Politics & Government
Bury Wins Village Clerk Jane Quinlan’s Endorsement for Mayor
Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane Quinlan endorses Sandra Bury for mayor, stating, "I truly believe this is a better direction for all the residents in Oak Lawn."
With just a few days left to spare before voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Oak Lawn mayoral challenger Sandra Bury won the endorsement of incumbent village clerk Jane Quinlan.
Quinlan, whose been distancing herself from the battling village board candidates, is running as an independent. She’s stayed away from the controversy that’s marked the contentious 2013 Oak Lawn elections.
Over 1,800 residents, however, have already cast their votes for mayor and village trustee.
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Read up on all the Oak Lawn Village Board candidates in Election Central 2013.
Asked why she endorsed underdog Bury so late in the game, Quinlan said she’d been thinking about it for a while.
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“I think Sandy could be a positive leader for Oak Lawn,” the village clerk said. “I really listened to Sandy and what she believes in and like it.”
Both Bury and Quinlan received the endorsement of attorney Burt Odelson, best known for challenging Rahm Emanuel's residency in the 2011 Chicago mayoral race, who also serves as legal counsel for over 20 municipalities and school boards.
About 11,000 mailing pieces hit residents’ mailboxes on Saturday, listing the reasons why Quinlan “believes in Sandra Bury.”
“After eight years I can definitely say: ‘It’s time for action—not just words—for positive leadership in our Mayor’s office!’ I truly believe this is a better direction for all the residents in Oak Lawn.”
There is no love lost between Quinlan and the mayor, Dave Heilmann. Both ran together four years ago on the former Unity Party slate, before the slate later split over political differences.
Quinlan and former Unity Party slate mates, Trustees Alex Olejniczak (Dist. 2), Tom Duhig (Dist. 4) and Tom Phelan (Dist. 6), sued Heilmann in 2011 over improperly expending funds raised by the former Unity Party.
A Cook County judge dismissed the lawsuit last summer. Olejniczak and Duhig are also running for re-election; Phelan has decided to step down.
The mayor has chosen newcomer,
Heilmann said by email that he has no political endorsements because “I honestly don’t ask for them.”
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