board of trustees.
Adam Salzman, 32, is vying to win his first seat on the Oak Park Board of Trustees, six trustees and the village president responsible for shaping the village’s public and fiscal policies. This is his first run for political office. Members of the board of trustees serve four-year terms. This year, three seats are up for election. Salzman is running with Ray Johnson and Robert Tucker as part of the slate of the Citizens for Accountable Leadership Party, a group backed by the Village Manager Association, Oak Park’s principal candidate slating organization. Lynn Kessen and Lewis Carmichael are running as independents. An attorney in private practice, Salzman has been on Oak Park’s Universal Access Commission since 2008 and has served more …
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lifelong Oak Parker looks to join park board.
Editor's note: OPRF Patch hasn't heard back from candidates Diane Dunn and Julie Grossman MacCarthy. We'll post their completed questionnaires if and when they return them. Victor Guarino, 45, is aiming for a spot on the Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners, a five-member group which establishes policies for the entire district. For much more on the role of the Park District commissioner, please see the PDF attachments accompanying this story. Commissioners serve four-year terms. This year, three seats are up for election and six candidates — Guarino, Paul Aeschleman, Jessica Bullock, Diane Dunn, Thomas Finch and Julie Grossman MacCarthy — will appear on the ballot. It's important to note that MacCarthy attempted to opt out…
Monday, March 21, 2011
Joint statement addresses calculation kerfuffle.
Editor's note: Oak Park Elementary School District 97 spokesman Chris Jasculca issued this statement, co-authored by Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar and District 97 board president Peter Traczyk, to Oak Park-River Forest Patch on Sunday. A calculation on District 97's referendum ballot question regarding the cost of the referendum for homeowners has sparked debate among tax experts. According to bond counsel for District 97, the calculation appearing on the ballot complies with state law. The ballot calculation is being questioned by Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar. ElSaffar states that the tax impact calculation on the ballot underestimates the referendum’s cost to taxpayers because it does not account for the state …
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Resident hoping to claim board seat.
Claudette Zobel, 76, is aiming for a spot on the River Forest Public Library Board of Trustees, the seven-member group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies. Members of the library board serve six-year terms. This year, three seats are up for election and four candidates — Zobel, Thomas Smedinghoff, Jennifer Rice Epstein and Mary Therese Small — are vying for spots on the board. Before moving to River Forest about 15 years ago, Zobel served on Oak Park's zoning board of appeals and the village's plan commission in addition to was chairing what was then known as the village's block grant committee. Patch: How would you assess the state of the library’s budget? Claudette Zobel: The library’s budget is tight …
Mary Tyler Moore
5:34 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Debbie is a real hater. If you are not rich and white she thinks you are worthless. Another wonderful Christian. Anti gay, anti middle class. No compassion for the poor at all. A fox news bobble head. more ›