Slates Battle for Worth Township Seats

In one of the few locally contested elections, two slates are running for Worth Township commissioner and trustee seats. The entire board is up for reelection in the April consolidated election.

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Worth Township encompasses the communities of Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Hometown, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Alsip,  Merrionette Park and sections of Blue Island, Robbins, Crestwood, Palos Heights and Bridgeview.

The United Party of Worth Township slate includes all current incumbents. Roger A. Benson was appointed to fill the remaining term of who passed away last July. Benson is running for his first four-year term.

Challenging the incumbents is the Worth Township Community First Party.

What does a township do, you ask? Townships were formed in the late 19th century as a way to link rural, unincorporated and far flung areas with the county seat. By law, Illinois townships today are charged with providing financial and/or social services to the poor, seniors and youth. The township also assists with property assessments and maintaining roads in unincorporated areas.

Illinois is one of 20 states that still maintain the township form of government, and has the most townships of any state with 1,400, the Chicago Tribune reported in Seven Ways To Shrink Government.

Townships have recently fallen under fire as archaic relics that collect taxes to fund their own existence. Further, a Better Goverment Association investigative report says most of the services and jobs that townships provide can easily by absorbed by the county or nearby communities.

Last year, Illinois State Senate leader John Cullerton introduced a bill that would abolish the township form of government, and presumably put more money back into taxpayers' pockets.

According to financial statements provided to the Illinois Comptroller's Office for fiscal year ending in 2010, Worth Township carried $10.409 million in assets, including $2.261 million in cash reserves. Breaking it down, the township reported $4.567 million in liabilities and total net assets of $5.841 million.

By compairson, of Cook's 30 townships, Thornton carried the largest cash reserve for the same fiscal year for $14.629 million. (Source: Better Government Association)

Supporters vehemently defend townships and the services they provide to constitutents.

Worth Township offers a food pantry, senior mini-bus, dental clinic, children's summer day camp, youth commission, general assistance fund, and help with property assessments and senior home exemptions.

The following candidates will appear on the April 9 ballot:

Worth Township

UNITED PARTY OF WORTH TOWNSHIP

John F. Murphy, Supervisor

Roger A. Benson, Clerk

John Z. Toscas, Assessor

Steve Loulousis, Highway Commissioner

Michael E. Mahoney, Trustee

John "Jack" Lind, Trustee

David J. Walsh, Trustee

Marianne Viverito Chmela, Trustee

WORTH TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY FIRST PARTY

Kevin M. Hughes, Supervisor

Katie Elwood, Clerk

John H. Dietrick, Assessor

Edward Michael Moody, Highway Commissioner

Richard J. Lewandowski, Trustee

Norm Anderson, Trustee

Eamon McMahon, Trustee

Patrick J. Hanlon, Trustee

Source: Worth Township

Palos Patch editor Nick Swedberg contributed to this report.

Read more local election coverage:

• EP Election Board Says No to Good Candidacy (Evergreen Park Patch)

• Sexton Running to Keep Himself, Village Healthy (Evergreen Park Patch)

• EP Mayoral Challenger Says She Will Fight To Get on April Ballot (Evergreen Park Patch)

• Filing Deadline for Candidate Petitions Reached (Evergreen Park Patch)

• Shawn Good's Mayoral Petitions Challenged (Evergreen Park Patch)

• Higher Learning: Moraine Valley Trustee Seats on April Ballot (Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park Patch)

• The Dance Begins: Oak Lawn Village Board Matchups (Oak Lawn Patch)

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