The Doings Western Springs

Dillard receives service award

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:49:36 -0500

HINSDALE — The Life Services Network Award was presented to state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th of Hinsdale, on Nov. 9 during a visit to Park Place in Elmhurst. The award was given for his “commitment and dedication to advancing quality older adult services,” officials said. …

Lipinski’s call for debt reduction meets with approval at Chamber

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:49:02 -0500

COUNTRYSIDE — A problem-solving, bipartisan approach to debt reduction and job creation is key to the nation’s future, U. S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-3rd, from Western Springs, told business and community leaders Monday. Lipinski said he was disappointed the Simpson-Bowles budget, developed by leaders of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, drew little support in March for a combination of spending cuts and revenue increases to slash the federal deficit by $4 trillion during the next decade. “Out of 435 members in the House, it got only 38 votes,” he said. “It was attacked from both the left …

County commissioners give preliminary OK to new district map

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:26:16 -0500

A proposed map redrawing boundaries for the Cook County Board of Commissioners districts received overwhelming preliminary approval Friday. Fifteen of the 17 commissioners signed off on the plan, which is slated for a final vote Tuesday. The lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner Earlean Collins (1st District), who has voiced concerns that population shifts could result in the African-American community losing one of its five seats on the board, which has a total of 17 commissioners. Collins did not return calls seeking comment on Friday. Commissioner William Beavers (4th) did not vote on the proposal. If approved on Tuesday, the …

Dillard outspends Nybo in 24th District State Senate primary

Mon, 28 May 2012 08:13:47 -0500

Incumbent Kirk Dillard outspent challenger Chris Nybo by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the campaign leading up to the March 20 Republican primary for the newly-drawn 24th State Senate District. Dillard defeated Nybo convincingly, 19,145 to 11,928. Financial reports for the period Jan. 1-March 31 from the Illinois State Board of Elections show Dillard spent $248,129, compared to $103,654 by Nybo. Dillard also received substantially more financial support for his campaign during the same period. The incumbent from Hinsdale had contributions totaling $240,450, and Nybo had $42,604. Dillard’s campaign financial report also shows $30,446 from in-kind contributions, which are …

Sandack pushes for state repealer

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:32:21 -0500

The Subcommittee on State Government has advanced legislation creating an Office of the Repealer, charged with weeding out and eliminating redundant and outdated laws and regulations. Senate Bill 3681, sponsored by state Sens. Ron Sandack and Kirk Dillard, was introduced in response to the many state laws that remain on the books long after their purpose has expired. The aged polices, and the associated red tape, can hurt Illinois’ employers and hinder economic activity, Sandack noted. As envisioned, the Office of the Repealer would act similarly to the State CLEAR Commission, a body that recently completed an update of the …

Sandack: Health care contract issues remain

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:56:12 -0500

Senate lawmakers worked to move bills through the legislative process before this week’s deadline, advancing hundreds of measures addressing issues that state Sen. Ron Sandack (R-23rd District) said range from criminal justice and procurement matters to state financial reporting and veterans’ assistance. Also this week, the Legislative Audit Commission met to review the handling of an almost $7 billion state health care contract, which was sharply criticized in recent weeks by the auditor general. A new report by a financial ratings agency once again placed Illinois’ budget woes in the spotlight. Hundreds of bills were approved by Senate lawmakers this …

Fire damages state senator’s office

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:47:28 -0500

The building that state Sen. Ron Sandack (R-21st District) recently moved his district office into suffered fire damage this week. The building is destroyed and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the Monday fire. Senator Sandack said his unit suffered mostly smoke and water damage; and he was able to recover some of the office items. At this time, it is unclear where Sandack will relocate his district office and he is operating remotely. Constituents are still able to contact Sandack at (630) 737-3516, (217) 782-8107 for his Springfield office, or by email at senatorsandack@gmail.com. “The fire has …

Durkin faces Tea Party challenge in primary

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:04:29 -0500

Illinois has a spending problem, and Laura Reigle, a Tea Party-backed former Democratic committee woman who will face off against incumbent state Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs in the Republican primary for the Illinois 82nd House District, believes she can be part of the solution. “Continuous tax increases are simply not the solution to getting Illinois out of debt,” said the Lemont resident. She said she’s ready to cut expenses to help the state get back on its financial feet. Durkin, who is assistant minority leader, said fixing the state’s financial condition also is at the top of his …

Biggert pushes forward on homeless education

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:52:21 -0500

U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th) is applauding committee passage of legislation she wrote for homeless kids as part of a bill to revamp the nation’s kindergarten through grade 12 education guidelines. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Tuesday voted on a House education package (House Resolution 3990), designed to reform No Child Left Behind. At Biggert’s request, the bill included provisions from legislation, H.R. 1253, the Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act, which she introduced last March to build upon the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth programs implemented under NCLB. “Being without …

Republicans flex conservative muscles in 3rd District race

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:20:05 -0500

Touting conservative tenets, a manufacturing supervisor, an attorney and an insurance agent all are vying for the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. But some Republicans are more conservative and true to their party than others, according to Richard Grabowski, a plant materials supervisor from south suburban Hometown. Grabowski, who has been endorsed by Tea Party organizations in Homer-Lockport and Lemont, as well as the Worth Township Republicans, released the voting record of opponent Jim Falvey, an attorney and entrepreneur from Western Springs. Falvey has voted in six Democratic primaries and only two Republican ones since 1996, Grabowski said. …

Chicago cop challenges Lipinski in 3rd District

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:20:01 -0500

Working as a campaign organizer for Barack Obama inspired Chicago police officer Farah Baqai to challenge incumbent Daniel Lipinski from Western Springs for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. Baqai, 44, of Chicago came to the United States from Pakistan in 1989 and became a citizen in 1998 while raising two daughters. She returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and master’s degrees in political science and justice studies and family law. “I worked as a community organizer in 2008 in Wisconsin and Indiana,” Baqai said. “In 2010 I had numerous encounters with constituents …

Dillard, Nybo react to governor’s budget

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:34:04 -0500

The two candidates running in the March 20 Republican primary for state senator in the newly-drawn 24th Senate District both are giving some kudos to Gov. Pat Quinn for putting a focus on doing something about pension reform and Medicaid during his Feb. 22 budget address. But incumbent Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and challenger Chris Nybo of Elmhurst, the state representative in the 41st House District, have very different takes on why they are best-suited to help in the process of the pension and Medicaid problems. Dillard said his experience as chief of staff for then-Gov. Jim Edgar in helping …

Dillard says letter not contrary to statements on Senate remap

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:13:51 -0500

State Sen. Kirk Dillard , R-24th of Hinsdale, said a letter he sent in July 2011 to York Township Republican precinct committeemen does not contradict his statements that it was a rhetorical question when he was asked by the Democratic Senate president if he was OK with representing Elmhurst when legislative districts were redrawn last year. Dillard’s opponent in the March 20 Republican primary, state Rep. Chris Nybo, R-41st of Elmhurst, said he “got squeezed in a redistricting quandary” and chose to run against Dillard because he had a special deal done for him by Senate President John Cullerton. After …

Dillard, Nybo to square off in Republican Senate primary

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 08:17:12 -0500

The March 20 Republican primary for state senator in the newly-drawn 24th District includes an incumbent who says his opponent has never finished a term he has started and a challenger who says the incumbent has been in office long enough. Incumbent Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale is being challenged by state Rep. Chris Nybo, R-41st, of Elmhurst in the Republican primary. “There is an important distinction between us,” Dillard said. “His reputation is one of volatility and opportunism. He has never served out a term for anything. The man has blind ambition.” Nybo said he served about four years in …

Sandack says CAT out-of-state expansion may be just the beginning

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:18:47 -0500

Illinois’ problems with job creation were highlighted this week when longtime Illinois company Caterpillar acknowledged the state’s poor business and economic climate would have prevented it from considering Illinois for a significant expansion, said state Sen. Ron Sandack (R-21st). In other news, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans to push for a statewide handgun registry that could make felons of downstate and suburban handgun owners, and the state’s Medicaid program continues to draw attention. Mayor Emanuel’s call Thursday for a statewide gun registry is expected to draw fierce opposition from gun advocates and many downstate lawmakers. According to media reports, …