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That wacky Will County

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Illinois

From the “They never go away” department.

Convicted arsonist Robert “Bobby” Tezak, a former Will County coroner and Republican Party powerbroker, has parlayed his auto racing connections into a development deal that could net him a commission.

Tezak, who was released from prison in 2002, is part of a group of investors who are pushing hard for approval of a Crest Hill commercial project.

But both the Will County Board’s Public Works Committee and Crest Hill officials have concerns over the rushed nature of the project.

The development would include a Menards, a possible Meijer store and 30 outlots on a 114-acre site at the northeast corner of Weber and Caton Farm roads.

Don’t remember Bobby Tezak?

Tezak, who could not be reached for comment Monday, once owned the UNO card game. He was a multimillionaire and a three-term county coroner during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His empire came tumbling down in the early 1990s when he was convicted in state and federal court for two arson-for-profit schemes. He served nine years in federal prison and one year on electronic home monitoring. His ankle bracelet was removed in October 2003.

And how did he hook up with Menards?

Bjekich said Tezak’s involvement is purely as a broker between the investors and John Menard, owner of the Menards home improvement chain.

Tezak and Menard are friends and know each other through auto racing circles, Bjekich said. Tezak once owned a car that won the Indianapolis 500. And Menards sponsors a racing team.

Tezak, who Bjekich said is living in Arizona, will receive a commission if the deal goes through.

Everyone’s got a right to make a buck, and Tezak did his time. But what the heck is going on in Will County if a convicted arsonist and his pals could allegedly rush this thing through?

Crest Hill Mayor Don Randich said a request for incentives to lure a Menards to the site was “… being railroaded down everyone’s throats.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 1, 05 @ 10:32 am

Comments

anyone check if Bobby the Torch got or already had a real estate license?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 1, 05 @ 1:44 pm
You can do it yourself here:
http://www.obrelookupclear.state.il.us/default.asp?Division=10

Comment by IlliniPundit Tuesday, Mar 1, 05 @ 2:08 pm