Elect Laura

As many of you know, protecting the citizens of the community is one of my greatest passions. As a front line prosecutor of violent gang crimes, sex crimes and quality of life crimes, my job on a daily basis is to ensure justice for the victims of those crimes as well as for the community as a whole.

Along with my job as supervisor of all the cases that come into the west side of the city , I also strive to protect the community as an elected official in Maine Township. Among my passions as a trustee are educating our local youth and their parents about gang crimes. In that same vein I am particularly concerned about protecting our senior citizens from crime and participate in the neighborhood watches we organize with many of our senior communities.
One of my favorite events that really highlights a public service to all of our communities is the National Night Out Against Crime.

I have had the privilege of being on the committee for the Maine Township NNO for the seven years of my trustee postion. This is an amazing group of dedicated seniors and volunteers who spend enormous amounts of time and energy to plan each annual event. Our committee chair, Trustee Susie Moylan-Krey plans a superb line-up of activities and coordinates the event.

One of my jobs is to obtain donations from local businesses for door prizes. I am pleased to report that every year we have more and more businesses participate with generous contributions. It is so rewarding to watch kids’ eyes light up if they win a prize in our annual poster contest, which, by the way, is my absolute favorite part of our committee planning. Each year, I am also honored that I , along with Maine Township Highway Supervisor Robert Provenzano, have the privilege and the fun of announcing the winners of the poster contests and hand them their prize.

The contest we host each year is amongst all the schools in Maine Township and we provide a theme connected to public service and protecting the community, which each poster is supposed to incorporate. At our upcoming committee meeting on July 18th, we will be judging the results of the amazing entries we receive. The hardest part is picking as these kids’ artwork is incredible. I also have the privilege of having been allowed to keep past year’s event runner-ups and display them in the hallways of the courthouse where I work and in my offices. It is a great message that numerous visitors constantly comment on. It is events like this that may strike a chord in a child so that they choose to embark on a path of participating in their respective hometowns rather than choose a path the other way.

The event culminates in a candle light walk through the streets which is a breathtaking sight, particularly when turn-out is high. Last year’s event for Maine Township was our best turn out ever. We had over six hundred people attend the festivities which feature numerous guest speakers, bands, information booths, local dignitaries, popsicles, glo-sticks, games, and the perennial favorite; the Sherriff’s K-9 unit.

This year’s event promises to be spectacular and will again be held at the Golf –Maine Park District Dee Park beginning at 6:30 on Tuesday, August 5th. Please turn out to show your support for your community and help us protect you!

(This is third in a series of our new feature; Alex’s Blog. Alex is a 17 year old senior at Maine South High School and welcomes comments and feedback not just on campaigns but on the best college campuses, and recommendations for good local bands, musicians (particularly drummers and punk rock) as well as all aspects of skateboarding culture!)

This past weekend, I worked the Taste of Park Ridge for my mom. Even while working it was really fun. There was lots of stuff to do, good food, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

On Friday, my friend volunteered with me and enjoyed it even though we were put onto garbage duty. I did clean up on Saturday as well. On both days, the vibrant bright shirts that read “Elect Laura Morask” were everywhere. The volunteers who wore them were very helpful. They were cleaning up tables, getting garbage off the ground, emptying overflowing cans, and helping people in general.

While I was working, random people would compliment us on the work we were doing and give us tickets for food and drinks. I think the work the volunteers did was noticed heavily by the public. My mom also came to the taste all three nights to chat with people. It seemed like a lot of people seemed to notice her. The taste was a lot of fun and really good for the campaign.

Dozens of Laura’s volunteers help keep the Taste clean for our community

From Thursday night to Sunday night Park Ridge was the focal point for fun-filled family oriented festivities and showed visitors what a great community we have. From band stages over by Touhy Avenue to Kids’ festivities in front of City Hall. Park Ridge, the superb Taste Committee, sponsors, participants and volunteers all showed over 100,000 people an action-packed, delicious, festive weekend.

Of course the main event was as always the great food and this year featured the widest array of edibles ever, along with beer, wine and margaritas for the first time. To keep up with all this fantastic food, Committee to Elect Laura Morask donated over thirty volunteers for cleanup detail. Clad in Laura’s bright yellow and blue “Elect Laura” T-shirts, they roamed far and wide making sure that our Taste of Park Ridge sparkled.

In fact, the t-shirts were such a big hit that many taste-goers wanted to buy one. One visitor, the National Marketing Director for Barbeque Fests across the country stopped Laura to comment on how impressed he was at the great job the Elect Laura team was doing keeping in the grounds clean.

Not even a series of storms Thursday afternoon deterred fans from attending as fest activities kicked off Thursday evening. We were forced to shut down after the second enormous storm loomed large on the horizon and organizers wisely chose to close the festival around 8PM for safety reasons. But even the closing was done in the professional style for which the Park Ridge Taste has become synomous-because of the excellent organization of the Taste Board, headed by Bob Dudyz. And of course Team Laura’s volunteers were right there helping make sure despite wind gusts of over 60 MPH that umbrellas and other equipment was quickly folded up and people were safely escorted out.

But, as a gorgeous day dawned on Friday, the Taste roared back to rousing success. Friday featured Senior Day with celebrity bingo sponsored by Maine Township and featuring Mike North and a host of local Who’s-who. Huge crowds swarmed to the festival Friday evening to eat, drink , socialize and hear great music. Even with the challenge of virtually wall-wall people at around 8PM Friday, Laura’s volunteers kept up with the crowd.

Saturday featured Canopies on Courtland, an expo featuring local businesses, organizations and candidates. The Canopies was such a popoular event that crowds started descending even before booths were finished setting up. Laura’s booth was definitely one of the brightest spots under the canopy and judging by the non-stop traffic, one of the most popular. Team Laura featured free lollipops which were a huge hit, particularly with the kids after the kids parade. Even better, as the day grew hotter and the sun beat down on thirsty patrons, Laura was the only booth giving away mini-spray bottles along with bottled water.

Laura’s Team was there for the final night’s jam-packed schedule and crowds as well and once again received many kudos from locals for all their hard work and dedication.

We want to thank everyone who participated as a volunteer for us at this event. Your sweat (literally) truly helped not only our campaign, but the entire town to pull off this huge success!

My mom and I went to march in the Arlington Heights parade with some volunteers that were helping us out. As we went down the streets, people enthusiastically cheered Laura while we passed out the candy and conversed with the crowd. There were as many as up to 10 people that knew Laura personally and came to give her a hug on the street while she was marching in the parade.

Thinking we had enough candy we were generous as we passed through the huge crowds. But we had no idea how huge and popular the Arlington Heights parade actually was and ran out before the end. This crowd was so great as we walked large groups of kids and their parents would start chanting “elect Laura”! We all felt terrible for the kids on the second half of the parade but they were troopers and equally enthusiastically (well, maybe not quite…) collected our business cards and fliers. I remembered from my youth that kids just like to collect anything-but of course candy is far better than stickers or business cards so in between parades our volunteer crew ran to Sam’s Club and restocked with 15 more pounds for the next parade!

Although We ran out of candy to pass out quickly because of the large amount of people there but we made the most out of what little we had left when the crowd starting chanting “Laura!” for the candy. I believe that the Arlington Heights parade was a very large success and it was also a lot of fun. We also appeared at the Mount Prospect parade as well. This time we had much more candy to give out and went down the streets with more volunteers, a pick up truck with speakers playing the beach boys, and a shiny red Chevy Camaro. Again, the crowd was very kind and energetic. Some people knew Laura personally and some were yelling about seeing her on T.V. The Mount Prospect Parade was a great time and was very good for the
campaign.

On a recent Saturday, my mother and I traveled to the Elk Grove Township Republican Organization’s rally of precinct captains and volunteers. This event was hosted by recently appointed Committeeman and State Senate Candidate Mike Sweeney to discuss the concerns of the Republican voters in the area and give the voters a good chance to meet and learn new things about their candidates and representatives.

The featured guest speaker was Cook County Republican Committeeman Lee Roupas whose energy and enthusiasm set the tone of the morning.

Before each candidate spoke, different subjects were discussed including generating enthusiasm for the ticket, reaching undecided voters, and the current logjam in Springfield under the Democrats. Eventually each candidate spoke about who they were, what their background was, and why they should be elected/ what they would do if they were elected. They were interesting and persuasive, as they explained their current situations to the audience.

The group was very responsive to the candidates.

Christine Prochno, candidate for State Senate introduced a new food drive for the soldiers who are still fighting in Iraq for the Fourth of July. Local Dignitaries including Mayor Craig Johnson of Elk Grove Villiage and Mayor Irvana Wilks of Mt. Prospect enthusiastically started off the food drive by contributing as did everyone else in the room. Over $300.00 was raised to send Pizzas to the soldiers for the 4th.

Laura Morask received a big round of applause as she explained her background, the importance of electing good judges, and the situation in the local and federal judicial system.

Each candidate was given a table to display their literature, signs, or volunteer cards. I was in charge of my mom’s table and after her speech many people came up wanting to chat with her and we signed up many new volunteers.

Next on our upcoming agenda we will be in two different July 4th parades and the ever popular Taste of Park Ridge.

Laura Morask, candidate for Judge of the 12th subcircuit of Cook County, is heavily invested in the local community. As part of her community outreach, she presented her second Gang Awareness presentation with MaineStay Youth and Family Services along with Julia Morales on June 4th.

Uniquely this presentation was shared bi-lingually in English and Spanish. Attendees included parents and police officers from Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles as well as Cook County Sheriff’s Police and teachers from the Maine Schools.

The presentation covered keeping your kids away from gangs, how to be aware of gang colors and symbols, other signs a child might be involved in a gang and how to get them help.

Laura’s career as a prosecutor gives her a unique position in the community to educate on gang awareness. She was recently and expert for WGN News discussing some of the modern gang tactics. Watch this informative segment to learn more.

Show your Team Laura support at the Taste of Park Ridge.

Team Laura needs YOU! Simple. Easy. Fun. Join us as we spread the word at the Taste of Park Ridge about Laura’s campaign. If you can smile we want you! No experience needed, just show up and have a fun time meeting and greeting. It’s a great way to get involved in your community and help.

Sign up for a short 2 hour block, here’s where Team Laura will be:

Taste of Park Ridge

Volunteer in 2 hour blocks

Thursday, July 10 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

Friday, July 11 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

Saturday, July 12 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

and

Saturday, July 12 - 10am - 6pm - Work the Team Laura booth

FREE T-shirt to all volunteers!

Our goal is a huge team all three nights and at the booth. To make this happen we need you to:

Email - joinus@electlaura.net

Call - 847-951-8208

Rachel Scott - Volunteer Coordinator

Laura appeared before an enthusiastic and energetic crowd of over 100 people when she was invited to be one of the featured candidates at the recent meeting of the Chicago Chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Laura was one of six candidates at the event featuring guest speakers Senator Jim Durkin who spoke on behalf of John McCain, United States Senate candidate Dr. Steve Sauerberg, and United States Congressional candidate Steve Greenberg. Laura, along with state representative candidates Brendan Appel and Timothy Stratton were invited to be featured presenters after the first round of guest speakers.

Each candidate briefly highlighted their credentials and the audience was then invited to ask questions. The event drew over 100 people on the first Sunday of June and was so well received that people stayed for over three hours talking to the candidates. Laura received a shout out of thanks from the chairman of the chapter, Dr. Michael Menis for sponsoring a team in the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer.

Enjoy 4th of July? How about a good parade? Please contact us to volunteer for either or both of the 4th of July Parades.

Arlington Heights - 10am

Mt. Prospect - 1pm

Let’s pack the parade with volunteers. We need you to:

Email - joinus@electlaura.net

Call - 847-951-8208

Rachel Scott - Volunteer Coordinator

Thursday night May 29th, Club Casa was the setting for the Kickoff of Laura’s general election Campaign for Judge of the Circuit Court in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit. It was a special night as Laura had teamed up with another Laura; Laura Hudgins, a Des Plaines native and 26 yr. old , who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy and re-constructive surgery.

To Candidate Laura Morask, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a personal cause. Having witnessed her mother and grandmother succumb to breast cancer at an early age, Laura decided to donate 10% of all proceeds raised at this event to sponsor a team in the Avon Walk.

Through an amazing series of synchronicity of what a small world we really live in, or six degrees of separation, Laura Morask was introduced to Laura Hudgins by a mutual friend who worked at Maine Township where Laura Morask is a trustee. Township Food Pantry supervisor, Carol Langhan knew the Hudgins family and knew that they had put together a team to walk in the upcoming Avon Walk; Team Cosmonaut. When the two Lauras first spoke, Laura Morask was instantly impressed with the 26 yr old’s grit, determination and guts, and decided to sponsor their team. As it turned out at the event Thursday night, everyone who came was somehow connected through Maine West, or Des Plaines or a mutual friend, to the Hudgins’ family.

Guest speaker Kathy Menis (Laura’s sister) spoke passionately about the long journey their family has taken together and brought tears to grown men’s eyes when recounting the story of how Laura, her sister and mother learned the diagnosis at Christmas time. She told how her sister Laura researched all her available options with incredible maturity, optimism and determination.

Kathy recounted how Laura asked her sister and mom to meet her at a restaurant near Christmastime so she could tell them what she planned to do. Laura told her family she had decided to have a mastectomy but she had also decided she wanted to do something to help others in this situation and wanted to walk the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. She and her sister decided to form a team of their friends and family members to walk and in a play on words, according to Kathy, “they wanted to reach for the stars, the cosmos, but also enjoyed their favorite drink, the cosmopolitan. Thus Team Cosmonaut with their slogan of “Reach for the Stars” was born. Friends and family were so supportive that Team Cosmonaut in six months raised over $80,0000 and became the highest ranked team in Chicago.

Longtime Des Plaines activist Mary Rohde donated her gifted artistry to making unique photo memory boxes in various shades of pink which were raffled off to much acclaim, leaving people clamoring to buy more of these limited edition boxes. Pink Balloons and flower arrangements rounded out the festive atmosphere.

Numerous local dignitaries, politicians, family, and friends attended, including Township Supervisor Carol Teschky, Highway Commissioner Bob Provenzano, Township Clerk Gary Warner, Elk Grove Township Committeeman, and State Representative Candidate Michael Sweeney as well as local Maine Township Republican Precinct Captains.

Candidate Laura Morask in her remarks introducing Kathy Menis, reminded everyone that there are life events far more important than anything else and this cause was one of them. Remarkably, everyone who attended stayed the entire evening and were so overwhelmed by Kathy Menis’ speech that their team received numerous donations and a standing ovation. At the conclusion of Kathy’s speech, Laura Morask presented Laura Hudgins with a complimentary photo album box with a check from Committee to Elect Laura Morask.