elections
Voters reject District 65 referendum
Voters in Evanston-Skokie School District 65 have rejected a $48.2 million bond issue to construct an elementary school in the Fifth ward and expand Haven and Nichols middle schools to prepare for an influx of students. Final, but unofficial vote totals Tuesday showed the bond …
Democratic primary win a cakewalk for Schakowsky in 9th Congressional District
Simon Ribeiro has twice before filed for the 9th Congressional District seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky, once as a Republican and once as a Green Party candidate. But this was the first time Ribeiro, now 30, challenged the popular liberal in …
Results show light election day turnout in Cook County
Representatives of Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office said voter turnout Tuesday was “very light” and there were no major voting problems during the day.
Brown, Munoz battle over who best to modernize circuit courts
Three blocks away in federal court in downtown Chicago, everything is computerized. But in the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office, lawyers say it’s still 1960. Paper and carbon rule. Only 3 percent of cases are filed online.
Supreme Court: 4 battle for Supreme Court seat
The March 20 race for a vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court might be more important than any other on the ballot. The state’s highest court settles matters that can reach into communities throughout Illinois. For example, the court’s seven justices decided whether Rahm Emanuel …
Ald. Ricardo Munoz challenging Dorothy Brown for court clerk
The most prominent Cook County primary race this year is for an office that generally is low-profile: clerk of the Circuit Court. Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd), who has been on the City Council since 1993, is challenging three-term incumbent Dorothy Brown, also of Chicago. At the heart of the race is what many rank-and-file lawyers privately regard as a scandal: the office’s inefficiency in handling court records and the frequency with which key documents go missing. One Chicago politician jokes that the office is so antiquated that it’s the largest consumer of carbon paper anywhere.
Two Republicans face off in the Cook County Board of Review District One
Dan Patlak says he’s the “firewall” on the Cook County Board of Review who keeps the dominant Democrats from engaging in unchecked favoritism. But Sean M. Morrison says the real firewall the board needs is one that would separate Patlak from campaign contributions given by …
Six Democrats float names for Water District
There is no shortage of candidates in this year’s Democratic primary who say they want to help keep the Chicago region’s water clean and out of your basement. Six are vying for three spots on the Democratic ballot for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The three party-backed candidates — incumbent Debra Shore, Kari K. Steele and Patrick Daley Thompson — are squaring off against incumbent Patricia Horton, Stella B. Black and Patricia Young.
Political novice takes on Schakowsky in safe district
In the 2010 general election, liberal Democrat Rep. Jan Schakowsky was opposed for re-election by a real scrapper on the right, Joel Pollak, as well as by a mild-mannered Green Party candidate, Simon Ribeiro.
Political handicappers thought Pollak, who did his best to paint Schakowsky …
Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl
Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”
Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.
Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …
Former Survivor member sues Gingrich for using ‘Eye of Tiger’
A founding member of the rock band Survivor says Newt Gingrich is using the band’s biggest hit — “Eye of the Tiger” — without permission at campaign appearances, according to a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed Monday.
Smith drops out of 17th state House Dem race
Democrat and Evanston attorney Jeff Smith announced he will withdraw his candidacy today from the 17th state House district. Citing reasons, Smith said the district’s redrawing in May 2010 did not provide enough “time for a real primary discussion.” The Primary Election is March 20. …
Voterama in Congress, legislative week ending Dec. 23
House Republicans defeated a Senate bill to extend for 60 days Social Security payroll-tax cuts, long-term jobless benefits and current Medicare pay levels for doctors. Members also defeated a nonbinding Democratic bid to instruct House-Senate negotiators to favor the bipartisan version of the Senate bill over the GOP-drafted House version. Members also blocked a bid by Democrats for the House to disapprove of U.S. Rep. Alan West’s comparison of their party’s political messaging to the propaganda of Nazi minister Joseph Goebbels, who helped conduct the Holocaust.
Four compete for three spots on Winnetka Village Council
Winnetka voters on April 5 will elect three Village Council trustees from among the four candidates who want the non-paying job. Incumbent Trustees Linda Pedian and Jennifer Spinney each are seeking reelection to their second two-year term. Arthur Braun and Richard Kates are running for …
