SXU Hosts Careers In Public Service
Former Chicago Alderman Virginia Rugai and State Senator Bill Cunningham discuss their paths into public service at Saint Xavier University on March 25.
Bill Cunningham
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Thursday, March 14, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Illinois Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Local state lawmakers react to Illinois Senate's passage of same-sex marriage bill.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Local Lawmakers React to Illinois Senate's Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Bill
With the bill legalizing same-sex marriage clearing the Illinois Senate, it's now up to the Illinois House to make it a reality. See how your local senator voted.
Illinois took a giant step closer toward legalized same-sex marriage with the passage of the marriage equality bill – SB 10 – in the Illinois Senate on Thursday afternoon. The Senate passed the bill – with 34 in favor, 21 against and two abstentions. The bill still has one hurdle left to clear when it goes before the Illinois House where it needs 60 votes to pass. See how each member of the Illinois Senate voted, by clicking on the pdf. If passed, the state law defining marriage would be changed from an act between a man and a woman, to two people. State Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District) said he initially had reservations about the bill after attempts to pass it during last month's veto session. The Beverly Democrat brought his …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Cunningham Tops Bellar in 18th District Senate Contest
Bill Cunningham will move from the Illinois House to the Senate after grabbing more than 20,000 vote over his Republican opponent, according to unofficial numbers Tuesday night.
For the second time in as many years, Democrat Bill Cunningham appears to have defeated Republican challenger Barbara Bellar for a legislative seat downstate. For the 18th District Senate seat, Cunningham took in 55,121 votes, compared to Bellar's 31,741 votes, with 183 out of 192 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. He currently is the 35th District State Representative. Cunningham thanked the voters, who he believes chose him because of his work in the 35th District. "A number of them were able to look at my record in Spring over the last two years and were pleased with what I did in the House," he said. Cunningham remained largely out of the media spotlight during the primary and general election. When asked by Patch, …
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JB
1:39 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Never had a doubt in my mind that Mr. Cunningham would not win this election- His actions speak louder than words! He is never too busy to get involved. more ›
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Patch on Politics
'My Life is an Open Book,' GOP Senate Candidate Tells Kadner and Voters
A day after a columnist raises questions about why Barbara Bellar calls herself a nun and where she earned her medical degree, Bellar offers a rebuttal and posts her credentials online.
In a rebuttal to Phil Kadner, the longtime Southtown columnist who tried to ask Senate candidate Barbara Bellar questions about her education and background, Bellar says she suspects Kadner has "significant ulterior motives" in raising the issue. He's "voted Democratic" for the last eight years, says Bellar. Kadner, at a recent candidate forum in Palos Hills, tried to ask the doctor from Burr Ridge who's seeking the 18th Senate District seat why she describes herself as a nun in campaign literature when the prioress of the order says she did not take vows. And he tried to ask her about her medical degree from Mexico. He says she avoided his questions, and that bothered him. Today, Bellar sent a letter to Kadner and the newspaper, and sent …
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Emily
10:52 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Bob - I did what you asked and went to her bio. This is the last sentence. Dr. Bellar served as a Benedictine nun for five years and remains active in her church. This is a false statement. (Maybe not the be active in her church part, but serving as a nun) more ›
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Patch on Politics
Did Barbara Bellar Fib About Being a Nun?
The 18th District Senate candidate says she was a Benedictine nun for five years, but the prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago says otherwise.
“Barbara Bellar, State Senate, There’s ‘Nun’ Better.” Those words are stamped at the top of Republican State Senate candidate Barbara Bellar's website. The play on words reflects the time the 65-year-old Burr Ridge woman spent as a Benedictine nun before earning medical and law degrees. But Sun-Times Media columnist Phil Kadner has been pressing Bellar — who faces State Rep. Bill Cunningham, a Democrat, for the 18th District Senate seat — for more detail on her background. The district takes in parts of Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Park, Palos Hills and the 19th Ward on the Southwest Side of Chicago. In a column published Tuesday, Kadner writes: ... when asked if she ever took vows of fidelity and obedience she refused to return telephone…
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lgables
9:30 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I hope that Bellar is transparent with her background, as I would expect any candidate or public office holder to be - including President Obama. The columnist laments, "What troubles me the most is that someone running for public office simply refuses to answer questions in person or return phone calls challenging her credentials." Does this columnist have the same concern about President Obama… more ›
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Patch on Politics
State Senate: The Tribune Tells You Who to Vote For
The Tribune likes two Democrats and one Republican in the Southland's State Senate races. Hutchinson, Cunningham and Montalvo are endorsed.
The editorial board of the Chicago Tribune just wrapped up its endorsements for State Senate candidates, giving the nod to two Democrats and one Republican in Chicago’s south suburban districts — the 18th, 19th and 40th. In the 18th, Barbara Ruth Bellar seems built for Tribune favor — or a talk show — but the endorsement went to Democrat Bill Cunningham. Republican Edgar Montalvo, of Tinley Park, a pro-business underdog, won the paper’s backing over Democrat Michael Hastings of Orland Hills. Both are military men — Montalvo served two Army tours in Iraq; Hastings graduated from West Point and served one tour. And the Trib held its right-leaning nose and gave thumbs up to Democrat Toi Hutchinson in the 40th over Frankfort Republican “Tuck” …
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Bob
8:36 am on Friday, October 26, 2012
Ben, I'm very happy that the staff of the Patch have been able to find gainful employment. You've been more fortunate than about 23 million other Americans during the Obama depression! What you do is give sparks to a fire, and then fan the flames to make it burn. That's fine. But don't forget that the reason people keep coming to the Patch is to see what posters write, not what the "author" … more ›
Friday, October 12, 2012
18th State Senate Candidates Respond to 'Obamacare'
See both Bill Cuningham and Barbara Bellar's full responses recorded during the League of Women Voters' candidates forum on Wednesday.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
State Senate Candidate Barbara Bellar's YouTube Video Tops 1 Million Views
The video is called "Obamacare Summed Up in One Sentence" and it comes from a speech of Bellar's at a Women For Romney event on Aug. 21.
A YouTube video posted by Republican Illinois State Senate candidate Barbara Bellar, a Burr Ridge resident, has gone viral. "Obamacare Summed Up in One Sentence," which can be seen above, had 1,014,735 views as of 9:06 a.m. Friday. It has also gotten attention on The Blaze Wednesday. Bellar is running against Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th) to represent Illinois' 18th State Senate District in Sprinfield. In the video Bellar uses her experience as a doctor to hit back on some of the initiatives included in Affordable Care Act that was passed in 2010. Follow us on Facebook: Evergreen Park / Oak Lawn / Beverly-Mt. Greenwood
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Rock Bobster
9:23 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Gee, I wonder where her opponent, Bill Cunnigham, is hiding? Let's get this straight, she's running against a 19th Ward political hack who worked for the County police department, but wasn't a police officer (he was a "communications director"), who's proposed NO solutions to our debt and spending crisis in Illinois, NO ideas for reform of the public pension systems and has given NO statement on … more ›
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Grant Training for Community and Faith-Based Organizations
State Reps. Bill Cunningham (35th) and Kelly Burke (36th) are hosting a free, half-day workshop in partnership with IDHS for non-profit organizations on Sept. 18. Deadline to register is this Friday.
Do you work for a non-profit or faith-based organization? State Representatives Bill Cunningham (35th District) and Kelly Burke (36th District) are partnering with the Illinois Department of Human Services to host a half-day grantsmanship workshop. Representatives from community and faith-based agencies and organizations will learn how to create effective programs or fine-tune an existing programs. The workshop is taught by IDHS representatives and includes: The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Green Hills Library at 8611 W. 103rd St. in Palos Hills. The workshop is FREE and pre-registration is mandatory. Registration is limited to 40 participants and will be on a first come, first served basis. On-site registration…
Nolan
10:15 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hopefully you follow it up with communication to the representatives' offices, but this is a good start. Also, using government funds to support religious organizations is illegal. It goes against the separation of church and state. more ›
mj smith
11:53 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
If marriage is such a "religious" thing why do you need a government license to do it? more ›