Orr’s Policies Rejecting Live Voters Hurts 2nd District

Orr’s Policies Rejecting Live Voters Hurts 2nd District

By RAY HANANIA • Friday, March 01, 2013

Southwest News-Herald

Nowhere has Cook County Clerk David Orr’s policies on absentee balloting been more harmful than in the 2nd Congressional District, where voters Tuesday went to the polls to elect a successor to disgraced former Cong. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Many voters voted early. They could do it two ways. The first is through “Absentee balloting,” one of the most corrupt susceptible voting options in the country. The second is through Early Voting.

You no longer need an excuse to vote Absentee Ballot. You can do it out of convenience. 

I had a chance to ask Orr about that process, noting that what if a voter walks into a polling place and is told they already voted by Absentee Ballot.

He said that even if the voter claims the absentee ballot is fraudulent, if the signature matches, according to Orr, he will accept the piece of paper rather than the vote of a live person who walks into the poll. Basically, he said the process is more important than the people.

Several members of the Illinois Legislature are now looking at bills to eliminate Orr’s office and make it an appointed, administrative position rather than an elected post that can be exploited by political partisanship.

In the 2nd Congressional District race, Orr’s policies will impact those early and absentee voters who cast ballots for state Sen. Toi Hutchinson. Hutchinson dropped out 10 days before the election. So many people have been in and out of the race that for many early and absentee voters who voted in the weeks before the election Feb. 26, their votes may not even count.

I’ve known David Orr since he was first elected in the 49th Ward as a Chicago alderman, the same year Jane Byrne upset the Machine and defeated Michael A. Bilandic.

Orr was an anti-Machine “Democrat” back then, screaming about Machine injustice and the unfairness of the system.

The David Orr who ran for office in 1979 would be the first person today to support a bill to eliminate the Clerk’s office, in Cook County, which has been plagued by corruption for years.

There are some good elected officials in Cook County but there are just as many who abuse the system, play favorites, including in the county’s judicial system where, today, many of Orr’s political allies sit and make partisan political decisions against enemies of their political friends.

The current system stinks. But what really stinks is that a once self-proclaimed “reformer” is in charge of a system that today promotes corruption and voter fraud, not stops it.

Something needs to be done. Why shouldn’t the Cook County Clerk’s office be like the Chicago Election board, which consists of party representatives from both sides who are appointed to office and answer to higher authorities, not to their own selfish politics.

I can’t believe that today, I would say that the Chicago Election Board is probably the most honest election system in the state and that the county system is the one mostly likely to produce voter fraud. How politics has changed.

The anti-Machine activists have become the new Machine. And they are worse than the old Machine because the new Machine members are hypocrites.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist and political consultant. You may reach him at http://rayhanania.wordpress.com/. com. Share your thoughts by visiting his Facebook page at http://facebook.com/rghanania)  — City & Suburban News-Herald

Sandoval & Tobolski call for Orr’s Recusal from Cicero Elections

Sandoval and Tobolski call for Orr’s Recusal from Cicero Elections

Cicero, Illinois – State Senator Martin Sandoval, joined by 16th District Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, today called on Cook County Clerk David Orr to immediately recuse himself from the Cicero elections charging that Orr has openly taken a partisan political position in an election in which he is supposed to be objective and non-partisan.

Sandoval said he sent a letter urging Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, the chief law enforcement officer on election day, to order David Orr to immediately recuse himself for conflict of interest due to his political bias in the Cicero elections due.

Sandoval charged that Orr has played a political and partisan role in the municipal elections in the Town of Cicero, aiding and supporting his political allies, candidate Juan Ochoa and his endorsed cohorts including Chicago Alderman Ricardo Munoz, Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia and U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez. Sandoval charged that Orr has donated thousands of dollars to candidates actively involved in the Ochoa campaign, which creates a direct conflict of interest. Additional instances of bias include David Orr’s physical appearance at rallies with Ochoa and his supporters (which included convicted felon and former Cicero President Betty Loren-Maltese).

Sandoval, who is Vice Chairman of the Illinois Senate Committee on Local Government, said he will call for public hearings to examine Orr’s conduct in this election and in past elections, and will be filling legislation to eliminate the elected office of Cook County Clerk, making it a separate, non-partisan agency similar to the Chicago Board of Elections.

“David Orr’s conduct and conflict of interest has tainted this election in Cicero. David Orr is politically partisan and has and continues to use public resources to support his political allies to work against those he opposes,” Sandoval said.

Senator Sandoval’s concerns were echoed by 16th District Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, “I’m disturbed that a County Official who has oversight in elections has taken such a partisan position” said Tobolski.  “As a Commissioner who votes on the County
Clerk’s budget and who is accountable to the voters of Cook County, I’m troubled by David’s Orr’s conduct, as it reflects poorly on the people of Cook County.” 

Sandoval said that Orr has in the past donated directly to many of the people supporting Ochoa in his battle against incumbent Town President Larry Dominick. Orr’s office employed Alderman Munoz’s spouse in the past, and his decade’s long relationship with Ochoa supporters, County Commissioner Garcia and US Rep. Gutierrez has been well known and dates back to the Harold Washington era.

“There is no doubt that David Orr has been a political clerk and not an objective, independent guardian of Cook County’s voting system. Instead of protecting the rights of voters, he has been using his influence to harass one campaign while ignoring allegations of obvious voter fraud by workers supported by his allies. That is an outrageous abuse of David Orr’s powers and clearly a violation of his responsibility to insure fair, balanced and non-partisan elections,” Sandoval said.
 
Sandoval, who is Vice Chairman of the Illinois Senate Committee on Local Government, said he will call for public hearings to examine Orr’s conduct in this election and in past elections.

“David Orr’s political activism in this election has compromised his judgment,” said Sandoval. “The voters of Cook County deserve better.”

Senator Sandoval represents the 11th Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Park, Clearing, Gage Park, Garfield Ridge, Little Village, West Lawn, and West Cook municipalities of Bedford Park, Burbank, Cicero, Forest View, Lyons, McCook, Stickney, Summit and Riverside

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Eliminate the Cook County Clerk’s Office

Eliminate the Cook County Clerk’s Office
By Ray HananiaSouthwest News-Herald Newspaper• Friday, February 22, 2013

When it comes to election fraud, Cook County is one of the worst offenders. While making it easier for anyone to vote, Cook County officials have also made fraud easier.
No single vote process is more susceptible to fraud than Absentee Voting.

In the past, voters were only allowed to vote by Absentee Ballot when they couldn’t vote on election day. They needed a legitimate excuse. Now, to encourage everyone to vote, Cook County allows you to vote by absentee ballot.

At a recent training session of election judges, I asked Cook County Clerk David Orr about this now common scenario:

The County receives an Absentee Ballot. But on election day, the voter comes in to vote in person. The voter is told, sorry, you already voted. The voter can protest and cast a “Provisional Ballot.”

But Orr said when he reviews the two votes, he will take the Absentee Ballot if the signature looks legitimate and reject the vote by the voter.

In other words, David Orr believes a piece of paper has more rights than a human being. Anyone can get an absentee ballot and cast it by signing someone else’s name. All you need is a voter list with their signatures on it to forge the signature so it looks real.

Why would David Orr accept the piece of paper which is sent in by mail and reject the voter who walks into a polling place to cast their ballot?

How can you accept a piece of paper that could easily have been cast fraudulently and reject the real voter who shows up and casts a vote?

What kind of Democratic System is that? The system should always take the vote cast by the person than through Cook County’s corrupt system.

Orr’s top deputy was at his side when she complained that the Feb. 26 election battle in the suburb where I was at was “disruptive.”

“I had one voter at early voting tell me that she was so disgusted by all of the people who came up to her urging her to vote for their candidate that she didn’t want to vote,” she declared at the end of the training.

“Oh yea,” I replied. “Democracy is a pain in the ass alright.”

There is something wrong with the whole process of freedom and democracy when the freedom to urge the public to vote for a candidate is “disruptive” and a “hassle” and when the office of an elected official like David Orr describes voting is a “pain.”

What David Orr’s deputy is saying is that they don’t want voters to be lobbied by precinct captains or even the candidates. That’s because they only care about the numbers. Turnout. Cook County has a terrible voter turnout, I say because the system is so corrupt.

If that means vote fraud, so be it, according to David Orr.

The Illinois Legislature should intervene and eliminate the Cook County Clerk’s office. It should instead appoint a non-elected, non-political administrator to enforce the law fairly, and cut the budget in half.

When a politician like Orr hears charges of fraud, he can easily turn his back when it involves his political allies. When it involves his foes, he can suddenly scream about fraud and corruption and get off his cushy office chair and complain.

Why should an elected official and a politician like David Orr have that kind of partisan power to help his friends?

(Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist and political consultant named “Best Ethnic Columnist in America by New America Media and the recipient of four Peter Lisagor Awards from the Chicago Headline Club and the National Sigma Delta Chi Award 2010 from the Society of Professional Journalists. He covered Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992, and now provides media services to governments and political clients. Reach him at www.UrbanStrategiesGroup.com or  www.TheMediaOasis.com)

Finally found a great flower shop in Orland Park

Maybe you have read my laments in the past about ordering flowers from some of the local flower shops in Orland Park. They're all misleading, and expensive. 
But this Valentine's Day I found a great Flower shop that offered the best flowers I have ever purchased.
Sherry's Flowers, 14269 Wolf Rd Orland Park, IL 60467 in the ‎

Promenade Plaza, 

(708) 403-8687.
Click here to read my past columns.
Check these flowers out from Sherry's Flowers in Orland Park.

I bought these on Valentine's Day and had them delivered. And it has been six days and the flowers smell fresh and look beautiful even today.

I can't recommend Sherry's Flowers more.

-- Ray Hanania

Cook County judge who shoved deputy escapes punishment, claims insanity -- but may return to the bench

Cook County judge who shoved deputy escapes punishment, claims insanity -- but may return to the bench
Well Judges in Cook County make $182,000 a year in salaries. So why wouldn't a judge who shoved a deputy, plead that she was insane at the time and then turn around and hope for her job back. That's a lot of money.
Cook County judges are notorious for corruption and political bias. Hispanic judges rule in favor of Hispanics. Black judges rule in favor of Blacks. White judges rule in favor of their favorite political party. And while they claim to be objective, they have to seek election and retention in a corrupt political system that no one seems able to change and that is used by the media to strengthen their own selfish interests.
It's a smoldering pot of mud!
Democratic Party backed Judge Cynthia Brim was charged last March with shoving a deputy.Shoving is a physical act of violence, that can lead to worse if not checked.
Brim is no stranger to controversy. The Bar Association has publicly recommended that the public reject Brim as a judge since elections in 2000, but voters keep returning her to office, according to a news story in the Chicago Tribune. Click here to read the story. She was first elected in 1995.
Turns out Brim has a history of psychiatric problems that were diagnosed years ago. In 2004, she just froze at the bench during the middle of a court hearing and deputies had to call for medical help.
But isn't that what makes a Cook County judge special? Many of them are rude, biased and unfair. But no one monitors their actions. When you talk about the policy of omerta among corrupt or dishonest Chicago Police, it doesn't even come close to the omerta that has the power of the judicial backing.
Brim says she wants to return to her job. Why wouldn't she. It's the only place where someone with emotional issues and challenges with ethics can earn a strong six-figure taxpayer funded income.
-- Ray Hanania
Read more at the Very Bad Judges Blog.

Governor Quinn downplays controversial bill for undocumented residents

Governor Quinn downplays controversial bill for undocumented residents

I was there not too surprised when Gov. Pat Quinn spoke in Spanish phrases to the more than 300 Hispanics who gathered at the Latino Institute to support his symbolic early signing of a new state law that would grant drivers licenses to undocumented residents, mainly of Hispanic heritage.

Quinn not only repeated such phrases as “Si se puede!” (Yes we can!) in Spanish, but he also added a Spanish inflection when introducing Hispanic speakers like the co-sponsor of the bill State Rep. Ed Acevedo and supporter Lisa Hernandez.

The way he was going on and on about how important this bill is, you would have thought that Gov. Quinn would have showcased the bill signing, which grants licenses to undocumented residents as long as the also obtain automobile insurance.

This morning I received Quinn’s official newsletter which summarized the significant things he has done in office. They included items from the past month of January, such as: celebrating one year of tax relief; a school safety summit he hosted; elementary school programs requiring sexual abuse education and more.

And then there was one he titled “traffic safety.”

Traffic safety sounded interesting. And when I read it, I realized it was the event I attended where he repeatedly told the audience that “undocumented residents” would have a chance to apply for drivers licenses in Illinois.

Gov. Quinn is not unlike most other politicians who claim they are doing something good.

They are all “politically correct” in their own ways.

Although the Illinois Committee for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) hosted the event at the Latino Institute at 25th and Western Avenue and claimed to speak for all of the region’s Hispanics, many Hispanics were left out of the “celebration,” even though those Hispanics did much to pass the bill.

Quinn was happy to jump up and down and garble his Spanish for an audience of supporters of the bill, but he knows that the bill is not that popular among non-Hispanic residents who fear it is a backdoor way to embrace undocumented residents, which critics refer to disparagingly as “illegal aliens.”

So he needs to play the bill down because he knows it will become a major issue in the upcoming election when he will be challenged by Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford who is expected to challenge him, if in fact Quinn manages to survive as a candidate. There is a good chance that Lisa Madigan, the accomplished Illinois Attorney General will run for Governor, too. Madigan is the “Hillary Clinton” of Illinois politics. Very popular and someone many voters want to lead our state government.

The politics of issues is so hypocritical. Politicians like Quinn want it both ways. They want the credit where the credit will benefit them, but they don’t want what they do to annoy others who may not like it.

The ICIRR is much like that. I served on the ICIRR board as an American Arab but eventually left when I realized that the ICIRR, when I was on the board, was not as much interested in helping all immigrants as they were in flexing their political muscle in very specific political ways.

In other words, their politics, at the time, meant more than embracing principle across the board. I don’t know that much about the current board. Maybe they have changed. Maybe they haven’t changed. The issue, though, is that I think the political animal can’t really change. Politicians can’t change their stripes. They are ALL driven by an inherent drive to promote themselves and make themselves look good.

And it doesn’t matter what party they are from. Those who claim to be progressive and liberal often are as conservative and dictatorial an hypocritical as are those that they often criticize is unethically.

Like at the event at the Latino Institute when some organizers and supporters of U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez – who 20 years ago I worked with as a campaign adviser to get him elected to Congress – who are engaged in a fight to be the self-appointed spokespeople for the Hispanic community.

They did everything they could to prevent State Sen. Martin Sandoval and his allies including the mayors of two of the towns that have the largest Hispanic populations outside of Chicago, the Town of Cicero’s President Larry Dominick, who is one of my eight clients, and Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico.

Suddenly the effort to bring drivers licenses to undocumented residents has become a battering ram for political gain.

Why should Governor Quinn be any different, I guess, in manipulating the issue for his own political benefit when the people he is surrounding himself with play politics with ethics and principle all the time?

The bill is an important one, and definitely controversial. The new law won’t take effect until November 1, nine months from now, and applicants will receive drivers licenses with a red and blue bar across the top so they can be easily identified.

Also joining Quinn and Gutierrez were Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, the senate sponsor of the bill, and State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross.

There are restrictions on the licenses, which are not played up much so as not to weaken the political capitol Quinn hopes to get from the Hispanic community when he seeks re-election.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “To qualify for a license, an applicant must prove they have lived in Illinois for a least a year and show that they are ineligible for a Social Security card. Documents that will be accepted include a copy of a lease, utility bills and a valid passport or consular identification card. Drivers must also pass vision, written and road tests and pay a $30 fee. In order for the license to remain valid, a driver also will be required to get insurance. If a person with a temporary visitor's license is caught driving without insurance, they will be ticketed for both driving without insurance as well as driving without a license. People who want to apply for the licenses must first make an appointment at one of eight designated facilities across the state. Licenses will not be issued on the spot but only after the state can verify application information and perform a facial recognition search against other databases.”

(Ray Hanania is an award winning political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter. He is currently president of Urban Strategies Group and the Town of Cicero and President Larry Dominick are among his clients. His columns are distributed by Creators Syndicate. Reach him at www.hanania.com.)

View this column on the Examiner news site. Click here

State approves licenses for undocumented residents in Illinois as politics plays out behind the scenes

Commentary & Opinion

State approves licenses for undocumented residents in Illinois as politics plays out behind the scenes

Gov. Pat Quinn symbolically signed legislation Sunday at the Latino Institute that would allow undocumented non-resident aliens to obtaindrivers licenses. The measure will take effect beginning Nov. 1 of this year, nine months from the date of signing.

The proposal had bi-partisan support and the governor was surrounded by Republican and Democratic legislators including Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno at his side in making the announcement.

The press conference also turned into a behind-the-scenes political battle as allies of Congressman Luis Gutierrez, who is battling several municipal governments in the west suburbs, fought to prevent his political foes from speaking at the event.

Although the hosts of the program introduced many of the dignitaries including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, State Reps. Lisa Hernandez and Edward Acevedo, the organizers refused to acknowledge others in the audience who represent large Mexican Americancommunities including Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico, Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, and State Sen. Martin Sandoval.

Gutierrez is backing Dominick's challenger, Juan Ochoa, in the Feb. 26 mayoral contest and is at odds with Serpico and Sandoval over issues in the west suburbs.

But Dominick said that he wouldn't be bullied by Gutierrez, noting, "The Town of Cicero was the first municipality to endorse this legislation. It's a good bill because it requires that you must have insurance in order to receive a license. It is going to make our communities and streets safer and make drivers safer, too. It's a common sense bill."

The Cicero Town Board approved the bill at its public board meeting on Nov. 13. The bill was introduced to the legislature several weeks later.

Sandoval said it was ironic that Cicero, which has one of the state's largest Mexican American populations, would not be recognized as a place where the legislation would have its most significant impact.

"President Dominick has been a strong supporter of the Hispanic community, especially the Mexican American community and they know how much he has done," Sandoval said. "It was unfortunate that his support was not acknowledged."

To read the Governor's press release and video statement on the signing, click here.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter. He is currently president of Urban Strategies Group and the Town of Cicero and President Larry Dominick are among his clients. His columns are distributed by Creators Syndicate. Reach him at www.hanania.com.)

View this column at the Examiner News Site. Click here