Southland voters face important choices
Southland voters may not have much impact on whether Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives— one of the big story lines of Tuesday's midterm elections.
But some south suburban voters could help determine whether Democrats achieve a supermajority in the state legislature. Voters in several south suburban towns also will decide important referendum questions that could directly impact their daily lives, pocketbooks and local politics.
In Dolton, for example, residents will vote on three binding ballot initiatives that ask whether the village should eliminate its primary election, reduce the number of trustees from to four from six, and prevent trustees— but not the mayor or clerk— from serving more than two consecutive terms.
At a news conference outside Dolton Village Hall on Thursday, trustees urged residents to vote “no” to all three questions. Several supporters placed tape over their mouths to symbolize repression. They described the measures as an attempted power grab by Mayor Riley Rogers.
“The mayor is trying to remove your vote and silence residents,” Trustee Tiffany Henyard said. “It's our duty to have our voices heard.”
Riley attended the event and toldme voters in the town of about 23,000 residents would have their say on Tuesday.
“It's up to residents to decide,” Riley said. “Why is it (trustees are) afraid to listen to residents?”
If approved, Dolton trustees whowere elected to four-year terms in 2017would have to seek re-election in April.
In Flossmoor, voters in the town of 19,000 will decide an advisory referendum that asks whether the village should lift its longstanding restrictions on parking personal-use pickup trucks on residential driveways.
Village officials have said based on the results of the referendum, the village could revise a zoning ordinance that prohibits residents and visitors from parking pickup trucks on driveways except for loading and unloading. Commercial vehicleswould still be banned.
PalosHeights is asking voters whether the village should allowvideo gaming. Lemontwants residents to weigh in on whether the village should become home rule. Proposed taxrate increases are on ballots in the Tinley Park Park District andNewLenox andNorth Palos fire protection districts.
Incumbent Democrats are expected to hold on to the three Congressional seats that represent parts of the Southland. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, has represented the 1stDistrict since 1993. Rush is challenged by Republican Jimmy Lee Tillman III and independent Thomas Rudbeck. RobinKelly, D-Matteson, has represented the 2nd District since 2013. She’s challenged by RepublicanDavidMerkle of Bourbonnais.
Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, has represented the 3rd District since 2005. Lipinski narrowly withstood a primary challenge from progressiveMarie Newman of LaGrange.
On Tuesday Lipinski is challenged by Republican Art Jones of Lyons. Jones has been denounced as a Nazi by Republican Party leaders.
Independents Justin Hanson, of LaGrange, and Kenneth Yerkes, of Oak Lawn, are running as write-ins.
In the race for governor, several polls showDemocratic challenger J.B. Pritzker with a doubledigit lead over first-term Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner. Conservative SamMcCann and Libertarian Kash Jackson also are in the race.
Polls also showstate Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, with a lead over Republican ErikaHarold in the race for Illinois attorney general. Libertarian Bubba Harsy also is in the race. Democrat LisaMadigan did not seek re-election after serving four terms.
In other statewide races, Democrat Jesse White seeks another term as secretary of state, a post he’s held since 1999. He’s challenged by Republican JasonHelland and Libertarian Steve Dutner.
Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, is challenged by Republican Darlene Senger, of Naperville, and Libertarian Claire Ball. For state treasurer, incumbent Democrat Mike Frerichs is challenged by Republican Jim Dodge of Orland Park and Libertarian Michael Leheney.
A local contest could factor into whetherDemocrats are able to regain a 71-seat supermajority in the IllinoisHouse. Democrats held a supermajority until 2016, when Republican gains whittled the Democrats to 68 seats.
MargoMcDermed, R-Mokena, has represented the 37th District since 2015 and faces a challenge from DemocratMatthew J. Hunt of Frankfort.
Most state legislative offices representing the Southland are uncontested. In the 85th District, incumbent state Rep. John Connor, D-Romeoville, faces a challenge fromRepublican Lisa Bickus of Lockport. In the 35th District, incumbent state Rep. Frances AnnHurley, D-Chicago, is challenged by Republican HerbertHebein of Chicago.
The 41st state Senate district covers part ofHomer Glen and Lemont. Incumbent Republican John Curran of Downers Grove is challenged by Democrat Bridget Fitzgerald ofWestern Springs.
One race for a seat on the 17-member Cook County Board affects part of the Southland. In the 17thDistrict, Republican incumbent SeanMorrison of Palos Park faces a challenge from Democrat Abdelnasser Rashid of Justice.
Chicago Democratic incumbents StanleyMoore and Deborah Sims are unopposed in the 4th and 5th districts, respectively. In the 6th District, Democrat EdMoody did not seek election to a full term after hewas appointed to serve the remainder of the late JoanMurphy’s term.
Donna Miller, of Lynwood, won the Democratic primary for the 6th District seat inMarch over Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta andMurphy’s daughter, Patricia JoanMurphy. Miller is unopposed in Tuesday’s general election.
Four contests forWill County Board seats affect parts of the Southland. In a three-way race for two seats inDistrict 9, incumbent Annette Parker, R- Crest Hill, faces Democratic challengers Jim Murphy and Rachel Ventura, both of Joliet.
Current District 9 board member Lauren StaleyFerry is the Democratic nominee for county clerk in a race against Republican LaurieMcPhillips. Nancy Schultz Voots is retiring after four terms.
In District 7, 23-year-old DemocratKyle Killacky of Homer Glen is challenging the two Republican incumbents, Steve Balich of Orland Park and Mike Fricilone ofHomer Glen.
In District 1, incumbents Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, and Laurie Summers, D-Crete, are in a three-way race for two seats with Democratic challenger BobHoward of Beecher. In District 2, board member Cory Singer lost in theMarch Republican primary. Incumbent JimMoustis, R-Frankfort, is in a three-way race for two seats with Republican Keith Ogle and Democrat AmandaKoch, both of Frankfort.
ForWill County sheriff, Democratic incumbent MikeKelley of Lockport is challenged by Republican JimReilly ofWilmington. For county treasurer, incumbent Republican Steve Weber ofMokena faces a challenge from Democrat Tim Brophy of Joliet.
Most county-wide offices in Cook County are uncontested. For assessor, Democratic nominee Fritz Kaegi is challenged by Republican Joseph Paglia to replace Joseph Barrios, who lost to Kaegi in the March primary.
Cook County residents will choose fromDemocratic, Republican and Green Party candidates for seats on theMetropolitan Water ReclamationDistrict Board. Residents in Cook andWill counties will decide several contests for judgeships and whether other judges should be retained.