Thursday, March 29, 2012

State Sen. Steven M. Landek, Ward Committeemen, Keys for Chavez & Holiday, Pope Benedict XVI, Movie Review, Bert Sugar, Events


Steve Landek
          12th SENATORIAL DISTRICT: Steven M. Landek was appointed to fill the vacant seat left by retired State Sen. Lou Viverito in January 2011. In the General Primary Election Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Landek was elected as the new State Senator of the 12th District, which includes the Little Village community.
          OTHER communities in the 12th Senatorial District include Bedford Park, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Burbank, Cicero, Countryside, Hodgkins, Justice, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Riverside, South Lawndale [Little Village/Chicago] and Stickney. Landek campaigned in the Little Village community seeking votes, was well received and elected overwhelmingly over his Hispanic opponent. His campaign donated food to the Little Village Community Council Food Pantry for area residents and Landek has patronized several local restaurants. "I enjoy Mexican food," said Landek. 
August Sallas & Steve Landek
          A STATEMENT: Illinois State Senator Steve Landek released the following victory statement: "I would like to thank all of the voters of the new 12th District for their vote of confidence in my leadership. I want to also thank the community and elected leaders in the district who supported my candidacy for election in this new Senate District. I look forward representing the Democratic Party in the general election in November. 
          DURING THE past three months, I've addressed the issues the district's residents are concerned with and I focused on the district's needs. I visited every neighborhood and community to meet with constituents and I listened to their concerns. The 12th District is a very diverse district and I look forward to fighting for the needs of all of the district's constituents as I have always done during my career in public service," said State Sen. Landek. 
          LAST YEAR, Sen. Landek served as "Principal for a Day" at Heritage Middle School in Berwyn. After a tour of the school he spent the day visiting with students and teachers talking about the importance of education.  
          LANDEK is a lifelong resident of Bridgeview. He attended St. Blase Grammar School and Argo Community High School. He received his Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Roosevelt University. Landek has been a dedicated public servant for 35-years. His district office is located at 6215 79th Street, Suite 1A, Burbank, IL 60459, phone: 708/430-2510. We congratulate Sen. Landek. 
          WARD RESULTS: Most voters are unaware that every four years each Chicago Ward and/or suburban Township elects a Ward Committeeman. Depending on a voter's affiliation, the voter will vote for their Democratic and/or Republican party political Ward Committeeman. In Chicago, Democratic Ward Committeemen dominate the political scene because there are very few Republican voters. However, the few Republicans elect a Ward Committeeman. The Ward Committeeman is elected to be the political leader of their respective political party in the Ward and/or Township. Voters on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, elected a Ward Committeeman in each of the fifty [50] wards in Chicago. 
          MOST VOTERS don't know what the role is of a Ward Committeeman. The Ward Committeeman is a political party position, the party leader in the ward and non-salary position.  The responsibility of each Democratic and/or Republican Ward Committeeman is to register voters, choose judges of election [who work in the polling places on election-day], getting-out-the vote for their party, and most importantly to push for the election of the party slate of candidates. Depending on votes in the ward, he/she has political influence.
          A WARD Committeeman sits as a member in the Central Committee of the Cook County Democratic Party or the Republican Party and has a voice and vote as to whom will be the slated candidates for the party. Depending on the number of votes a Ward Committeeman is able to get for their party on election-day, these "weighted votes" gives the Committeeman a stronger voice in party matters.            
Joseph Berrios
          A COMMITTEEMAN who is loyal to the party, a team player, and who works hard to get the party's slated candidates elected, is rewarded politically. The election of a good Ward Committeeman benefits the party, voters and the political future of the ward and/or township.
           LATINO DEMOCRATIC Ward Committeemen in Chicago and Suburban Township elected in the General Primary Election March 20, 2012 are: 1st Ward: Proco "Joe" Moreno, 12th Ward: Anthony "Tony" Munoz, 15th Ward: Raymond A. Lopez, 22nd Ward: Ricardo Munoz, 25th Ward: Daniel "Danny" Solis, 26th Ward: Roberto Maldonado, 30th Ward: Ariel E. Reboyras, 31st Ward: Joseph Berrios. In the Town of Cicero, Charles Hernandez is the Democratic Committeeman elected March 4, 2010 for a 4-year term ending in 2014. Committeeman Joseph Berrios is the Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.    
          KEYS FOR CHAVEZ: Several years ago members of the Hispanic American Labor Council began collecting discarded keys for the purpose of creating a statue in the likeness of Cesar E. Chavez [1927-1993]. The statue, constructed from melted down keys, would be erected in the Little Village neighborhood. HALC members continue the collection of discarded keys. Anyone willing to donate keys for the construction of the Cesar E. Chavez statue in Little Village should call 312/286-3405
Pat Quinn
          AS HALC President I have said on many occasions: "Cesar Chavez was a great labor leader and we must honor his life and legacy." Mayor Rahm Emanuel signed a City Proclamation designating Sat., March 31, 2012 [Chavez's Birthday] as "Cesar E. Chavez Day in Chicago." 
          STATE HOLIDAY: Hispanic labor leaders will be meeting this Saturday, March 31, 2012 with State Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez [24th District] to discuss the possibility of a state holiday in honor of Cesar E. Chavez. Gov. Quinn is committed to the idea and would support the holiday. Quinn made this commitment to Hispanic labor leaders when he [Quinn] was Lt. Governor and when he ran for governor. 
          CHAVEZ QUOTE: "We can choose to use our lives for others to bring about a better and more just world for our children. People who make that choice will know hardship and sacrifice. But if you give yourself totally to the non-violence struggle for peace and justice you also find that people give you their hearts and you will never go hungry and never be alone. And in giving of yourself you will discover a whole life full of meaning and love," said Cesar Chavez.  
Pope Benedict XVI
          IN MEXICO:  Pope Benedict XVI visited Mexico Catholics on Sat., March 24, 2012 and celebrated Mass on Sunday in Guanajuato gathering 300,000 people. The Pope urged Mexicans to wield their faith against drug violence, corruption and poverty. Mexico is suffering from all the killings by drug cartel which has been affecting Mexico’s tourist trade. The Pope's only public remarks Saturday were for 4,000 children and their parents, giving the Mexican people hope. Fabiola Ganzalez, 17, said: "We're excited to hear his words, not just for this moment, but to carry in our lives and to know God better." Pope Benedict also met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon during his visit. 
          MOVIE REVIEW: "Act of Valor" movie is a true documentary about the Navy SEALS. In the movie, the SEALS engage in two dangerous missions, both riveting and action-packed. Valor is the centerpiece of the movie and how all the SEALS perform courageously. These men of valor, trained as SEALS, know how to survive while executing their mission to rescue and destroy. I enjoyed the movie so much I went to see it twice. It's hard to find the movie in theaters today; I had to go to LaGrange to see it again. I give it four stars.
          A TEN COUNT for boxing writer and sports historian Bert Sugar, 75, who died Sunday of cardiac arrest. Bert was an iconic boxing showman whose trademark was a fedora and cigar.
          
CALENDAR OF EVENTS


          Sat., April 7--For Little Village residents Free haircuts and manicures at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment necessary.
          Thurs., April 12--CAPS meeting, 6 p.m. Beat 21-22-13-14 at 10th District Police, 3315 W. Ogden Ave.
          Wed., April 18--CAPS meeting, 6 p.m. Spanish speaking, Beats 31-32-33-34 at 10th District Police, 3315 W. Ogden Ave.
          Sat., April 21--"Clean & Green" campaign in Chicago. Register by calling 311 for clean-up equipment.