The Blog

Thanks, Mick, nice article, flowed well and painted a clear picture to consider. Even with the regular fartheads posting, this is the place to go to, for dynamic conversation. Too bad few people see the potential or appreciate the opportunity. Clout City should be a regular board to visit, for those interested in an open exchange of ideas, opinions and observations.

Looks like Lil Mick is sock-puppeting his own article. Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Sincerely, Farthead

oreo, You think everyones like your Czar(Daley)? Molding ideas and thought. You Daley people will hopefully end up like Hitler. In a bunker figuring out who should die first.

Please vote for the Village Idiot, you know, Coconatzi.

I believe that Commissioner Frank Avila is the best choice for re-election. I don't know anything negative about any particular campaign and want to keep it positive about my choice as my candidate would want it. Commissioner Avila is a good man, a religious man who has been active with his first and only wife Sherry (for over 40 years) and regularly attends St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Park Ridge and Edison Park United Methodist Church. Frank and Sherry Avila are known as being good people and active in their community. A strong and healthy family with three children and a large extended family. Commissioner Avila also is the only candidate with the specific educational credentials for this particular office. He is a Civil Engineer. His degree is in Civil Engineering. He has a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. He also has a Masters in Finance. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in many states and has been a Professional Engineer licensed for over 40 years. He is also a licensed land surveryor. Besides his base engineering and scientific background, he also has continued to study water, floods, bridges, structures etc. Commissioner Avila had an Engineering and Surveying business for 26 years. This has included work just like the MWRD (flood studies, structures, bridges etc) He has won awards for being the top Engineering company of the year. Commissioner Avila as a Commissioner has NEVER MISSED A MEETING. Perfect Attendance. Commissioner Avila is the FIRST Commissioner to bring up the issue of pharmaceutical drugs in waste water. Commissioner Avila supported the flood control consolidated management proposal which became law. We hear about diversity in words but don't always see it worked out in reality. Commissioner Avila is the only Latino Commissioner. Another fine Commissioner Cynthia Santos is of Irish and Greek descent with Santos being a Greek name. Commissioner Avila is the first and only Commissioner at the MWRDGC to be elected to a full 6 year term. Commissioner Avila is a qualified, positive Commissioner. To learn more about his activities on the board you can see his almost hundreds of Cable and Internet TV shows on GOOGLE video including waste water managment, water quality, pigs on drugs (pharmaceutical drugs), kids and water, paint disposal, senior fraud flooding, Lake Michigan etc. You get to vote for 3 in this race. Commissioner Avila should definitely be one of the three.

How come the major media missed the BP Amoco-CITGO Venezuela oil connection financing Maryanne Sprypolous.? I would not want to vote for a big oil global warming candidate who is being finaced by daddy.

Santos does not even have a Bachelors degree and is taking art courses that I am paying for as a taxpayer???!!! yet Avila is a Civil Engineer and has Bachelors and Master Degree

I am with Matthew Podgorski, He has the right ideas. The candidates who are blasting WGN,WBBM, and all the other radio stations are just rich lawyers trying to buy an office and title. You can vote for 3 people so let one of you votes be for Matthew.

Rev. Jesse Jackson put out his Rainbow Push sample ballot and palm card and for MWRDGC: 1. Civil Engineer and only Latino Frank Avila. 2. excellent attorney and very intelligent Dean Maragos and 3. MWRDGC employee and veteran Derrick Stinson AVILA MARAGOS STINSON true diversity and qualifications picks of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Coconatzi ? I'm voting for Coconate. Is it the same person? I punched #122.

At the MWRD meetings, The only Commissioner that questions the spending of taxpayers money is Frank Avila SR. Thats why we need to get him elected again!

I wish more media outlets will cover the press release I sent. I just can't stand by and watch a seat of the most important environmental municipality be bought by oil money. It is a clear conflict of interest. Please do consider me as one of your three. I only raised about 20K for this race and I am not beholdent to anyone or any special interest. I have no conflicts of interest. Thanks www.ourpurewater.com

Matthew Podgorski, Who are kidding. Lets see who's pushing this cutie boy cut out. Alderman Billy " Gangsta " Banks, Senator Jimmy "operation greylord " DeLeo, County Commissioner Pete " No Nose" Sivestri, and Robert " give me the list" Sorich. A vote for "Pod" is a vote for another "Todd "

What the difference ? They all look alike to me.

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/71/41/22414171.jpg

As an environmentalist I recently received a call asking me to endorse the Illinois League of Conservation Voters(ILCV). So i said i was undecided. I went to their website the young lady told me. (www.lcvillinois.org). It's impressive. They endorsed candidates everywhere, and even Republicans! What an exciting group.

I meant to say they asked me if i was supporting their ILCV endorsed candidate, and of course, i didnot want to disclose over tthe phone. Sorry formy typing.

I'll bet the Public has NO idea what the METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DEPARTMENT is or what it does ? Better yet. No one cares.

What authorities do the commissioners have? Do they have cart blanc on hiring? contracts? vendor selection for materials purchases? How large is the MWRD budget? comparable to Streets and Sanitation? Is the MWRD as much of a patronage haven as Streets and Sanitation? City Hall? the DHS? Burke's Bodyguards? Just how lucrative, to the corrupted, is the MWRD?

If you want a really corrupt MWRD just let sleazy lobbyist Larry Suffredin and grant giveaway sexual harraser Senator Ricky Hendon. Remember that Hendon was the one who talked about a felow female Senator's pubic hair. Senator Hendon was the one grabbing people and knocking them down playing softball. Ricky Hendon gives away state grants including to people who do nothing for them. That is why taxes are high. Don't let MWRD be taken over by Suffredin, convicted felon Bob Cramer, and west side hustler Ricky Hendon. Ricky Hendon is also supporting Larry Suffredin for State's Attorney. Would Suffredin cover up an indictment of Hendon??? Would Suffredin have covered up the indictment of Congressman Shankowsky's husband convicted felon Bob Cramer???

The Illinois League of Conservation Voters (ILCV) is a joke organization pimping environmental issues. They are an unkown joke and have no credibility. One of Miguel Del Valles campaign staff started it. They are political and not real.

I think Matthew Podgorski makes a good point. Dean Maragos and Maryiane Spyropolous are trying to buy this office. Spyropolous's dad is with Citgo oil which is causing global warming. They are also from an anti American communist country with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. I don't think Spyroplous could be independent. She is also being supported by the corrupt Ricky Hendon.

Vote for my Greek Middlemen and his daughter so I can continue to f-ck the United States. You stupid Americans voting for oil so I can destroy your economy and environment. Ha ha ha ha ha

Maryanne Syproulos is right about one thing. Cynthia Santos should not be a Commissioner if she has no education and does not even show up to meetings.

In the Sunday Sun-Times page 19A, is that the papers endorsements? I'll take that into the polling place Tuesday.

After the Sun Times endorsed TODD STROGER. I don't trust their endorsements. Also, they are racist against Hispanics. So you can take the racist and pro Stroger Sun Times with you in the toilet. The Chicago Tribune is better or local papers. That is why the Sun Times is going out of business.

Vote for the Greek slate. SPYROPOLOUS MARAGOS SANTOS The Mavros don't know how to run government. Hispanics work in our restaurants. We can buy Ricky Hendon off. Citgo oil money is still money.

The MWRD should not get electric or hybrid cars as they are doing under Meany, Avila, Santos and Shore but stop and only use Citgo credit cars for gas guzzlers. Let Venezuelan communists into our water supply so maybe they can do terrorism. VOTE MARYANNE SPYROPOLOUS

So, can Mick or anyone else tell me why all these people desire that office so badly? What power do the commissioners get to exercise in the clout world? Why are they all spending so much to get in office?

Hmmm, No WONDER Tony Peraica loves Coconutty, HA HA HA HA!!!!!..

The commissioners get a nice office half a block from the mag mile, 50-70 thousand depending on the position and a car. My choice would be Diane Jones and Derrick Stinson, both are employees of the district, I have heard Diane speak about the workings of the district and she is a fountain of knowledge. She is backed by Senator Hendon and Debra Shore and many other groups.

Frank Avila (and Debra Shore) are hands down the most qualified, as well as the most independent, members of the MWRD in the past 20-30 years. In fact, the MWRD has really improved over the past few years; lots of the machine hacks have retired or been defeated and there is much greater professionalism on the Board. A glaring exception is Cynthia Santos, who is unqualified, uninterested and undeserving of a Commissioner seat. Electing any of the challengers in her stead would be a vast improvement.

In defense of Mariyana Spyropoulos - It is ridiculously unfair to claim she's not an environmentalist because her father is in the gasoline distribution business. We all use gasoline; even those of us who don't drive contribute to its consumption while taking the bus, or buying anything that's been transported by a truck. That her father earns his living by purchasing gasoline from manufacturers or importers, and selling it to gas stations that in turn sell it to the drivers of cars and trucks, is hardly damning proof of a lack of environmental consciousness. If her father were the president of BP Amoco, you might have reason to be concerned, but a gasoline distributorship? Come on. Anyway, she is an environmental activist and supported by environmental groups, and that's what counts.

One of the interesting things about this election is the war between old guard forces like Terry O'Brian, Ald. Stone, Ald Mell Vs the Forces of Reform Debra Shore Sierra Club. From AvysWorld http://sh.org/avyworld/0801/JewishChicagoPrimaryElectionIssue08%20.pdf "There is also a most interesting sub plot going on in a potential attempt to wrest control of the Presidency of the MWRD from Terry O’Brien. Schakowsky offered to back one of the candidates on the ballot in return for contributing to and endorsing Sen. Ira Silverstein for 50th Ward Committeeman as well as voting for Schakowsky favorite Commissioner Debra Shore for President of the MWRD. Stay tuned."

Also watch http://ntnm.org/listings/tvb413-14-i.htm

Diane Jones is as dumb as a box of rocks and claim to fame is that of being a pin-cushion for Ricky Hendon. Her radio ads on black radio claims that she will fight for fresh water for "our" community because "we" deserve fresh water just like everyone else.

Regarding previous postings: When the Sun-Times had to lay off staffers recently, they should had fired every last one of their sorry-assed, overpaid editorial board members and replaced them all by picking up five or six winos off of Skid Row and paying them with a couple of bottles of wine each. If you are going to end up with crappy endorsements (like choosing that notorious lobbyist and political hypocrite Larry Suffredin for States Attorney and lightweights like Meany, Podgorski and Spyropoulos for the MWRD Board over the ONLY professional civil engineer ever elected to the board - Frank Avila), you might as well fire the hack journalists and let the winos do the endorsements. That way, you'll at least have a crappy product on the cheap. Shamus is correct about the Conservation Voters. I would be skeptical about groups of recent vintage who give out only a handful of endorsements and expect gullible voters to listen to them. One would be better off checking out the endorsements of groups like the Illinois Committee for Honest Government, that endores not just for the MWRD Board (where they chose Commissioner Frank Avila), but also endorsed candidates in every contested judicial race in the state. If you think that is easy, try checking out details about judicial candidates running in counties and circuits 250-300 miles or more from Chicago. Of course, if you want to seek out some information on your own before voting Tuesday, may I suggest doing a Google Video search of "Frank Avila." There you will find anumber of Cable-TV programs that Comm. Avila has hosted on various environmental issues. You still have time to watch these shows and make up your own conclusions about his qualifications, without having to rely on on the possible-biased opinions of any other group.

when your down and lonely and you need a helping hand.... You just call out my name and you know I'll always be there..... You got a friend.... Commissioner Frank Avila , was and is my friend.... Vote for a real independent. Re-Elect Commissioner Frank Avila Sr for MWRD

Give a hand to Frank Conate, he will keep all the loot.

Fedupdem do you have links to these shows

"....he will keep all the loot." This, from one of the many flunkies of those who truly have been 'keeping all the loot'. How long a list might one compile, if one were to name them all, or even just the ones whose looting activities have garnered themselves six figures and up? Maybe, if the voters make it so, Frank and Tony will be granted the opportunity to not only compile that list, but shove it up the fat asses of those you regularly kiss up to.

I listened on 102.7 the radio ads against Art Turner by Ricky Hendon with 2 hoochie ignorant girls talking politics. Complete lies. It was funny though. The sad part was when Ricky Hendon makes racist slurs against Bedi. Saying he just got into this country and is trying to take over. These types of ads should be denounced. This is racist and ignorant. It would never be allowed in any other community.

Ricky Hendon is a brutal ignorant racist

Uncle Tom Ricky ACDC crackpipe Hendon is betraying the community by going with the rich cracker Larry Suffredin. Our community is already suffering we don't need Larry. HOWARD BROOKINS

Who is "Someone who knows"? What you said about me being "pushed" by DeLeo, Banks, and Silvestri is completly untrue, and you know it. Please speak the truth. Thank you

"Someone who knows" wouldn't recognize the truth if it bit him on his ass. Unless, of course, the biting is being done via the US Attorney's office. We can only hope.....

Hilary Clinton won 3 to 1 the Hispanic votes in Nevada. This was even though the unions with heavy Hispanic membership endorsed Obama (but the leadership is not Hispanic--sort of like the SEIU with heavy Jewish and far left influence in predominantly Black and Hispanic unions) So the white and Jewish union bosses endorsed Obama but the rank and file mostly Hispanic union members went with Clinton. In Florida Clinton also won the Hispanic vote for the Democratic nomination over Obama. In the Republican primary John McCain won the Hispanic vote in Florida which won Florida for him over John McCain. The knock on Obama in Florida besides voting to build a wall on the Mexican border is he has no experience with the Hispanic community. Jesse Jackson Jr here in Chicago talks about a Black/Brown alliance but it is only Browns supporting Blacks and never the other way around at least not for Jesse Jr or most of the other official Black leadership (with some exceptions). There was much ado about billboards with Congressman Luis Gutierrez for now Judge Joy Cunningham over the slated white candidate and a Black/Brown alliance but there was no corresponding Black support for Brown only Brown support for Black. Some interesting notes are that: 1. There are NO Hispanics elected Statewide at large. NONE, ZIP, ZILCH, ZIPPO, ZEROE. Never a Governor, Treasurer, Lite Governor, Comptroller or Secretary of State. African Americans have had Roland Burris and Jesse White. There has never been a major Hispanic candidate supported by the Democratic party for these offices. The Countywide offices also have no Hispanic elected office holder except for Commissioner Frank Avila of the MWRDGC which is an important but relatively obscure office. Only 1. The African American community has representation in the County Board President (even if it is controlled by John Daley), the Recorder of Deeds, and Clerk of the Circuit Court out of the major offices and two of the 9 MWRDGC Commissioners. There are no Hispanics in any of the major posts and only 1 Hispanic at the MWRDGC. Commissioner Avila endorsed Barack Obama and has made calls to California for Barack Obama. However, Senator Ricky Hendon is supporting two candidates one black and one white and targetting him for defeat uniquely so if Senator Hendon is successful there will be no Hispanics on the MWRDGC board and none at all at any post countywide in Cook County. None. Similiarly, Congressman Danny Davis (who has received Hispanic support) is not supporting any Hispanics and has a separate almost all Black slate. There is a Soul Slate that is all Black. Professor Starks has an all Black slate. Congressman Jackson is not supporting any Hispanics and is even targetting for defeat Commissioner Jose Berrios of the Tax Board of Appeals and Commissioner Avila of the MWRDGC. If Jose Berrios and Frank Avila were to lose there would be NO representation of Hispanics at any level of government. The Assessor who is targetting Jose Berrios for defeat (Jose Berrios appeals his tax assessments) has almost no Hispanics working in his office with estimates from 1 to 3% while the population is 20 to 25% in the city and growing. Judge Jesse Reyes (the only slated Hispanic judicial candidate) is not getting the commensurate Black support that now Judge Joy Cunningham got from the Latino community. There has NEVER been a Judge elected Countywide at large who is Hispanic. Out of the 200 or so judges in Cook County only 8 are Hispanic. Where is Jesse Jackson or Danny Davis or Ricky Hendon to elect a Hispanic Judge for judicial diversity or fairness. Jose Berrios is the only elected official from a district that is 1/3 of the County that employs Hispanics in any great numbers in his office. Hispanics are non existent in County government with less than 4% and with 1 or 0 (NONE) in some areas. Hispanics supported John and Todd Stroger but minority only means Black to them and there is no diversity for other minorities. If Jose Berrios loses there will be no Hispanic representation on issues dealing with property taxes and dozens of Hispanic men and women who lose jobs. Commissioner Frank Avila is an interesting example of lack of reciprocity to the extent you can vote for THREE in the MWRDGC rotating Board member race. So Commissioner Avila a licensed Engineer and the only Hispanic in the race or on that Board is not even on the top three of the supposedly liberal and committed to diversity Congresswoman Jan Shakowsky or Commissioner and leading in the polls candidate for State's Attorney Larry Suffredin. The Cook County States Attorney has very few Hispanic attorneys and deals with Hispanics and some say heavy handedly yet Larry Suffredin is not supporting a slated, qualified, and sole Hispanic--not even when he has three choices. Hispanics have given significant Republican votes in past national elections and McCain has a Hispanic following yet Shakowsky is trying as a national leader and Democratic leader and Congresswoman to in one election to eliminate ALL HIspanic representation. NONE. No Hispanics allowed in Cook County. Congressman Jackson, who wanted to be Mayor of a City that is 25% Hispanic and growing is also oppossing every Hispanic running for office and two Hispanic incumbents one who supported him on his races and his allies (Commissioner Avila) Anita Alvarez (a non slated non incumbent) is not getting any support by even her fellow Hispanics despite her arguably superior credentials (she has been a prosecutor even longer than Bob Milan) She is considered an outstanding attorney and comptetent prosecutor without scandal and came in after the Area 2 scandals. She is the only female running. She is the only Hispanic running. It seems that being female only counts when you are trying to get into office without credentials for a MWRDGC seat or a Judge seat. It seems that diversity does not include Hispanics. Anita Alvarez is uniquely qualified but there is no Brown slate, or Spanish slate corresponding to the Rev. Sampson Soul Slate. How can Congressmans Jan Shakowsky and Jesse Jackson be national leaders and attempt to eliminate any Hispanic elected officials??? This is not leadership and if it were against groups they more closely identify with it would be racism and anti-semitism. But being against Hispanics is OK and the media doesn't care. Sen Ricky Hendon is making racist and religiously bigotted statements against an American of Indian (east) descent yet the media says nothing. Silence on lies and explicit racist statements. Ricky Hendon is trying to eliminate Hispanics at the MWRDGC and the Tax Board of Appeals but that is not considered racist. The Democratic Leadership may not worry about the Hispanic sleeping giant because they repeat the apparently accurate mantra that Hispanics don't vote, that the people don't care, and their leaders are bought off. If you make an anti-Black or anti-Jewish statment or opposse their candidates than that is bad and makes a front page story--but being anti-Hispanic is the last allowable racism and discrimination in America. Barack Obama could lose the nomination because of lack of reaching out to Hispanics. The Democratic Party may have a shock without any Hispanic elected officials. The so called liberals like Shakowsky and Suffedin who supposedly believe in diversity do not include Hispanics in that Diversity. The Rainbow of Jesse Jackson Jr is only Black unless you have Green (money) and than you can buy your way in like Larry Suffedin did. The Hispanics running Countywide are: Anita Alvarez for State's Attorney Frank Avila for MWRDGC (slated and incumbent) Jesse Reyes for Judge (sitting associate judge and slated for Countywide seat) Many people are trying to get all three to lose. Even the incumbents and slated candidates. Jose Berrios represents a District that is 1/3 the County and is the only Hispanic involved in the issue of taxation. If the Cong Shakowsky, Cong Jackson, Sen Ricky Hendon cabal plan works---There will be NO (NONE, ZILCH, ZIP, ZERO) Hispanics in any political offices at all in Cook County NONE. That is racism pure and simple. That is also stupid politics--maybe not now--but in the future.

"In A Nutshell February 4th - 8:36 a.m. The white and Black political power mongers don't want Latinos in any positions of governmental authority. Not in the Legislative Branch, nor the Judicial Branch and certainly not in the Executive Branch. Why? Because Hispanics cannot be depended upon to kiss their asses. Why? Because the Latino community is not as stupid as the respective White and Black communities. Why? Because, as far as the White and Black communities are concerned, all Hispanics are a threat to both the White and the Black political manipulation machines. Ebonics aside, the fact that the Hispanic community consists of many individuals, citizens and not yet citizens alike, who are bilingual, and who don't accept being treated like shit, (albeit who have been treated like shit, by White and Black political manipulators), is why waiting for the White and Black political machines to voluntarily 'share' political power and influence with the Hispanic community is a losing proposition. Latinos have, for too long, made the mistake of considering only whether a candidate is Hispanic, assuming that a member of La Raza will, automatically, have the Latino community's best interests at heart. Reality has proven this to be a false assumption, at best. Hispanics have the numbers, of citizens eligible to vote, to seriously affect the outcomes of many political contests, not only the ones within their communities. If the Latino communities are to ever have a voice, they must reject the typical political divisions of Mexicano, Puerto Ricano, Cubano, etc., stop thinking like the White and Black political power mongers want them to think, and realize that they do not need the Democratic Machine to get on the ballot and to get elected. Latinos are not Whites, nor Blacks, nor destined to be manipulated by the Whites and Blacks. The White and Black politicians are finding it more and more difficult to manipulate their own constituencies, as good an opportunity as any for Hispanics to seize the moment and use their votes to deny reelection to those White and Black power mongers who've proven their contempt for the Latino community. Incumbent White and Black political power mongers are the problem, denying them reelection is the beginning of the solution to Hispanic disenfranchisement. HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT" Just Do It.

TGS NEW ENTERPRISES, LTD dba TGS Petroleum http://tgspetroleum.com/ a serious political activist, contributing as Theodor/Theodore/Ted G. Spyropoulos, and also under TGS and T.G.S. A very serious Friend of Blago I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't, but I automatically think less of a person once I learn they've contributed to Patrick Levar.

How come the media had been so silent on the big oil gas money put into the MWRD sanitary race? Maryanne Spyropoulos is trying to buy the race and is being finaced by her father's oil money. Not one story or critical note. If he is close to Blagojevich and a machine hack like Levar how is she independent? Blagojevich is going to jail.

I am supporting my three colleagues running for re-election at the MWRD: Frank Avila, Kathleen Meany, and Cynthia Santos. I have said so publicly in my own electronic newsletter several times. I say this here to correct a false statement posted by someone on this site.

That above is not Debra Shore and a lie. Debra Shore is supporting Diane Jones, Maryanne Spyropoulos. They are going to vote for her for President. O'Brien is out. Shore is in. SHORE FOR PRESIDENT. We will make better drinking water for all.

at least big oil will have a seat on the MWRD

Ahhh, the sweet smell of censorship.

Even if you disagree with someone's endorsements, you should not misrepresent them. Here is the complete text of Debra Shore's January 20 e-newsletter with endorsements. I don't agree with all of them but she has a right (as do we all) of speaking in her own words. Obama and Me (#1 and #23) I want to ask for your vote - again! For those of you who live in Illinois' 9th Congressional District (represented by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky), I am on the ballot as a delegate for Barack Obama (#23). With your help, I will be able to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver next August. While you're at it, let me encourage you to vote for Senator Obama and the entire slate of Obama delegates in the 9th CD and for the Obama slate wherever you live. I support Barack Obama because he is the candidate for revolutionary change, not evolutionary change. Because, as the Daily Herald wrote in its endorsement on Sunday, "Every long now and then, a transcendent figure arrives on the landscape of history .... Obama offers a "course change.. from the politics of division that has polarized us for so long." I consider myself a progressive woman, a feminist, so it was not easy to withhold my support from Hillary Clinton. But any woman deserves support not on the basis of her sex, but because she is the best candidate for the office at this moment in history. Clinton offers us a bridge back to the 20th century; Obama a transcendant arc to the rest of the 21st. Let me encourage you to read Andrew Sullivan's article "Goodbye To All That" in The Atlantic from December. It is the most cogent and compelling case for Obama's candidacy I have seen. www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama Larry Suffredin for Cook County State's Attorney (#59) Larry Suffredin is the candidate for change in a crowded field running to be the next State's Attorney in Cook County. www.suffredinforstatesattorney.org I have known Larry since he ran for Cook County Board in 2002. He alone has the ability to bridge divides, to patiently work behind the scenes to reach consensus, to bring a countywide coalition with him. As State's Attorney, Larry will devote himself to ending the senseless gun violence afflicting Cook County, tackling public corruption, protecting victims of domestic violence, and safeguarding the environment. He has been endorsed by Congressmen Jesse Jackson Jr., Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez, by Secretary of State Jesse White and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, by AFSCME and SEIU, the Chicago Sun-Times and Pioneer Press and many others. A vote for Larry is a vote to change the status quo. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District I am supporting my three colleagues who are running for re-election: Kathleen Therese Meany (#46), Frank Avila (#47), and Cynthia Santos (#49). They understand the District and have provided good leadership. Early Voting and Late Registration You can still register to vote in the Feb. 5 primary through Tuesday, Jan. 22 in person at the Cook County Clerk's office, 69 W. Washington, 5th floor, Chicago. Early voting runs through Jan. 31. There are a number of other dedicated progressive candidates running for office whom I am supporting in contested races: * Ed Smith for Recorder of Deeds (#64) * Heather Steans -- IL Senate, 7th Dist (#35) * William D. "Will" Burns -- IL Gen Assembly, 26th Dist (#41) * Judge Alan Greiman for Justice of the Appellate Court (#70) For additional judicial recommendations, please download the PDF: DebraShore.org/JudicialRecommendations.pdf

Thanks Hugh, for posting the link to TGS Petroleum. If anyone actually checks out the site, you'll see it is NOT an oil company. It's a company that sells fuel to gas stations, and provides these other services (I cut and pasted this straight off the website) * Inventory management/automated dispatch * Retail site selection and development * Convenience store marketing * Major refiner and private label brands * Environmental compliance * Credit card processing * Equipment purchasing and installation * Facility maintenance and testing * Employee and customer training Is there something nefarious about automoated dispatch and credit card processing? How exactly are the people of Cook County threatened because TGS' clients are trained in facility maintenacne and environmental compliance? I've got to think this whole "petroleum" issue has nothing to do with concern for the environment, and is just political demagoguery from Spyropoulos' opponents.

All of the oil co. attacks here are being promoted by Matthew Podgorsky to tear down an opponent, rather than putting forward his own credentials. It seems that he's really a stalking horse for the Dem. Machine, rather than a serious candidate. The Sierra Club should take that in to account when he comes before them again in 2 years.

The reason it is a conflict is because TGS's #1 customer is CITGO. How is she going to be able to stand up to them if they decide to start dumping into the water. My credentials are outstanding. Spyropoulous is a fraud. I wish these gutless postings would use their real names. I am a real genuine honest and sincere person. If you ever took my course at NEIU, you would probably fail. -- Matt

I voted for Debra Shore but her support for Larry Suffredin (I dealt with him in Springfield) is sickening. I think bringing up the oil issue is legitimate but not the way it is brought up here. Her father is buying the office. I am impressed with Commissioner Avila being a Civil Engineer. Derrick Stinson works at the Water District and also seems to be a good candidate.

Polish do not win in Chicago politics. Change your name to Matt McPod, or Matt O'Pod. If college was that hard, you learned nothing. I suggest Cocopod to lose worse. Last place name would be Cocoski. Mr. Ryan.

Debra Shore endorsed her colleagues the incumbents. Not the challengers and not even the slate. She has an email that went out and has stated this publicly. Commissioner(s) Kathleen Terese Meany Frank Avila Cynthia Santos NOT Diane Jones and NOT Maryiane Spyropolous Diane Jones has no life or educational credentials let alone environmental credentials. Ricky Hendon running her is a joke.

Maryiane Spyropoulos is cousins with Alexi Giannulius. Are they making a dynasty power play? Big money on these races

Just a Fact Matt, I took your advice, now I'll move to 1964 Everett DePlaines Il 1312-685-4333. I'm doing it for you!

How could anybody vote for a pay to play connected lobbyist for State's Attorney. I lost a lot of respect for Forest Claypool

Good to know you threaten your students.

I wantMatthew Podgorski's hot bod!!

I hope Matthew Podgorski is into water sports.

Unbelievable. Doesn’t Podgorski teach poli-sci and yet he is acting like a big baby and using dirty tactics, is this the stuff you teach your students. What is that lesson plan called, maybe you labeled it “How to act like a baby when you know you are going to lose”. I read on several blogs were he said follow the money, so I did. Podgorski projects himself as an outsider however he has political ties via his grandfather. I’ve even been told that Podgorski contacted several politicians to try and get support by leveraging his grandfather’s political ties and no one except Ald. Stone took him up on it. The same Ald. Stone that just had several of his top guys arrested for voter fraud or was it corruption. On top of that, talk about questionable campaign contributions. What about his donation from a gentleman with a very unique name that may or may not be the same reputed mobster linked to the now defunct Rosemont casino. Podgorski is just a joke.

His grandfather?? I'm his brother and my grandfather has zero ties to anything, he's a retired electrician wtf are you talking about? Why don't you move to the mountains somewhere and stop bothering everybody. Your a joke, your life's a joke, go kill yourself...

i heard "unbelievable" has AIDS...

The Sierra Club proves they are an ineffective racist joke.

So, the way I see it is that Podgorski's brother has defended the claim about the grandfather but not the mobster. If only I were still alive, I could have voted for the mobbed up candidate.

we are connected guys from florida, what part of florida, i don't know, wherever the fuck the dodgers have spring training

i heard syprypolous eats her young... but seriously though she's got the face of a saint...a saint bernard

Do you like my bod?

hey how do you spell "Del Rio"?

everyone who didn't vote for Matty Podgorski is a homo, and there are a lot of you. the kid would have made our water so clean we could have bathed in it. now our water is going to be worse than JOLIETS'

Matty Podgorski is a homo who wouldn't have cleaned up our water.

Frank Coconate & Tony Peraica are into watersports, ROFLMAO!!!!.

say that to him or me personally, see what happens...

Joe Berrios, Cynthia Santos, and Anita Alvarez...sounds like a Mexican Hot-Tub Party

i'm sooo fat i waddle when i walk down the street

Abdaddadan, What what are you guys doing, ahgado you comin tonight hu huh huh tortoriello called me i'm going out with him, huh hu huh

*cell it ~dinner at LA TRATTORIA was AMAZING last night~ teachers do it 24/7. happy it's friday :)

my husband is gay

feed me, FEED ME!!!

I think Matt should have won. The people who did win would not know clean water from clean Pussy

LETS FUCK SOME WHORES!!!!!!!!!

anyone who did not vote for matt i hope you die and that your kids die of AIDS and that your mothers all get Cancer of the EYES

Anybody who did not vote for matt; I hope your parents die so I can rape their corpses and then spit on their corpses.

Nothing will happen.

I have AIDS and eye cancer.

I want to be a raped dead corpse too.

call matty a homo to his face or mine and something will happen...

i hope all you homos burn in hell.

hey UNBELIEVABLE, i would say come out of the closet but i'm sure everyone already knows

i wouldn't f*ck her if my dick was on fire and her pussy was filled with water

I will burn in hell.

matt would have made a fine commish maybe if he was commish when i was an infant i wouldn't have this hump on my back.

giovanni has a little penis i can't even feel it when he penetrates me

mike was a fag and had a small dick and was a fag

gio had a tiny weiner and left me a poem and i laughed at it when i read it cause some other guy was plowing me at the time while i ate a big sausage i bought from the deli

i wuv men

I am making some Stromboli tonight who wants some???

Somebody scored his crack today.

I, hmmmm..., did.

fuck HUGH

Thanks for the offer, Bernie, but no thanks. Though, I didn't think you could get it up anymore.

FYI: the Mariyana Spyropoulos campaign paid for expenses with the TGS Petroleum checking account. I hate to be so random and mysterious, but this isn't really my information to disseminate.

The above comment from Mike Hooste was written from someone other than myself. I do not have any knowledge of the comments made above. Whoever made the comments needs to identify themselves before I take the matter to the next level.