The local candidates you vote for on April 9 have more influence over your taxes and the services you get than pols in Washington. Learn about the candidates and make an informed choice.
Following is the Patch.com candidate questionnaire from John Pietron, who is running for Morton Grove trustee in the April 9 election. Three candidates are running for three trustee slots; all are unopposed. Name: John Pietron Age: 64 How long have you lived in Morton Grove? 37 years Family: Wife (of 40 years) Janice; Nieces, Nephews, and Godchildren; 2 Collies Education: BS Finance, U of I Chicago and MBA, Keller Graduate School of Management Occupation: Retired. Previously, Entrepreneur – Marketing Consultant Previous Elected or Appointed Offices (please include years of service): Other community involvement: Previous MORTON GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY member Previous MORTON GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY Board …
One trustee abstains from some votes because his friend gets $25,000 a month in village business; another tried to steer village business to a friend. Does this breach Morton Grove's ethics ordinance? A Letter to the Editor by Pat Kansoer Sr.
The following Letter to the Editor expresses the opinions of the author. Patch is serving as a platform for writers to state their views. Just over one year ago a bright, energetic, likeable politician with a nice family went to Federal prison after being convicted of corruption and abuse of his public office. Apparently, sometimes the boundaries of ethics in public service get blurred. In Morton Grove, for example, there are two trustees running for office who have had a long-time personal friendship with a contractor who, on average, makes $25,000 per month on village contracts, (that’s around $300,000 per year of taxpayers' money). They have made no secret of outings to the Western Open in the friend’s luxury motor home or trips …
The Caucus party campaigned hard on his behalf; it will be interesting to see what happens next. A Letter to the Editor by Patrick Kansoer Sr.
The following Letter to the Editor states the opinions of the author. Patch is serving as a platform for writers to express their views. I had a phone call today from a friend in town who was so angry that she was almost apoplectic. She said; " (Joe) Brunner, (Bill) Zimmer, (Rick) Krier and (Rita) Minx were crowing about how THEY had managed to get Danny DiMaria elected as the Action Party mayoral nominee last Tuesday." My response to her was; "What's the problem? If they are saying it, it is because it is the truth." "But they are the CAUCUS party," she fumed. I then proceeded to explain some political realities to her that might be useful to share. Bottom line is Mr. Brunner, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Krier and Ms. Minx and their allies turned …
11:10 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Next Generation, The only valid "payback" is good government. Not special favors or appointments or other emolluments whether Action; Caucus or any other party. Any who got involved for being "paid back" did it for the wrong reasons. I would hope that Morton Grove is not trying to duplicate Tammany Hall more ›
An independent attorney reviewed the village's contract with a non-profit agency the mayor's wife works for and found no conflict of interest, the village's corporation counsel announced at Monday's village board meeting.
Questions raised at the last (Feb. 11) Morton Grove village board meeting about a possible conflict of interest were addressed Monday by Terry Hoffman Liston, the village's corporation counsel (village attorney). On Feb. 11, Trustee Dan DiMaria asked if there might be a conflict of interest in the fact that the village was considering signing a contract with North Shore Senior Services to provide social services for Morton Grove, given that Mayor Dan Staackmann's wife works for that non-profit agency. DiMaria and Staackmann are both running to become the Action Party's candidates for mayor in Tuesday's (Feb. 26) primary election. Staackmann explained that his wife worked for the agency before he met her, and she works out of a different …
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Let's stop the childishness and bickering that have appeared in the comments on Patch, Anthony Hofeld says in a Letter to the Editor. If you support a candidate, stick to saying positive things about them, he adds.
The following Letter to the Editor states the opinions of the author. Patch.com is serving as a platform for writers to express their views. Here we are, just over a week from the primary election (at time of writing), and I am getting sick of the childlike bickering and accusations that have been been in evidence in many of the letters to the Morton Grove Patch, and the comments that were subsequently submitted by the letter-writers’ supporters/detractors. It reminds me of the lead-up to our national election last November, which in many ways struck me as shameful. This is not the way that Morton Grove gets things done. As residents of Morton Grove we are faced with an important decision on February 26, 2013; which Action Party …
6:52 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Well said. Civic dialogue that is civil and yet can disagree and debate as part of the deliberation process. more ›
With three trustees in favor of delaying a vote on social services and three against, Morton Grove Mayor Dan Staackmann broke the tie--then a moment later broke a tie on whether to hire a social services provider. With an election looming, politics played
With an election two weeks away and political tensions bristling during a Morton Grove village board meeting, the board twice reached a stalemate on whether to contract with a social services provider, and Mayor Dan Staackmann twice broke a tie vote Monday. After Trustee John Thill read a statement, Trustee Dan DiMaria, who is running against Staackmann in a primary election Feb. 26, made a retort, suggesting the village did not provide enough notice about the process of hiring a social services provider. DiMaria also made a reference to Staackmann's wife working at a non-profit "company" the village would contract with. That provoked a clarification from Staackmann saying she works in a different location and department of the large …
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12:30 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Idiots? Nice. It's idiotic to miss the point of Trustees DiMaria, Gomberg, and Grear. They aren't trying to stop the services for seniors nor are they suggesting that North Shore isn't the best organization to provide them. They are opposed to the appearance of impropriety by only officially considering one organization. If you know your wife is paid from the org you are proposing to service the … more ›
Early voting starts Monday; in this Letter to the Editor, Maria Toth urges voters to cast their ballots for Dan Staackmann, saying he is containing costs and making the village business-friendly.
The opinions stated below are those of the author. Patch is serving as a platform to allow writers to express their views. The first day of early voting takes place on Monday, February 11 in Morton Grove’s first-ever consolidated primary election. To that end, I urge residents to support Mayor Daniel J. Staackmann for re-election as Village President. Having worked side by side on the Village Board with Dan for nearly four years now, I can attest to three of his strengths as a leader: focus, commitment, and vision. In 2009 when he took office, the Village faced an almost $3 million budget shortfall. Dan focused on this issue, working diligently with his fellow Board members and staff to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The …
10:41 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Hi Maria, or should I say Lizzy T? You spread so much hate and vitriol among the other boards that I can't believe you would do this under your own name. Good for you sunshine! George, or should I say Mark, you should do an op Ed under your real name. Title it, "puppet master of Staackmann, why Staackmann is the better hand puppet". You both are disgusting and I hope that in two years That Maria … more ›
A Letter to the Editor from Eileen M. Coursey.
The following Letter to the Editor states the opinions of the author. Patch is providing a platform for writers to express their views. I have made Morton Grove my home since my parents moved here in 1950. I love Morton Grove. My late husband Jim and I raised our 7 children here and now 5 of my grandchildren call Morton Grove home. I have served on the Morton Grove Park District Board for over 30 years. I have worked with many elected officials, on the Park Board, the Village Board and at the township, county and state level. The good ones listen to the residents, put the people’s interests above politics and work with everyone for our common good. Morton Grove needs a mayor with those qualities, and that’s why I am endorsing Dan …
10:41 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Wow Mark, you sure were busy on this opinion piece! You and Maria sure used a lot of different names. Audrey H, joe, old time Grover,George, etc. Lets talk turkey Mark or should I call you Joe? You have to learn how to change your writing style when you are commenting as different people. As for Eileen's endorsement, I'm happy that she endorsed Dan. You criticize her for her Board service yet I … more ›
If the mayor had only gotten Dempster Street resurfaced, that would merit re-election, but he has done so much more. A Letter to the Editor by Fred Winkler.
The following Letter to the Editor states the opinions of the author alone. Patch is acting as a platform for writers to express their views. About Morton Grove’s Future Eight years ago, Dan Staackmann ran for Mayor of Morton Grove and lost to some guy from Skokie. In his four years that guy did some good things – for Skokie! Now I thank God every day (OK, every three or four weeks) since Dan Staackmann beat Rick Krier in their 2009 rematch. If our home-grown Mayor had never accomplished anything more than re-surfacing and re-configuring Dempster Street, for that alone he deserves another four years as our Mayor. But, our current Board under Staackmann’s fiscally responsible leadership has accomplished so much more. Miles and miles of …
8:14 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Forgive me Josie but you are wrong on some facts. While our beloved late Mayor Scanlon did begin the process, it was Mayor Staackmann who kept it alive when the state tried to not fund it. As for Mayor Krier, his administration raised our taxes 28% and left us nothing to show for it but deficit. When he left office, we where in debt without a balanced budget, something Mayor Staackmann has … more ›
A Letter to the Editor by Don and Marilyn Sneider, who say, "Really take a look around you today at our hometown."
The following Letter to the Editor reflects the opinions of the authors; Patch is providing a platform for writers to express their views. For good, honest, open and efficient government in Morton Grove, we encourage you to take action! There’s an unprecedented mayoral primary on February 26 and keeping our village moving on the right track needs your active participation. We have been involved with our community at many levels over many years, including serving on the village board, and seeing many people run for office. But this time is different as we’ll have to vote twice in an unnecessary primary and again this April. In our opinion, Dan Staackmann is the person who deserves all our votes because of his proven record of …
10:13 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I totally agree! Staackman gets things done that need doing, but does not put on a flashy face doing it. Our water is safe, our electricity is less expensive, bills are calculated centrally, not by workers on the street. Garbage pickup is professional and dependable, Dempster is renewed and tax payers are considered before expenditures are made. Thanks! Mayor Staackmann and Trustees more ›
Pat Craig
3:08 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Patrick-The village attorney is a "her" not a "him". The call for an investigation of the ethics is out there, (the trustee in question abstained again on Monday so if the mayor hadn't voted the bills would have gone unpaid). It seems to me that approving and voting on bills is part of a trustee's job, one that in this case has gone undone consistantly. How's it gonna work if the trustee is … more ›