Proft wins big in Orland Park
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Orland Park Village President Dan McLaughlin got thumped by 8 points yesterday. Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC deserves most of the credit…
The race drew $200,000 in campaign ads and mailers to oust McLaughlin, who had been in office since 1993 and raised eyebrows when the village board voted last year to make the mayor’s office a full-time job. The move bumped his $40,000 salary up to $150,000 in what Pekau denounced as a “pension grab.” McLaughlin dismissed the claim as “misinformation” because the move eliminated a costly village administrator position.
McLaughlin also suggested the presidential election played a role in his defeat, saying it ushered in “a sea change in the way people cast their votes.”
“The national elections in November taught us those lessons,” McLaughlin said in a concession statement. “The election is over, at least for me. In tact is a team of trustees who love Orland Park like I do.” […]
Pekau, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business consultant, said he would opt out of a pension if he won. On Monday, he said the donations from Dan Proft-led Liberty Principles PAC, which received hefty donations from Gov. Bruce Rauner last summer, helped his cause.
* Meanwhile…
A slate of candidates calling itself Parents with Purpose went after three open seats on the District 211 school board, largely in opposition to the district’s agreement with the federal government to provide girls’ bathroom and locker room access to a transgender student who filed a complaint with the federal government.
The slate was supported by an aligned group called Parents for Privacy, made up of about 50 families who are suing District 211 and the federal government over the agreement. The suit is pending.
With almost all precincts reporting, though, incumbents Robert LeFevre Jr. and Anna Klimkowicz and former board member Edward Yung appeared headed for victory. They have said generally that they support the agreement, though it applies to only one student.
* And…
In an historic election for the Lake County city [of Waukegan], Democratic alderman Sam Cunningham defeated independent candidate Lisa May. Cunningham’s victory will make him the city’s first African-American mayor. May would have been the city’s first female mayor.
* Moving on to Rockford…
Democrat Tom McNamara took home the Rockford mayoral race with 68 percent of the vote. […]
McNamara will replace Larry Morrissey , a three-term mayor who decided last fall to not run for re-election. […]
McNamara may find a friendlier City Council seated before him when he is sworn in as mayor May 1st. Although Rockford’s aldermen have tended not to vote along party lines, power will shifted from Republicans to Democrats. Republican Jamie Getchius and Independent Teena Newburg are both incumbents who lost to their Democratic challengers. Democrats picked up two open spots for a total of 8 of 14 council seats. A record number of Independents ran this year – five for alderman and two for mayor – but they all lost.
* Back to the suburbs…
In Evanston, management consultant Steve Hagerty was leading the city’s first openly gay alderman, Mark Tendam, with 50.5 percent of the vote — a margin of just 163 votes.
In Aurora, the race to lead the state’s second-largest city was also too close to call, as Rick Guzman — assistant chief of staff to Mayor Tom Weisner, who stepped down for health reasons last year — led by just nine votes as of 10 p.m. over Ald. Richard Irvin.
Absentee ballots were expected to be tallied in both races into Wednesday morning.
Irvin currently leads by 122 votes.
* Other results…
* Jim Ardis wins fourth consecutive Peoria mayoral term
* Pecak upsets Broda to become Lisle mayor: Pecak said during the campaign that he was running to bring change to the village. The construction manager said he would work for a property tax freeze, a balanced budget and improved transparency.
* Thoms wins Rock Island mayoral race
* Moore clinches second term as Quincy Mayor
* Gordon Gates defeats incumbent Kent Gray for LLCC trustee seat
* Lincoln-Way 210 voters have their say following school closure: Two longtime Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board members appeared to be trailing in their bids for re-election against a crowded field Tuesday night, following a heated year of fallout stemming from the closing of a high school and questions about board oversight.
* Palatine District 15 voters oust incumbents in referendum backlash: The slate was supported by the Palatine Republican Township Organization, which drew the ire of other candidates who warned the party involvement set a dangerous precedent.
Anything else you’d care to mention?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 10:53 am:
I’d say an incumbent mayor who engineers a salary bump from $40K to $150K deserves most of the credit.
You don’t have to be David Ogilvy to sell that.
- NorthSuburbanDem - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 10:58 am:
West Deerfield Township Democrats won all 7 township positions for the first time ever. Similar Dem success against Proft shenanigans in Moraine, Vernon Twp.
- drifter - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 10:59 am:
Normal mayoral race too close to call
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 10:59 am:
In Peoria, Dem backed Rita Ali beats gop backed denis cyr by just 3 votes in heavily republican north peoria ward. Absentees will decide.
- @bamatthews - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:04 am:
As mentioned by drifter … interesting and big news out of Normal. Incumbent Mayor currently leads by 7 votes pending absentee/provisional ballots (and a recount, regardless).
And, newcomer Sarah Grammer won the Normal Township Supervisor race over Cheryl Gaines, who had been on the Normal Council for 24 years and had all of the establishment support. Democrats also picked up 3 of 4 Trustee seats.
Not only did she win - but the last time a Democrat *ran* for Normal Township supervisor was in 1971.
- Normalizing - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:06 am:
In GOP McLean County, the usually-invisible Dems put up candidates for Normal Township Supervisor and trustees and won the Supervisor position and three of four trustee seats.
And the new Bloomington city council is filled with Dem-backed candidates.
GOP rules the roost in McLean but is trying to figure out what happened.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:07 am:
==McLaughlin also suggested the presidential election played a role in his defeat, saying it ushered in “a sea change in the way people cast their votes.”==
What’s the implication here? Dan McLaughlin of the “First Orland Party” ran and lost against a Republican.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:08 am:
To the Post,
Dan Proft unseating Dan McLaughlin, and Roger Claar squeaking by, are serious red flags that “Rauner and Trump” won’t be “enough” for victory and come 2018, beating a well-financed incumbent governor, seeing turnouts like this, that’s a huge ask, unless you build a Crew that is obsessed with turnout, early voting, absentee ballots, and an energized, well-built GOTV that delivers a large controlled turnout.
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:10 am:
The self proclaimed “Queen of Halloween” finished dead last in the race for the school board in Lacon.
- Brian - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:16 am:
McLaughlin loss had nothing to do with the presidential election — and he knows it. He got caught with his had in the cookie jar.
- ilini - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:16 am:
This will not make may headlines - but, for the very first time in at least 70 years 2 Democrats ( the only two on the ballot ) were elected to important Township positions where I live.
Most all Dems here are traditionally defeated locally by a 5 to 1 margin.
- Adams - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Dan Proft was pushing for Chicago Ridge Mayor Charles Tokar on his AM56 Morning Program. Tokar had 2 opponents and he specifically singled out Frances Coglianese. He said the two Moody Brothers who are long time political hacks for Speaker Madigan were working for Coglianese and must be stopped. Tokar barely won….so it looks like Proft got 2 victories.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:18 am:
Good to see Palatine voters fight back against the extremely ill-advised and dubious 10 year teacher contract.
- answer - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:19 am:
Four candidates for the McHenry County Township Board who ran on eliminating the township won seats from incumbents. http://www.nwherald.com/2017/04/05/gop-independents-split-mchenry-township-election-spoils/anzqvpc/
- In 630 - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:21 am:
The competitive race plus the nationalizationn of the Bolingbrook race really seemed to drive turnout up.
Small things but Lisle and Naperville Townships in DuPage saw D wins, especially Naperville Twp which had a near sweep in the contested races.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:27 am:
McLaughlin was there for 24 years and finally wore out his welcome. Proft et al may have pushed it over the top, but McLaughlin made himself vulnerable on his own. While the rest of his slate was unopposed, this should be a message to them that voters are watching. I suspect they will draw challengers next time around.
- Mr. B.A. - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:31 am:
The Lincoln-Way story was so misleading. Even though two incumbents did not win reelection, people as progressive as they are were elected. The opposition group, led by parents of the closed LW North, went down to defeat handily. The make-up of the board will not change much.
- Smitty Irving - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:35 am:
Springfield Capital Township elects LaKeisha Purchase, first Democrat in 40 + years.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:36 am:
The $76M referendum in Hinsdale HS District 86 lost by a 3:1 margin. This is essentially a battle between the haves(Hinsdale Central) and have-nots (South). Wanted to expand Central even though there is room at South. Families on the dividing line oppose going to “the other school”. May have to.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:37 am:
Dems in Lake County getting more elected. One Dem Trustee in Maine Township breaks the years long R only streak.
- Sox Fan - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 11:54 am:
Bob Streit lost big in his attempt to unseat Sandra Bury for Oak Lawn Mayor. I’m not personally a fan of the current mayor myself, but Streit’s attempt to portray Oak Lawn as a crime-infested wasteland really turned me off (and apparantly others as well).
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
Bogey, that Hinsdale Central/South schism is really something.
Meeting parents from both at sporting events over the years, the class/race-divide between the two is bitter and raw.
- DuPageGOPer - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
While noted in an earlier comment, the Dem wins in DuPage are particularly striking. Especially their sweep in Naperville Township and lesser wins in Wayne and Lisle. Before last night there were only two D wins in the last 75 years among township offices in DuPage, one in Wayne four years ago and another in York township in 93. Which is even more surprising when you consider there are 81 township offices up every four years. It would appear the floodgates are open especially in the weaker less organized townships
- TakeOfftheClownShoes - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
Mundelein race for Mayor, 13 votes is the difference right now with late arriving VBMs and provisional yet to be counted.
- Aaron B - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
In the city of Kankakee 8-year incumbent mayor Nina Epstein (Rep) was defeated by challenger Chasity Armstrong (Dem) 42% to 47%. Chasity will be the first black mayor Kankakee has ever had and only the second female mayor (Nina was the first). http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/chasity-wins-in-mayoral-upset-this-is-a-movement/article_50a22de3-fee7-507b-a7dc-f5b31338bf89.html
- Anon414 - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
- Ron Burgundy - is right. McLauglin’s scheme to boost his pay and pension was breathtakingly brazen. He had been a pretty good mayor for a long time and he threw it all away. Don’t think the race has any meaning beyond that. Though he might have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for Proft’s cable blitz.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
Acri won in Moline over Raes. Rumor is she has her eyes set on higher office eventually, but it was a good win for her after the signature mess.
- Tidy whitey - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
Famed Golden Horshoe winner Tom Suffredin elected to serve as Alderman for the 6th Ward of Evanston. A big win for progressives who also enjoy quick wit.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Henderson Yarbrough, Karen’s husband got CRUSHED by the incumbent in his bid to become the Mayor if Maywood again after losing 4 years ago in a close race.
Chris Welch’s slate lost all 4 seats on the Proviso High School board, meaning that in the 2 elections 2015 & 2017 his people lost all 7 seats they once had.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
@Wordslinger, one of the ideas trotted out is for all freshman and sophs in the District go to South, and juniors and seniors go to Central (e.g., Lyons Twp.). That will work, not.
- titan - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
Wheaton-Warrenville CUSD 200 (DuPage County) had a very large bond referendum and two slates of 4 board candidates (one strongly supporting and one strongly opposed - clearly identified as such in all of the copious materials and signs).
The bond referendum failed by a wide margin, but all of the pro referendum candidates won handily.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
Let’s see your opponent triples his salary for a part time job…..hmmm some might think it would have been impossible for Proft not to win … but if we a boosting the rep of the guy with millions let play along.
Stupendous win.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
Troy Mayor Allen Adomite easily wins re-election…
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Just a note that Trump’s Illinois campaign manager lost his 18 year incumbency to a Democrat is a Republican area. It’s listed above and while he has had other legal and professional issues, I don’t think the Trump card should be completely discounted.
- anony - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
If it’s really hard to beat an incumbent who raised his part-time salary times three by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to eek out under 1,000 extra votes in a local race, then, I agree, Proft’s win in Orland is stupefying.
- FIREDup! - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
BIG night for Democrats in Sangamon County (unprecedented). Four Democratic women won BIG with the help of several local progressive groups (again, unprecedented).
- Jack - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:02 pm:
Another famed Golden Horseshoe award winner, Melissa Black, was the top vote-getter in a four-candidate race for three Tri-City School Board seats!
And it didn’t get nearly the attention that the Claar/Traynere race got in Bolingbrook, but I was pleased to see Gordon Gates got over 60% of the vote against long-time incumbent, Trump IL State Director, SJW-primary-challenger Kent Gray for LLCC Board.
- Kyle Hillman - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
Also Chasity Wells-Armstrong upset a two term Republican incumbent to become the first African-American Mayor and first Democrat since 1993 to be Mayor of Kankakee.
- Greatplainser - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:16 pm:
I think its a clear pattern that Dems were more organized and energized at the local level. Previous comments mentioned Normal and places in Lake Cty. I’m not sure voters were more anti establishment or liberal than before just hat Dems played in more places with more enthusiasm than before. Seemed to be a statewide trend.
- illinois manufacturer - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
African american got 48 percent against a 3 term incumbent in Monmouth
- Orland Park hard R. - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
It was time for McLaughlin to go plain and simple. His own personal greed cost him his job finally. The unfortunate part is Pekau didn’t run a slate so the trustees got a pass. And they pushed for and voted on that raise and pension grab. What’s really interesting is that Jim Dodge a republican and former committeeman voted yes for it. Of course he the same guy that ran against JBT so that says a lot about him.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 3:36 pm:
The Joe Walsh disciples got thumped in the U46 election. In Elgin Township the Democrats took over for the first time in over 150 years.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
up in Maine Township a school board candidate Dan Gott was supported by Joe Walsh and he lost.
- JackD - Wednesday, Apr 5, 17 @ 8:33 pm:
Proft’s slate lost big in New Trier Township.