In the Rear View: Election Night and Meat Grinder Save

In the past week, you may have missed stories about a tax levy, pornography charges, leery suggestions to two girls, holiday fun, Carlton Fisk and more Orland Park news.

MONDAY Former Orland Firefighter Now Facing Pornography Charges Prosecutors filed new charges of aggravated possession of child porn against former Orland Fire Protection District firefighter Dean Milenkovic, 46, in October, according to court records. D135 to Request 3 Percent Higher Tax Levy (Live Blog Transcript) Orland School District 135 will ask for a slightly higher figure than in 2011 to offset costs built into to the latest teacher contract, which is tied to a figure that caps what school districts can request in tax money. Read our meeting transcript. TUESDAY 2012 Election Results: How Orland Park Voted Find out latest results for the races in county, state and congressional contests and other elections that affect Orland Park. …

• Photos (1)

Election 2012: Did Suburban Cook and Will Counties Choose Peloquin or Rush?

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush hung on to his 1st Congressional District seat for another two years, but did his new constituents south and southwest of city get behind him in the election?

Democrat Bobby Rush will continue to serve as the 1st Congressional Representative, even after redistricting included more municipalities further from Chicago. But most of the townships where his new constituents live did not vote for him. Don Peloquin, the mayor of Blue Island who ran against Rush as a Republican, won all but two of the suburban Cook County and Will County townships, including many of the new areas now included in the 1st District. Only Calumet and Thornton townships placed more votes for Rush in suburban Cook County and Will County. Chicago precincts were a different story, with Rush receiving 181,032 votes compared to 6,574 votes for Peloquin. Here are the vote counts from suburban Cook and Will counties, and by …

•  9 Comments
• Photos (1)

Bobby Rush Wins 11th Term in Congress

Within the redrawn 1st Congressional District, Bobby Rush will keep his seat for two more years as suburban voters weren't enough to propel Don Peloquin to a win.

Bobby Rush will continue to represent the 1st Congressional District of Illinois on Capitol Hill after winning his 11th term Tuesday. As of 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, Rush took in 212,661 votes, compared to 70,903 votes for challenger Don Peloquin, who campaigned as the Republican nominee for the seat. The count was with 582 of 617 precincts reporting from Suburban Cook County, Will County and Chicago. The new 1st Congressional District now holds a northeast boundary just around Chicago’s Bronzeville community, continuing near the Dan Ryan and along I-57, before cutting west, including towns south of I-80, before ending at rural Elwood at its farthest southwest point. The district includes Chicago neighborhoods, such as Hyde Park, Washington Park…

•  40 Comments
• Photos (2)

Learn Where Bobby Rush and Don Peloquin Stand on Issues

The 2012 General Election is just around the corner. Read how the Democrat and Republican candidates for the 1st Congressional District responded to our issues questionnaire.

Peloquin: We Can Rebuild Our Economy With What We Have

Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin, who is the Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District Race against incumbent Democrat Bobby Rush, shared his views on ways to simplify taxes and bolster local business.

Don Peloquin, Blue Island mayor and Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District, believes the redrawn district can build off of the resources already here to grow the local economy. He is for smaller government and a simplified tax code for all Americans. Democrat incumbent Bobby Rush, Peloquin's opponent in the race, has not answered Patch's request for an interview. Read more about Peloquin's views on several issues including health care, the economy and others in our Patch Questionnaire. Read Rush's answers to our questionnaire. Looking for other 1st District race stories?

•  7 Comments
• Videos (1)

Area Mayors Make Calls Supporting Peloquin for Congress

Heads of Tinley Park, Frankfort and Mokena endorsed Don Peloquin, the 1st Congressional District Republican candidate. Orland Park and New Lenox mayors aren’t endorsing Peloquin, but also haven’t gotten behind Democrat incumbent Bobby Rush either.

Three south suburban mayors have vocally put their support behind Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin, the Republican candidate for what will be the new 1st Congressional District after the Nov. 6 election. Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland and Mokena Mayor Joe Werner have recorded robo calls expressing their support for Peloquin that have been sent within their towns. Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki is scheduled to do the same. All three cited familiarity with Peloquin’s efforts in Blue Island during his 27 years as mayor, and as an area funeral home director, as main reasons for supporting him. “Don has been mayor almost as long as me,” Zabrocki said. “I have had the opportunity to work with him over that time, so when I was asked to show support it …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Ben Feldheim

4:40 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Not necessarily. For a sentence to be fragmented, it would have to be lacking a main clause. The 'he' I am referring to in that sentence is Mayor Dan McLaughlin. I'd say that's clear given that in a two-sentence paragraph his name is offered in the first sentence. I appreciate the opinion, but I respectfully disagree.   more ›

Learn About Your Candidates Before the 2012 General Election

Nov. 6 is fast approaching. Learn important information about candidates running for race that affect Orland Park, voter registration and other important information.

Rush ‘Pleased,’ Peloquin ‘Can’t Support’ Supreme Court Health Care Ruling

The Illinois 1st Congressional District Democrat and Republican candidates weighed in Thursday after the United States Supreme Court ruled that a major aspect of the Affordable Health Care Act is constitutional.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 vote Thursday that the individual mandate, for all people to be insured, section of the Affordable Health Care Act is constitutional as a tax. But for the Republican candidate aiming to take over Rep. Bobby Rush’s seat as the 1st District congressman in Illinois, difficulties lie ahead. “It’s a lot more complicated than it should be to insure all Americans,” said Don Peloquin, mayor of Blue Island and the Republican candidate for the 1st District. “I still can’t support it even though the Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate is constitutional. It doesn’t help small businesses. It doesn’t help create jobs. And it probably will get more complex as it’s implemented.” Read on for more of …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Rear View

In the Rear View: Hoodie Hooplah and Demotion Views

We look back at a week of badminton victory, bridge repair, voting comparison, fire service and supporting charitable causes.

MONDAY Sandburg Badminton Team Picks Up Where it Left Off—With Another Title Kara Kentner, Jenna Ciaccio and Julie Meza won singles titles as the Sandburg girls badminton team rolled to the championship in the Lincoln-Way Central Invitational on Saturday in New Lenox. IDOT to Shut Down LaGrange Road at Metra Overpass for Four Nights Work on the new Metra bridge and pedestrian walkway will lead to four weekend nights where the underpass is closed, according to IDOT. TUESDAY D135 Board Member on Walsh’s Demotion: ‘It Should’ve Never Happened’ Melanie Walsh’s demotion, and the subsequent legal process in play since then, were also discussed On March 19 when CARE 135 met with district administrators, staff, a union rep and a board member. …

• Photos (1)