In the Rear View: Kings, Queens and Pawns on the Political Chess Board

Monday

Signs, events and literature handouts all cost money. We gathered available data on campaign contributions for the various candidates running in the April 5 election. Orland Park United slate topped the village board list. For the election, no candidate reported any campaign contributions.

Throughout Election Night we updated the results as they came in from local county clerk's offices or election commissions. We also updated our throughout the day to give those of you sitting comfortably behind a computer an immediate glimpse of what it was like to be in and around the polling stations. The turnout disappointed many. Most judges went hungry, while some readers caustically replied, boo-hoo.

Springfield has only begun its budget talks for fiscal year 2011-12, but already rumors are fluttering north that greater cuts in local funding will be needed to help pull the state out of the red. Village staff and officials called on taxpayers to join their opposition.

Edward Schussler and Patricia Gira held on to their village board seats. Joining them is newcomer Carole Griffin Ruzich. In total they grabbed 40.31 percent of the vote in Cook and 77.12 percent of the lone precinct in Will Cook. Some blamed independent candidates for making the race too competitive.

Blair Rhode and Christopher Evoy, who ran under Fiscal Voices of Orland, took the two open seats on the Orland Fire Protection District Board. Rhode called their victory a sign that greater transparency and financial responsibility at the Orland Fire Protection District is needed.

The political endorsements of two newcomers to the OPPL board have winners and losers raising eyebrows. And mouths. Denis Ryan, who was endorsed by the mayor and won, vowed to be a free-thinker and dismissed questions of his loyalty. The board’s other newcomer hasn’t been easy to get a hold of.

In one context or another, the term “finance” dominated the run-up to the Orland School District 135 race. It shows no likelihood of subsiding given ongoing county, state and federal woes and because they don’t all agree on the best manner to run the school district.

Since doctors diagnosed her with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Susan Swanson-Cook has been fighting for her life. Meanwhile, her family has been raising money to help ease the financial burden for Susan, a “Vegas gal, a voracious reader and an outdoors enthusiast..."