Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Worth Township Community First Party picks up all township board seats except one.
The core of the Worth Township Board’s leadership was ousted after 16 years, with only one of the incumbents retaining his seat. A slate of challengers billing themselves as the Worth Township Community First Party overpowered the incumbents' slate—United Party of Worth Township—under an avalanche of campaign mailers hammering the incumbents on term limits, public pension double-dipping and salary freezes. The Worth Township Community First Party also promised township homeowners' a one-time, 15-percent tax rebate of the township’s $2-million-plus tax surplus. United Party members accused their opponents of faking endorsements and of ties to the state’s top democrat, Illinois State House Speaker Mike Madigan. The incumbents also complained…
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Follow Patch as we bring you live and updated results for all of tonight's hottest races.
The polls might close at 7 p.m. tonight, but the action on Patch is just getting started. Follow along as we bring you live updated vote totals in all of the local contested races. The months of campaigning will finally come to an end as we the settle once and for all who the voters want leading their village forward for the next four years. Sign up for the Oak Lawn Patch newsletter andfollow us on Facebook. If you missed our mountains of coverage over the last few weeks, read up on all the Oak Lawn local races and candidates at Election Central 2013.
Friday, March 29, 2013
One of this April's hottest races is taking place in Worth Township. A set of longtime incumbents is battling with political newcomers who are mounting an aggressive campaign.
Most township races get little notice, but in recent weeks Worth Township residents have been blanketed with mailers touting what appears to be a fresh approach by a new party of reformers in the upcoming April 9 election. The Worth Township Community First Party’s campaign literature presses all the hot buttons of everything that’s wrong with Illinois government today, including pension reform, term limits and out-of-control salaries footed by the hardworking taxpayer. Connect with Patch: Oak Lawn / Evergreen Park / Palos “We believe in term limits and we’re not going to give ourselves a raise because we know taxpayers don’t want it,” Kevin Hughes, whose challenging four-term incumbent John “Jack” Murphy for town supervisor, said. “…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
If elected on April 9, the Worth Township Community First Party says they will give township homeowners a one-time property tax rebate
Like a chicken in every pot, the Worth Township Community First Party is promising a one-time property tax rebate to all Worth Township homeowners if elected on April 9. Connect with Patch: Oak Lawn / Palos / Evergreen Park The Community First Party is challenging current incumbent board members who are running together as the United Party of Worth Township. After reviewing the most recent township revenues available in the most recent financial audit, the challengers determined that the current $2.4 million tax surplus should be returned to taxpayers still struggling in the sluggish economy, a news release said. On average, the township has carried an approximate $2 million tax surplus. Under the program, Worth Township homeowners would …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Worth Township Community First slate claims incumbents are using stall tactics to keep information from being made public before April 9 election.
Worth Township Supervisor John “Jack” Murphy says that political opponents in the upcoming election are harassing the township board through a recent freedom of information act request seeking 17 years’ worth of financial records. Connect with Patch: Oak Lawn / Evergreen Park / Palos Evergreen Park-resident John Wazio filed six requests last month seeking Worth Township budgets, audits and elected officials’ credit card receipts—102 documents in total—dating back to 1996. The township denied the request, even though the documents are public records, deeming Wazio a “repeat filer.” The scope of the request covers the period that the core of the current township board have been in office—including Murphy, assessor John Toscas, clerk Roger …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Slate of challengers running for Worth Township board declares victory over old guard's announcement of salary and benefit freezes for elected township officials.
Friday, March 8, 2013
A guide to the Worth Township highway commissioner race, pitting two-term incumbent Steve Loulousis against challenger Edward Moody.
Steve Loulousis has been the highway commissioner for Worth Township since 2005 and is running for his third term on the United Party of Worth Township slate. He is the secretary of the Cook County Highway Commission, a past president and finance chairman of the Oak Lawn Park District. He currently lives in Oak Lawn with wife, Lynn, where they raised four sons and enjoy three grandchildren. Edward Moody is running for his first term as highway commssioner on the Worth Township Community First Party ticket. He is the past president of Chicago Ridge School Dist. 127.5. He worked for Cook County as a technician engineer and is an administrator for the Chief Judge at Bridgeview Courthouse. He resides in Chicago with his wife, Vicki, where they…
A guide to the 2013 Worth Township clerk race pitting four-term incumbent Roger Benson against challenger Katie Elwood.
Roger Benson was appointed township clerk to fill a vacancy left by the late Thomas "Bud" Gavin. He was elected to serve as township trustee in 1997. Benson is running with the United Party of Worth Township slate. He owns B.J, McMahon's in Oak Lawn, where he resides with his wife, Jan, and their two children. Katie Elwood is running for her first term as town clerk with the Worth Township Community First Party. She is a graduate of Holy Redeemer and Mother McAuley High School. Elwood is a coordinator for the Fox News St. Baldrick's Challenger, which has raised over $5 million for childhood cancer research. She lives in Evergreen Park with her husband, Patrick, and their four children. Join Patch! Create a free user account and join the …
A guide to the April 2013 Worth town supervisor race, pitting incumbent John Toscas against challenger John H. Dietrick.
John Z. Toscas has served as Worth Townshp Assessor since 2000. He is a lifelong resident of Worth Township, graduating from Carl Sandburg High School. Toscas is an attorney and also a trustee of Crestwood, where he resides with his wife, Ann, and three children. He is running on the United Party of Worth Township Party slate. He is also a running for mayor of Crestwood. John H. Dietrick is a graudate of Marist High School. He has a masters in financial management and accounter from Keller Graduate School of Management. He worked for 12 years in the Cook County Assessor's Office, earning the rank of senior systems analyst. Dietrick is running with the Worth Township Community First Party. He lives in Oak Lawn with wife, Michele, and 9-year…
A guide to the candidates running for seats on the Worth Township Board in the spring election.
Voters in Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Alsip, Blue Island, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Crestwood, Merrionette Park, Hometown, Bridgeview and Robbins will be casting votes for eight seats on the Worth Township Board. Worth Township is roughly bounded by Western on the east, Harlem on the west, 87th Street to the north, and 135th Street to the south. While some argue that townships are archaic relics of the past, originally established to connect far flung communities in rural areas to the county seat, today's township provides social services to youth, seniors and the disadvantaged, as well as oversees roads in unincorporated areas. Two slates are vying for seats on the Worth Township Board, which include the incumbents' United Party …
J
8:42 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
I think it says something when the majority of incumbents lose. This seems to be the case in Worth & Oak Lawn. People unhappy with the current admin. Time for a change. more ›