Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Updating the results from local races affecting Oak Park and River Forest voters.
Looking for race results? Keep it here; we'll be updating until it's all over but the shouting. For a complete list of Suburban Cook County race results, see the Cook County Clerk's Elections page. In the race for the Illinois House 78th District, OPRF grad and Austin resident Camille Lilly easily defeated a challenge from Michael Nardello. Illinois House - 78th District (Democratic) 36 of 37 Chicago Precincts Reporting; 54 of 55 Suburban Cook Co. Precincts Reporting The race for the 7th District seat in the Illinois House was among the most hotly contested across the state, with leading candidates Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Rory Hoskins trading the lead throughout the night. At one point, Hoskins carried a razor thin 10-vote lead over …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Former OPRF board member has a long, uphill battle to win bid for 7th District seat long held by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis.
A confluence of financial stresses and pressures led to Jacques Conway's surprise resignation from the Oak Park-River Forest High School board last May. Earlier: Conway Resigns from District 200 Board Now, he wants to tackle a job that is way-low on the popularity scale, high on frustration and takes up gobs of time away from home. Conway wants to be a congressman. The 49-year-old River Forest resident filed his statement of candidacy with the Illinois State Board of Elections last month to run as a Democrat in the 7th Congressional District. He’s running against Danny K. Davis, who has represented the Oak Park area since 1997. Davis has loads of name recognition, an ensconced campaign organization and lots of campaign cash — $263,667, …
Monday, June 27, 2011
District 200 School Board praises his commitment to students and the community.
Jacques Conway has attended an Oak Park and River Forest High School board meeting for the last time. After swearing in successor Valerie Fisher at Thursday's District 200 board meeting, the board unanimously adopted a resolution paying tribute to Conway's years of service to the community. A former member of the Oak Park police force, Conway was first elected to the board in 2005 and re-elected in 2009. He served as school board president and liaison to a number school and community organizations. He resigned in May for professional and personal reasons, leaving two years remaining on his term. Calling him impossible to replace, former colleagues noted that students were always at the heart of his service to District 200. Fisher said …
Valerie Fisher, a school board veteran, to fill the vacant seat until 2013.
Editor's note: John Allen responded to requests for comment after publication of this story. His remarks have been included in our "comments" section. A former member of the Oak Park River Forest High School Board was appointed Thursday to complete the term of Jacques Conway, who resigned from his seat last month. By a 5-1 vote, Oak Park attorney Valerie Fisher was selected to serve out the remaining two years of Conway’s term. That term will expire in April 2013. Fisher was on the board from 1997 to 2009 and served as its president and secretary. She also chaired various board committees and was a liaison to numerous parent, faculty, staff and community groups. She served alongside Conway during her last four years on the board. Sharon …
Friday, June 10, 2011
Rounding up the best in local news, this and every Friday.
We’ve got a wrap on this week’s news. The "Week in Review" is designed to bring you up to speed on local news in Oak Park and River Forest. Let's get to it: Comcast Okayed: The Oak Park Village Board on Monday formally granted height, density and parking variances to allow for an affordable housing project in the long-vacant Comcast building, near the corner of Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue. The board voted 6 to 1, with Trustee John Hedges casting the lone "no" vote. The vote ends months of meetings, discussion and debate, which began back in December. Marion Street Rehab Begins: The South Marion Street facelift has begun. For $5.5 million, the stretch of Marion from South Boulevard south to Pleasant Street will get new lamps, brick …
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sudden absence leaves spot on board vacant — and you can apply to replace him.
Now that two-time Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 board member Jacques Conway has resigned his post, the search is on to fill his vacant seat. School officials say the Illinois Board of Education will accept letters of interest through June 15 from Oak Park and River Forest residents who want to serve the rest of Conway's term, which ends in April 2013. According to the state's rules, an appointment must take place within 45 days of the departure, but officials say there's not much in the way of procedures to guide the replacement process. Now, the board is opening up the process to anyone in the community who's interested. Any registered voter or qualified elector who's a resident of Oak Park or River Forest and is age 18 …
Saturday, May 28, 2011
New job, financial issues led to decision; two-termer suggests his replacement.
Oak Park and River Forest High School board member Jacques Conway stepped down Thursday night and asked his colleagues to consider naming former board member John Allen as his replacement. In a surprise announcement, Conway, who has served on the board of education since 2005, said he decided to resign because his position as the executive director of Teamwork Englewood would keep him from remaining engaged in his board responsibilities. Conway became executive director of the organization, which aims to improve the lives of residents in one of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods, in July 2010. In addition, Conway said financial issues are forcing him to sell his River Forest home and leave the area. He said his wife has already found a job in…
cynthia breunlin
9:55 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I'll vote for Jacques Conway this time. I worked with him at the Village and have followed his involvement at the Park and School Districts. He'll be approachable and responsive. He cares about the community and ALL its members. "Mr. Conway goes to Washington" with my support. more ›