Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Bill Cunningham will move from the Illinois House to the Senate after grabbing more than 20,000 vote over his Republican opponent, according to unofficial numbers Tuesday night.
For the second time in as many years, Democrat Bill Cunningham appears to have defeated Republican challenger Barbara Bellar for a legislative seat downstate. For the 18th District Senate seat, Cunningham took in 55,121 votes, compared to Bellar's 31,741 votes, with 183 out of 192 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. He currently is the 35th District State Representative. Cunningham thanked the voters, who he believes chose him because of his work in the 35th District. "A number of them were able to look at my record in Spring over the last two years and were pleased with what I did in the House," he said. Cunningham remained largely out of the media spotlight during the primary and general election. When asked by Patch, …
Sunday, October 28, 2012
In the past week, you might have missed a sex crime arrest toss request, perversion files, a homemade haunt, nun questions, breast cancer resources, government budgets, new firefighters and other Orland Park news.
MONDAY Digits Math Program Still Drawing Complaints in District 135 One school board member said her daughter went from a B in math to failing since the computer-based math pilot began, citing glitches and a lack of guidebooks for parents among other concerns. Adequate Yearly Progress goals also were reviewed at the Oct. Orland Park Looking at Possible $440,000 Surplus for 2013 Budget (Live Blog Transcript) Orland Park trustees and staff discussed proposed items for the 2013 fiscal year budget Monday night. Read through our live blog transcript from the meeting. TUESDAY New Lenox Police Arrest Retired White Sox Star Carlton Fisk Police found the Hall of Famer in a cornfield stupor behind the wheel of his pickup truck near Gougar and …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
A day after a columnist raises questions about why Barbara Bellar calls herself a nun and where she earned her medical degree, Bellar offers a rebuttal and posts her credentials online.
In a rebuttal to Phil Kadner, the longtime Southtown columnist who tried to ask Senate candidate Barbara Bellar questions about her education and background, Bellar says she suspects Kadner has "significant ulterior motives" in raising the issue. He's "voted Democratic" for the last eight years, says Bellar. Kadner, at a recent candidate forum in Palos Hills, tried to ask the doctor from Burr Ridge who's seeking the 18th Senate District seat why she describes herself as a nun in campaign literature when the prioress of the order says she did not take vows. And he tried to ask her about her medical degree from Mexico. He says she avoided his questions, and that bothered him. Today, Bellar sent a letter to Kadner and the newspaper, and sent …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The 18th District Senate candidate says she was a Benedictine nun for five years, but the prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago says otherwise.
“Barbara Bellar, State Senate, There’s ‘Nun’ Better.” Those words are stamped at the top of Republican State Senate candidate Barbara Bellar's website. The play on words reflects the time the 65-year-old Burr Ridge woman spent as a Benedictine nun before earning medical and law degrees. But Sun-Times Media columnist Phil Kadner has been pressing Bellar — who faces State Rep. Bill Cunningham, a Democrat, for the 18th District Senate seat — for more detail on her background. The district takes in parts of Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Park, Palos Hills and the 19th Ward on the Southwest Side of Chicago. In a column published Tuesday, Kadner writes: ... when asked if she ever took vows of fidelity and obedience she refused to return telephone…
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The Tribune likes two Democrats and one Republican in the Southland's State Senate races. Hutchinson, Cunningham and Montalvo are endorsed.
The editorial board of the Chicago Tribune just wrapped up its endorsements for State Senate candidates, giving the nod to two Democrats and one Republican in Chicago’s south suburban districts — the 18th, 19th and 40th. In the 18th, Barbara Ruth Bellar seems built for Tribune favor — or a talk show — but the endorsement went to Democrat Bill Cunningham. Republican Edgar Montalvo, of Tinley Park, a pro-business underdog, won the paper’s backing over Democrat Michael Hastings of Orland Hills. Both are military men — Montalvo served two Army tours in Iraq; Hastings graduated from West Point and served one tour. And the Trib held its right-leaning nose and gave thumbs up to Democrat Toi Hutchinson in the 40th over Frankfort Republican “Tuck” …
Sunday, October 14, 2012
This week, you may have missed new business beginnings, police contracts, a townhouse fire, scary movies, pizza for breast cancer and more in Orland Park.
MONDAY ‘We’re Ecstatic’: Miroballi Shoes Opens New Orland Park Location The Orland Park business has spent the past 37 years in town at three different locations. Now owning their own building, they are looking forward to remaining in town in their revamped store. Ask Obama, Romney: Patch is Collecting Reader Questions for the Presidential Debate If you have a question for the candidates, submit it in the comments section below and it could be asked during the televised Oct. 16 Town Hall Presidential Debate. TUESDAY Police Supervisors Union Agrees To Contract, MAP 159 Still Going Into Arbitration Orland Park has settled a 16-month contract standoff with one village police union, though negotiations will continue with another. Hey, Mom and …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Barbara Bellar calls the Affordable Care Act a "disaster fiasco" during a recent candidate forum.
A Republican candidate for Illinois' 18th state Senate seat called the Affordable Care Act a "disaster fiasco" that peels back liberties during a forum Wednesday. Barbara Bellar, a former Benedictine Catholic Nun and veteran, recently drew national attention for a video in which she sarcastically sums up the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in one, long sentence. She called the video a "light-hearted introduction to a very serious topic." The Republican from Burr Ridge double-downed on her stance and took a more serious tone on "Obamacare" during Wednesday's forum at the Green Hill Public Library in Palos Hills. "It represents the erosion of our religious and civil liberties," Bellar said of the measure signed by Obama in 2010. "…
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Barbara Bellar beat out Ricardo Fernandez in Tuesday’s primary for the Republican slot in the race for the 18th State Senate District.
Barbara Bellar will be campaigning against Bill Cunningham for the second time in two years for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly. Bellar will be seeking the 18th State Senate District seat as a Republican against Cunningham, a Democrat who now serves as the 35th State House District Representative. Bellar won Tuesday’s primary with 9,757 votes, compared to opponent Ricardo Fernandez with 3,401 votes, or 74 percent. Bellar commended Fernandez for “his efforts to make things better in Illinois.” She described their interactions as “friendly all the way through.” Moving forward on to the next race, Bellar said she’ll be focusing on issues people expressed concerns to her about while she was campaigning before the primary. “We need jobs…
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Jobs, taxes and other financial troubles are discussed by Republican candidates as the main state-wide challenges to be dealt with if elected.
Republican candidates looking to represent the party in the race for Illinois’ 18th Senate District focused on employment and money when asked what they believe are the top three issues for the entire state. Ricardo Fernandez and Barbara Bellar offered their views during a candidate forum in Beverly Tuesday night. Later on in the night, the two spoke about ethics, the state budget and other topics. Democrat candidate Bill Cunningham, and current 35th District State House Representative, is also vying for the 18th District seat. He is running unopposed in the March 20 primary. Read our Election Central page for information on other races, questionnaire responses and polling locations.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Republican candidates vying for the 18th Illinois Senate District also spoke about consolidating state jobs, how to make Illinois more business-friendly and covering teacher pensions at a forum at Morgan Park Academy.
Republicans vying for the 18th Illinois Senate District seat shared their views Tuesday night at the Morgan Park Academy Baer Theater in Beverly. Organized by the Beverly Area Planning Association, the forum featured candidates Barbara Bellar and Ricrado Fernandez. Democrat Bill Cunningham is running for the 18th District as well, and is unopposed in the primary. Democrat 35th District candidates Anthony Martin, Fran Hurley and Andrew Byrne Hodorowicz also spoke at the forum. Read on for our Election Central Page, with biographies, issues and polling information.
JB
1:39 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Never had a doubt in my mind that Mr. Cunningham would not win this election- His actions speak louder than words! He is never too busy to get involved. more ›