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player ready...Old political habits die hard.
Pressing the flesh — the shaking of hands with potential voters — has been a constant part of politics as long as there have been elections. The act can be seen as a firm connection between candidate and voter and normally more sanitary than kissing babies. Today, however, “vote-for-me” pleas are also presented to the public on printed cards and flyers and the last name a voter sees may be the first name recalled in the voting booth.
Yet voters in three elections — the Park Forest Village Board, Park Forest Elementary District 163 and Rich Township High School District 227 — proved again a handshake and a piece of paper may not be enough to sway a vote.
After missing two of the three candidate forums because of an illness and a celebration in his honor at the First Baptist Church where he is the new pastor, White, who gave up his seat on the District 163 Board to run for one of three open spots on the Village Board, seemed to be out of the picture. Yet when early voting began for the April 4 election, White could be seen daily in front of the polling site at Village Hall, introducing himself to voters.
He led the field for a board seat with an unofficial vote total of 832, second only to incumbent Tiffani Graham (1,161). John Moore got 761 votes, just 27 ahead of Joshua Travis for the third board seat, according to unofficial returns from the Will and Cook county clerk offices. Votes will be official by the April 25 canvass, when any late mail-in votes and provisional ballots are counted.
Moore is the son of Barbara Moore, a well-known, longtime champion for diversity in the village. Moore said he never mentioned mom’s name, but at a candidate forum did note that he was on the staff of U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Matteson.
Chatting with voters may not have worked in the often dysfunctional Park Forest Elementary District 163 Board election. Kim Elmore-Perkins scorned that ploy, saying she did not like that kind of campaigning and instead relied on personal connections and voter turnout to win a seat.
After seven terms on the board, Margaret McDannel was voted off two years ago but appears to have reclaimed a seat, according to unofficial results, as did incumbent Christina Dupee. Board member Judy Hawthorne opted to meet and greet voters but finished last in a field of four, according to unofficial results.
The 163 results could spell the end to Walter Mosby’s term as president of the board when it elects new officers. The board does not have a policy against nepotism but two attempts to get Mosby’s wife a job with the district last year failed after loud and contentious closed-door sessions.
Park Forest voters intent on retaliating for the decision three years ago by High School District 227 to close Rich East High School must wait. Board President Andrea Bonds, one of four who voted to shut the school, led the voting but Randy Alexander who supported efforts to keep the school open trailed in his reelection bid.
With incumbent Park Forest Mayor Jon Vanderbilt dropping out of the race, Trustee Joseph Woods ran unopposed. Woods did not need to say a word or shake a hand, but he could be seen at public events chatting with voters and pressing the flesh.
Hall of Fame
On the one hand, Andy Gladstone did not fare well in last week’s election, apparent losing in his attempt to return to the Park Forest Village Board after a 28-year absence.
On the other hand, at 3 p.m. this Sunday in Freedom Hall, Gladstone and his wife, Georgette, along with four others who contributed to the history and welfare of the village, will be inducted into the Park Forest Hall of Fame.
Joining the Gladstones will be seven-term mayor John Ostenburg, fervent environmental campaigner Gary Friedlund, retired Cook County Judge Raymond Funderburk and nationally known musician-composer Dave Rudolf.
First begun in 1989 with the induction of village developer Philip Klutznick, and later as an annual ceremony in 1994, more than 200 people who shaped village life and its history have been honored. The annual event is sponsored by the Park Forest Historical Society and is led by Jane Nicoll, the historical society’s vice president/archivist and keeper of the village’s historical flame.
Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.