Orland Park candidate hopefuls fall short in statewide bids

Two Orland Park candidates seeking statewide office, Jim Dodge for Comptroller and Dennis Cook for Illinois Lieutenant Governor, stumbled in their races, according to the early and unofficial election returns.

Judy Baar Topinka, the former state treasurer and candidate for governor, easily swept the comptroller's race blowing away Dodge and radio personality William Kelly. Dodge is an Orland Park Village Trustee and Cook is the School Board President of District 230.

And early election result suggest that incumbent Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, who led the fight to roll back Todd Stroger's 1 cent sales tax, will face fellow Orland Park challenger Pat Maher, the president of the controversy-plagued Orland Fire Protection District and son of Orland Park Village Clerk Dave Maher. The vote totals in the Democratic and Republican primary races were close, although in this election, the contentious Democratic race for Governor and Cook County board drew many Republicans to cross over into the Democratic race.

Gorman easily won her race for Orland Township Committeeman over Gerald Maher, a former two-time candidate for Orland Park Mayor.

Jeff Junkas rallied his Republican conservative base to defeat a fellow Republican Molly McAvoy Flynn to win the Republican primary to challenge State Rep. Kevin McCarthy. But the vicious accusations in the Republican contest will certainly leave scars to weaken the challenge of McCarthy. The issue between Junkas and Flynn is that they were both Democratic plants, according to each side, yet both have voted Democratic in the past.

I fJunkas can pull the Republican Party together, he might be able to pull off a substantive challenge to McCarthy, but the animosity driven during the election might not make that possible.

Click here for the Cook County Clerk's updated election results.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Excuse the hissy-fit at the Chicago News Bench (Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde writer there, I think)

The Chicago News Bench took my writings out of context and used them to attack a public official, instead of dealing with the facts. The fact is that no where did I attack Jim Dodge (or any of the candidates for Illinois Comptroller, by the way). And when I pointed it out, and then decided the web site isn't worth writing about, the writer, Tom Mannis went berserk with wild accusations and mud slinging and name-calling.

Real professional, Tom. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. : )

Tom could be a professional writer, one day, when he gets past the childish behavior.

-- Ray Hanania

Dodge hires Dean Casper as campaign manager for comptroller's race

METRA Board member and Orland Park trustee Jim Dodge hired Dean Casper, a former Orland Township trustee with campaign experience, to manage his campaign in the Republican race for Cook County Comptroller.


He previously ran Dodge's campaign for village clerk in 1993 and is best remembered for the slugfest with former Orland Township Supervisor Mike Brennan many administrations back.


Here's some background on Casper:

EDUCATION

BS Public Administration Northern Illinois U, 1986

AA Liberal Arts Daley College 1984

Brother Rice HS 1982

PROFESSIONAL

Commercial Sales Rep, Pep Boys

POLITICAL

Coordinator:

George Bush for President 1988

State Legislative campaigns

Local elections

18th Ward Republican Committeeman 1992-93

Stevenson Local School Council in Chicago 1989-1993

Orland Park Parking & Traffic Commission 1994-97

Orland Township Deputy Republican Committeeman 1994-98

Orland Township Trustee 1997-2001

District 146 Facilities Committee 1993-Present

District 146 School Board Member 2003-Present
District 146 School Board President 2007-Present

Managed Jim Dodge's election runs for:

Village Clerk -1993

Republican Committeeman 1994


Dodge is in a tight race with former Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who lost a battle for governor against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Also in the Republican comptroller's race is broadcaster William Kelly, owner of an Emmy award-winning TV production company and formerly Executive Director of the National Taxpayer Union of Illinois.


END

 

Jim Dodge candidacy for Il Comptroller picks up steam

Jim Dodge picking up steam in his bid for the Republican Party nomination for Illinois Comptroller.

Click here to read the story in the Orland Prairie, which has huge circulation.

Click here to read the Daily Southtown Story.

Click here to read Dodge's press release on his candidacy, which was picked up by newspapers across the state.

Dennis Cook of District 230 and former State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and my colleague at WJJG Radio, are also both reportedly contemplating a run. Dodge says he's in to stay regardless.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

The Scoop: Jim Dodge will announce for Illinois Comptroller

Orland Park Trustee Jim Dodge is expected to formally announce his candidacy next week for the office of Illinois Comptroller, the seat vacated by 19th Ward Democrat Dan Hynes who is running for Governor against Pat Quinn in the February 2 Democratic Primary.

Hynes' move creates an open race. Dodge, who has strong ties in the Republican Party and years of experience in government, will be able to take advantage of several factors that give him an edge in his run. The major media will be focussed will be on the top three races of U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor and Cook County Board president. With no incumbent in the comptroller's office, it comes down to which candidate will have the best name recognition in second-tier offices.

Dodge has both a great name and strong party backing. And he's going to reach out beyond party lines, noting that the hardships caused by today's economy nationally and Illinois do not distinguish among party affiliation.

Dodge and his wife Linda have two children, Ashley and Jimmy. A technology consultant by profession, Dodge has proven leadership experience in government and community.

He was re-elected last April to his 6th term on the Village of Orland Park Board as a trustee. Orland Park remains one of the state’s leading municipalities.

He has served on the METRA board as a director since 2004. Dodge doesn't talk from two sides of his mouth. He serves on the METRA board and he rides the METRA train from his Orland Park home to his office downtown. Practicing what you preach is a unique qualification in Illinois politics that will help him.

Dodge served as the Orland Township Republican Chairman from 1994 to 1996.

He served as the Cook County Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Young Republicans.

Dodge has a BS Degree in Psychology from DePaul in the Honors Program. He has an MBA in Economics and Finance from the University of Chicago.

A veteran, Dodge served in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Sergeant 178th Infantry Battalion, 44th RAOC, from 1988-1996.

Click to read Dodge's bio?

--Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Didn't know I was "needed" at Orland tree lighting

I usually go every year to the tree lighting ceremony that Orland Park has. It's usually packed with parents and especially with the children.

But this year, I had too many things I had to finish and my wife and son went. They came back with a discouraging report. Like many of the events in Orland Park, fewer and fewer citizens are attending. This was the lowest turnout of any prior year, they said. And, the village offered far less for the kids. There was so much more to do last year and the years before. But this time, it reflects the times.

Now, I think it reflects the deteriorating leadership of the Village Mayor Dan McLaughlin and the village board, which is unaccountable to the public.

Yes, there is a small clique of pals and friends and their family who show up for everything to put on the happy face to give the impression to the local news media that everything is fine. But it's not fine. The majority of Orland Park residents are not engaging in the system and what it has to offer, because the system is set up to benefit the Mayor and his pals and their friends.

Everything has a political ring and purpose to it in Orland Park. From the theater group all the way down to the public events. It's all about getting re-elected. Meanwhile, the village is going to hell in a handbasket and taxes and fees are increasing. The worst part about it is that not one -- NOT ONE -- of our elected officials has the courage to be a leader and admit that things are tough. They want to pretend everything is fine while the real people out here are struggling to make ends meet.

Mayor Dan doesn't have to worry about anything. He has this great cushy union job downtown. None of the village trustees have to worry about anything.

Do you EVER hear anything of SUBSTANCE from the village trustees? Ever? Seriously? Forget about the Happy Talk they mumble about how great things are here and how great they will be. (I cal them the STEPFORD TRUSTEES.) I am a big booster too, but I also know the truth is more important and recognizing and addressing problems is more important than pretending the King is wearing clothes when this village is naked. Everyone knows it.

Turnout to village events has been DOWN but the department heads and their bosses who feed on the public taxpayer trough pretend everything is fine because they get a paycheck that comes out of our taxes. When you even DARE to raise a question about, say, Orland Days, which was far less in quality than it has been in past years, everyone who is involved takes it so personally AS IF IT IS ABOUT THEM. It's NOT about them. It is about US. It is about leadership. If you can't take the criticism then you ARE NOT A GOOD LEADER.

Leaders are people who listen to the public, not their own egos and their pride or are quick to rip open the pay check enevlope to see their reward. Good leaders are those who really care about what people feel in Orland Park and the truth is there are very few really Good Leaders in Orland Park these days. Just a lot of greedy, selfish people more concerned with how they look than with how the village is running.

Our taxes could jump 100 percent and the Mayor Happy Talk and his Happy Talk Village Board would be out there saying the village should be grateful for what it has and that everything is fine.

It's not fine. And the low turnouts at public events is PROOF.

So many village employees email me saying that what I write is true but fear the political vindictiveness of Mayor Happy Talk because when it comes to criticism, he is far from happy and far from accountavle or responsible.

I am glad we had the tree lighting and the wonderful lights that line the streets around the Village Hall. But how about some community accountability and honesty for once, Mayor Happy Talk. How about a real admission that things are tough and that as good leaders, you had to take tough decisions innstead of always worrying about the spin?

I met the mayor when he first started. Years ago. I was a big fan. I understand that friendships between journalists and politicians are doomed. They rarely last. But I had so much hope for this one. Like he was going to be different. Turns out he's no different than the rest of the politicians out there, more concerned about themselves and how they look than the truth.

Then again, maybe that's what unaccountable politicians want? A public that doesn't care and stays home and is afraid to question their poor leadership and their lack of accountability?

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/