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Proviso Probe

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

A07, election analysis

Congratulations to all the candidates elected and re-elected yesterday. And congratulations to those who ran and contributed to the public discourse.

What does it all mean?

The dominant trend was consolidation of power. However, my perspective may be skewed by having more personal contact with the races in Forest Park, District 88, District 209 and Maywood.

Forest Park went from a 3-2 divide on the village council to a presumed 4-1 split. District 88 (Bellwood & Stone Park elementary schools) went from a 4-3 divide to a 6-1 divide. District 209 (Proviso Township High Schools) went from a 4-3 split to a 5-2 split with one of the minority board members scheduled to leave the board in July (he will be replaced by the majority). In Maywood the allies of the mayor won all three seats up for election.

However, there were some countervailing examples. In Westchester the Progressive Party swept all three trustee seats. This means that Village President Paul Gattuso and his allies will be in the minority. Also the Broadview TEA Party swept all three seats to create a significant opposition block to Village President Henry Vicenik. In both communities political opposition was probably energized by Chicago Joe's Tea Room applying to open a strip club.

In Melrose Park the trustee candidates supported by Village President Ron Serpico handily defeated challengers backed by Proviso Township Trustee Jesse Martinez. Martinez has his political roots in Stone Park. He's a friend Beniamino Mazzulla, the village president of Stone Park. Martinez sees his political future as being in jumping to Melrose Park, a significantly larger community with a large and growing Latino population.

In Bellwood the referendum to build a new library was defeated for the second time. Evidence has now emerged that an anonymous mailing attacking the library referendum was paid for by a political ally of village president Frank Pasquale. By defeating the referendum and helping to dump the opposition on the elementary school board Pasquale showed that he remains the head-politician-in-charge in Bellwood, an overwhelmingly African-American suburb.

Voters re-elected two of three trustees to Triton College. Irene Moskal Del Giudice, identified as the lone independent voice on the board by the Wednesday Journal, narrowly defeated Stephen Kubiczky. The leading vote getter was Thomas Gary of Oak Park.

Gary had the support of the political organization aligned with board president Mark Stephens. He also had the support of the media outlet doing the best journalism on Triton, the Wednesday Journal. And he had the support of the Proviso Township Democratic Organization. Proviso is the largest township in the district. Gary's candidacy was initially pushed by Oak Park Democratic Committeeman Don Harmon. Harmon once again showed himself to be a master deal maker on the behalf of strong candidates. Harmon was first elected to a newly created Senate seat without facing opposition in either the primary or general elections.

Gary will be the first African-American to serve on the Triton board of trustees. And in Forest Park, Rory Hoskins will be the first African-American to serve as commissioner. Like Gary, Hoskins posted dominating numbers. Hoskins was the leading vote getter, exceeding the mayor's vote total by 300 votes.

To evaluate the individual “mayors” (most of them are really village presidents) in Proviso.

Power waxing
  • Frank Pasquale, Bellwood—won in schools and library, unopposed in village races
  • Ron Serpico, Melrose Park—won in village and schools
  • Henderson Yarbrough, Maywood—won in village
  • Anthony Calderone, Forest Park—won in village

Power waning
  • Paul Gattuso, Westchester—lost in village
  • Henry Vicenik, Broadview—lost in village

Yesterday was also a defeat for Proviso Democratic Committeeman Karen Yarbrough, wife of Henderson. She put her political capital into three races, District 88, District 89 and District 209. Her allies were swept in D88, D89 (Maywood and Melrose Park elementary schools) and lost significant ground in D209.

Arnie Bryant, the president of the Bellwood library board and a strong proponent of the new library, is a contributor to Proviso Probe.

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19 Comments:

  • My condolences to all concerned.

    Do you have any handle on why Robin Foreman, a completely new candidate, was the #1 vote getter in D. 209 ?

    (and I hope you'll do a follow up report regarding campaign contribution in that race as well the Forest Park committee contest)

    By Blogger chris miller, at 10:29 AM, April 18, 2007  

  • District 209 results:
    Cox--------6,145
    Kelly------5,212
    Foreman----5,191
    McDermott--4,929
    others less

    One D209 observer offered the theory that Cox did well by getting his name ID up. Blacks assumed he was Black.

    I will offer the speculation Boyd succeeded in keeping McDermott from getting elected. Both are from Westchester. Was undermining McDermott and his slate the goal of Boyd's candidacy?

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 10:51 AM, April 18, 2007  

  • It would be a shame if Trustee Perkins was completely marginalized by the new super-majority Board of Trustees aligned with Mayor Yarbrough in Maywood. She has her heart in the right place.

    It would also be a shame if Trustee Perkins completely marginalized herself by not looking at all sides of an issue and only stood in opostion to the majority. Then her head would not be in the right place.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:30 AM, April 18, 2007  

  • Foreman was endorsed by the West Suburban Journal weekly distributed each week thru out Proviso. The WSJ is the paper Carl does not reference because Yarbrough tells him not to. But its the paper the people prefer. They lose.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:54 AM, April 18, 2007  

  • Chris Welch and Nicole Trottie are smarter than the three stooges, Yarbrough, Flowers, and Nyberg, put together, on their best day.

    Will the following please exit the door lit "LOSER"

    Mr. Karen Yarbrough
    Mrs. Charels Flowers
    John Wicks
    Toni Dorris
    Della Patterson
    Carl Nybers

    Don't let the door hit ya.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:12 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • The West Suburban Journal is not respected...simply tolerated.

    It's a rag...plain and simple.

    You can't call yourself a journailst and write for that tabloid...it's an oxymoron.

    Funny...The West Suburban Journal endorsed Janice Johnson...and Janice didn't even answer their candidate questions for the endorsement...go figure!

    L. Nicole Trottie
    The H.J.I.C- Head Joke In Charge

    Kevin Williams
    Believes Porn belongs in our grade schools

    Josh Adams
    Couldn't write a real story with journalistic integrity to save his life.

    As an editor...you can't be taken serious when you create a link to the Proviso Insider on your website. Tacky is as tacky does!

    Simply put...these people are classless!

    It's time to start a campaign against the advertisers who support this rag.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:32 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • I used to write a column for West Suburban Journal.

    I understand that many people were very fond of Seth Stern, but he's gone.

    I don't think it's useful in the quest to make Proviso better to attack Josh Adams.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 12:37 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Carl, the gripers are simply bitter, against anyone of a different opinion.

    Journalist have thick skin. I don't think Trottie cares about people's opinion, as I don't think you or Josh should either.

    To lil man... As far as "starting a campaign against advertisers", you couldn't even start a successful campaign to win 88, 89, or 209.

    Sit down and shut up.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:49 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Funny Carl, they weren't whining "ban the paper" when your Proviso Probe ad appeared in the West Suburban Journal.

    Hey, people pay money to advertise their party, blog, or whatever on the internet or print, they get what they pay for.

    Perhaps the "whiners" got what they paid for - ZILCH

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:56 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Nicole, you wrote, "they get what they pay for." To what extent does advertising revenue affect decisions about what West Suburban Journal covers? Or West Suburban Journal's editorial positions?

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 1:18 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Carl,

    I can't answer that question, because advertising revenue has little affect on politcal or editorial positions.

    Ask Don Williams. He used to advertise in the WSJ.

    When I put my foot down against Dons' "controlling interest" in the paper, during a meeting I had with he and Karen, the following day he broke his binding advertising contract with a balance due to the tune of $10,000.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:33 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Carl,

    Why not attack Josh Adams? Here’s the deal…I have a bone to pick with Josh and I have to get this off my chest.

    Here’s my problem with Josh.

    Months back…Josh wrote a couple of pieces about District 209 and made numerous damaging and unwarranted allegations about Theresa Kelly. That’s fine…everyone is entitled to their opinion regardless if they omit facts that contradict their views…even when they are supposed to be objective. I have no real problem with that.

    Now, for the election, Josh sent an email to all the school board candidates to come to his office and interview, and from there they would dole out endorsements. When I spoke to Theresa Kelly, she mentioned that she was going to go there and interview. I asked her, why would she go through the interview process when she knew her chances of receiving their endorsement was absolutely zero! Theresa told me she was aware of that, but for the sake of extending an olive branch, being diplomatic and also to show that those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing, she chose to participate. I thought that was pretty big of her…she is a much better person than me!

    So, Theresa Kelly takes time out from her campaigning and drives to meet Josh at his office for this interview, which I commend her for…and what was the outcome? Instead of Josh Adams endorsing or not endorsing her, he escalated his attack and completely trashed her in his editorial. I found that completely uncalled for! Here you have a candidate (and this could have been any candidate for the sake of this example) who took time out of her schedule to meet with Josh Adams, and how did he thank her? Josh Adams thanked her by (excuse my French) thoroughly shitting on her consideration and her name to boot. Josh listened to zero percent of what she had to say in that interview, which calls me to believe that this trashing was a mere formality.

    I find Josh’s actions to be low class by nature, disrespectful, inconsiderate and just plain wrong. Nobody is asking Josh to be a fan of Theresa Kelly or even agree with her views. As a community, what we should expect from Josh is civility, class and professionalism. At this point in time, I find him to be devoid of all three!

    Carl, the bottom line is this, if you like Josh, fine…I can respect that. But I do not subscribe to his school of thought that you trash people who show you consideration. If I was Theresa Kelly, I would have told Josh Adams to go screw himself (and not that kindly)…but as I mentioned before…Theresa Kelly is a much bigger person than me, and for that she should be commended. She ran a good campaign regardless of being trashed by Josh Adams, Nicole Trottie, Eugene Moore, Chrissy Welch and Robin Foreman (Robin Foreman is the one pictured as the traveling woman in the Theresa Kelly attack ad; Robin says she wants the board to come together…I guess she forgot about that when she prostituted herself by posing as Theresa Kelly for Chrissy Welch’s hate campaign. Not a great start to board unity huh Robin?). Anyway, Theresa Kelly stared in the face of the enemy under adverse circumstances and fought back! Now that’s what I call class, professionalism and calm under fire.

    Theresa Kelly…Congratulations…You earned this one!

    As for Josh Adams…he could learn a lot from the character of Theresa Kelly…but until then…

    Josh Adams can kiss my ass! And that’s real!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:42 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Carl,

    See how quick the responses come when you speak of drying up the West Suburban Journals revenue streams.

    Nothing like a quick reality check...

    Now, let us proceed!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:51 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Carl, I have to add that to credit of each party; Dist 88, Dist 89, Dist 209 and Park District, not one single advertiser/politician asked a question about WSJ's endorsement or a quid pro quo.

    That sytle of politics is what we need more of in Proviso, and that's exactly what we got April 17.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:03 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Lil man.... I think you're the one who is dried up!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:05 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • I'm seriously considering a policy of requiring comments to be respectful.

    We can discuss issues without being disrespectful toward each other.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 2:15 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • I rejected a comment for discussing someone's body.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 2:29 PM, April 18, 2007  

  • Yes, showing respect would be a nice idea -- otherwise, why not just post at FPF ?

    Anyway - my head for figures was obviously foggy early yesterday morning, -- but still I'm wondering why did Foreman do so much better than Johnson ?

    And why did the Proviso First party do so well -- but so did the candidate (Kelly) whom their literature specifically attacked.


    Have you seen a breakdown by village showing who did better where ?

    By Blogger chris miller, at 8:03 AM, April 19, 2007  

  • For the life of me I can't figure out why Theresa Kelly got reelected to the school board! I don't care how "clean" a campaign she ran. That whole board should be voted out since Proviso scores have been so low for so long. Seriously what is wrong with us? All the papers were against her. Anyone with an ounce of sense can see she's part of the problem not part of the solution. Holy shit! What are people thinking with this long term problem of a woman?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:57 PM, April 25, 2007  

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