Orland Park Mayoral race heats up: Maher challenges McLaughlin's missteps on village property taxes

Orland Park Mayoral candidate Gerald Maher said growing dissatisfaction with increases in village fees and property taxes expose his rival, Mayor Dan McLaughlin, to a possible defeat in the village's elections in April 2009.

Maher, discussing the tax issue on "Mornings with Ray Hanania," said that he suspects the increases in property taxes may be tied to the wasted spending tied to the village's attempts to rebuild the land northwest of 143rd and LaGrange Road.

More than $35 million has been spent but much of the money has gone to fight legal fights and to underwrite failed land development at the Main Street Triangle site, Maher said during the radio interview on WJJG AM 1530 Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. Maher called it the "McLaughlin Bermuda Triangle."

Property taxes have increased 17 percent over last year. But taxpayers in Orland Park face a double whammy with the decision by McLaughlin to gut the popular property tax rebate program McLaughlin implemented in 2002 to off-set his decision to raise the sales tax in the Southwest suburb .75 percent.

In past years, all of the property taxes were rebated to residents to off-set the sales tax hike. This year, though, only about 25 percent of the property tax is being rebated and Maher charged that McLaughlin is misleading residents falsely claiming that the rebate has been "saved."

"It's not only a big issue. It is a huge issue," Maher said noting local media polling showing as much as 74 percent of the population is upset over the real estate property tax increases.

Maher also faulted the mayor for his "poor planning" by tying the village's economic future to the retail industry. With the economy tanking, the sales tax revenues have dropped significantly with little option for the village except to raise the property tax, fees and to cut back on promised tax rebates.

Click HERE to listen to the full interview.

Maher's web site is www.CCOP.us.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Mayoral Candidate Gerald Maher joins Radio Chicagoland Monday to discuss his candidacy

Gerald Maher, the independent candidate for mayor of Orland Park, will be the guest Monday at 8:20 am on Radio Chicagoland (WJJG 1530 AM radio, at 8:20 am). The show is broadcast live on the radio and simulcast on the Internet at www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Maher will discuss his candidacy and the issues he feels are important to residents of Orland Park who have been slammed by increased village fees, property taxes and cut-backs in services.

Here is information on all of the candidates running on the Concerned Citizens of Orland Park slate:

• Gerald F. Maher for Mayor, Orland Park
• Patrice Pykett for Village Clerk, Orland Park
• Marian M. Klemme for Trustee, Orland Park
• Kenneth Houston for Trustee, Orland Park
• Kenneth Wzorek for Trustee, Orland Park

Orland Park is one of the largest suburban communities in the Southwest Suburbas between Chicago and Joliet. Invites have been extended to all the candidates in the Orland Park elections in April 2009, and also in other suburban areas.

Maher's web page is www.CCOP.us.

The station call-in number is 708-493-1530.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Innocent until proven guilty -- Part 1

Despite the self-serving pompous declarations of Secretary of State Jesse White, he was declared wrong.

Jesse White refused to sign the appointment of Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate seat made by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. White said the appointment was tainted.

Well, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Jesse White's signature is irrelevent.

The court's opinion states that "no further action is required by the Secretary of State or any other official to make the Governor's appointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate valid under Illinois law."

It was a victory for Blagojevich and for Burris, and a defeat for Jesse White. White did get his publicity, playing to the lynch mob in the legislature's Kangaroo court.

The Illinois court also stated "no explanation has been given as to how any rule of the Senate, whether it be formal or merely a matter of tradition, could supersede the authority to fill vacancies conferred on the states by the federal constitution."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, playing the role of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace standing at the entrance of the University of Alabama in the early 1960s to prevent two Black students from applying to the college, conceded Wednesday he will review the ruling of the state's highest court.

When it comes to the LAW, Blagojevich won the day.

When it comes to the lynch mob mentality and the political gamesmanship being played by some legislators and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn who wants his job for himself, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan who wants his daughter, the Illinois Attorney General to take Blagojevich's place, and leaders of the Democratic Party who are angry that Blagojevich chose to give the people of Illinois the healthcare they need instead of the politics the legislators demanded, they won the political day.

But the Law trumps the politics of the legislature.

Comptroller Dan Hynes also joined int he assertion that Blagojevich is guilty of trying to solicit money in exchange for his powers, forgetting that there is such a word called "ALLEGEDLY."

Blagojevich hasn't made Illinois the "laughing stock" of the nation. he merely has put the exclamation point at the end of that fact, as the monikor as the nation's laughing stock comes from the culture of corruption that many of the legislature's Democratic leaders and some Republicans have created.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Illinois House Impeachment Committee undergoes political changes

Wow. Until Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and Senator Dick Durbin conceded that Roland Burris would probably be allowed to take his seat in the US Senate, it looked like Roland Burris looked like he had everyone against him.

Then, during Burris' appearance Thursday before the special House Impeachment panel which released a report the same morning stating there is evidence to justify the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Democrats migrated away from criticism of Burris and became his strongest defenders with Lou Lang and others challenging what were some of the most important questions asked during the public spectacle, namely by Illinois Representative Jim Durkin.

The Republicans were hitting the nail ont he head: Some guy working for a telecommunications company gave Burris a $1.2 million "loan" for his candidacy when he ran for governor against Blagojevich and former Chicago school superintendent Paul Vallas. A loan? Then, Burris closes his political campaign committee and never repaid a penny of that "loan." And the only other person who got money from that contributor during that election was Blagojevich, who received $100,000.

The question is, and Burris couldn't answer it because his attorneys did all the talking, really for him at his appearances at the impeachment hearing, is that there is a STRONG SUSPICION that Burris was acting as a "stalking horse" for Blagojeich to undermine Vallas, who had significant strength in Chicago's African American community.

One guy gives Blagojevich $100,000 and $1.2 million to Burris, and there is no tie in that race?

And worse, what does it say about the campaign finance procedures in this state that someone can give someone $1.2 million that can be characterized as a "loan" but is never repaid as a "loan" and in fact, becomes a donation when the loan disappears when the committee is closed.

Kudos to Durkin for have the chutzpah to ask the tough questions while many of the other impeachment committee members simply played the role of protecting Burris.

I supported Burris' appointment to succeed President-Elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, nbut now I have to openly wonder, especially given his obvious inability to either remember or recollect basic events asked of him. He made a terrible "witness" so how would he now make a great U.S. Senator?

Well, clearly Republican Congressman Mark Kirk has the edge to take this job when it finally comes to the public for an election, rather than a tainted appointment, tainted not just by the governor but tainted also by the hypocrisy that drenches in Illinois politcs.

This entire episode is pathetic and sad.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Oak Lawn United Party holds open house for Spring Elections

Open House - This Saturday, 11 am - 1 pm
Unity Party Headquarters
5205 W. 95th St, Oak Lawn
**Snacks and Refreshments Will Be Provided**

You are cordially invited to an Open House and Grand Opening of the Unity Party Headquarters this Saturday. Come out to meet and speak with the Unity Party candidates, or just stop by to say hello and have a bite to eat and some refreshments.

Also, please let us know if you would like a lawn sign, and if you would like to volunteer for our campaign. We have plenty of options and none of them are too complicated nor would they take a lot of time.

We thank you in advance for your consideration and support and ask that you contact us if you have questions or want more information: 708-802-1815; info@oaklawnup.com

Regards,

Mayor Dave Heilmann
Clerk Jane Quinlan
2nd District Trustee Alex Olejniczak
4th District Trustee Candidate Tom Duhig
5th District Trustee Carol Quinlan
6th District Trustee Tom Phelan

White Van strikes again in Orland Park area -- driver solicits young child with candy

The Orland Hills Police Department issued the following alert through the local schools:

On January 6, 2009 at about 3 PM, an 11 year old boy was waiting for a bus at the corner of 92nd Avenue and Meadowview Drive.

He was approached by a male white driver in a white full sized panel van who asked him if he wanted some candy. The boy ran home and reported the incident to his father, who in turn, called the Orland Hills Police.

The only description of the driver is that he is a white male about 30 years old.

As always, please remind your children about the danders of talking to strangers.

As a result of this incident, the Police Department will increase the number of patrols using unmarked vehicles.

PLEASE REPORT suspicious activity to the Police Department by calling 911.

For further information, contact the Investigations Division of the Orland Hills Police at 708-349-4434.

# # #

This is the fifth sighting of a white van involved in similar incidents over the past four months. The location above is just off 94th Avenue, south of 159th Street on the road that leads to the LifeTime Ftness Center.

Keep watch for any white vans acting suspiciously especially before and after school hours and near local schools.

-- Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com

Orland Park finally admits raising property taxes this year

Don't believe the misleading interpretations of the numbers being offered by the Village of Orland Park. The village is are playing a shell game and it is very importan tto them because Mayor Dan McLaughlin and three trustees, Brad O'Halloran, Kathy Fenton and Jim Dodge are running for re-election. And they are being challenged forcefully by Gerald Maher and his slate of candidates. Click HERE for a story on that.

For example, the village officials point out that the property tax increase of $17 million over last year is in fact higher because the taxing year has been extended from 12 to 15 months. That's true, but the fact is that property taxes are going up significantly, after the village claimed that they would not!

Why are they going up? To pay off pension debt and pay raises for its employees.

The village claims "most" of the property taxes will be rebated to taxpayers.

That is CLEARLY NOT true.

The village is rebating ONLY $4.5 million in property taxes this year. That is out of a property tax levy that is more than three times that number!

Click HERE for the story I wrote when the data was published by the Village in the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper December 4, 2008. Check the data out for yourself before you believe the misleading information and spin from the village.

Here is the story in this week's Orland Park Prairie, in which village officials were forced to address the issue when I wrote about it back then. (I've received more than 100 emails from shocked residents on thsi topic alone).

Make sure to read the part in my story about how the village has broken its promise to rebate the property tax levy, an issue Mayor McLaughlin WILL NOT DISCUSS with me. (He emailed me responding two weeks ago to the FACT that his street was one of the first to be plowed during the snow storm we had.)

By the way, if you haven't noticed, the SouthtownStar and the Orland Park Prairie are in a newspaper war in Orland Park. The SouthtownStar has suddenly taken a deep interest in Orland Park showcasing not only the local politics but also spotlighting local businesses. We need competition out here to get the facts out and the newspaper war is welcomed!

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/