I meet and work with many great people while serving Maine Township.  Liz Gorman, County Board Commissioner is one of those great people.   Click here to learn more about Liz.

Here’s a quick background on Liz:

Liz Gorman has been working diligently on the County Board for the constituents of the 17th District. She has been an avid watchdog who introduced the ordinance amendment to repeal the regressive 1% sales tax increase.  By working with Commissioners of both parties she was able to have that repeal passed but then was vetoed by President Stroger.  She is taking the lead in finding a compromise that will result in a repeal of at least part of that tax increase by the first of the year.

Commissioner Gorman was the only one on the County Board last year to vote against the loan requested by the Regional Superintendent of Schools.  When the state auditor general released the results of the audit of that agency this week, Commissioner Gorman’s concerns were validated – the report disclosed flagrant and numerous misuse of funds which will probably result in nonpayment of the loan to Cook County.  She then presented a resolution calling for a vote of no confidence for the Superintendent and urging the Illinois Attorney General and the Cook County State’s Attorney to immediately begin criminal investigation of the agency. Watch the CBS2 News Report.

The constituents of the 17th District have a Commissioner that truly works for them – Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Since  the election where you, the voters  helped overwhelmingly elect our entire Maine Township slate of candidates to new terms, we have taken your mandate to heart. We have already passed:

• a new fiscally sound, balanced budget
• increased outreach for our monthly neighborhood watch program
• participated in the Park Ridge Memorial Day Parade to honor our veterans and our country

I have personally participated in helping to:

• plan our highly successful National Night Out Against Crime coming up in August
• work on our annual series of gang seminars
• worked in cooperative effort successfully with Sheriff Tom Dart’s office to identify and eradicate gang graffiti

I really wish to thank you for your continued friendship, support, love and encouragement over the last eight years and numerous elections. It is that continued  faith in my ability to serve to our community that is truly rewarding.

Very Truly Yours,

Laura J. Morask

Time to Vote.  Election day is Tuesday, April 7th.  Good government starts at the local level and DOES make a difference.

I write to you today as your neighbor and local Maine Township trustee. Together with my husband and two teen-age boys, I have lived in Park Ridge for over twenty years. I have been very active in community, civic, school, and charitable groups in our town because I care deeply about the future of our community.

For example, just a few days ago we held our twice-annual Anti-Gang Educational Forum, our sixth.  To put this on, I conduct a massive outreach to all of our educators, law enforcement, parents, and local leaders to come together and share updates on existing gangs and new trends.  We also cover strategies to help parents with at-risk youth or youth that want to sever existing gang ties.  Four years ago, I saw a need and began presenting as the featured speaker, working with local agencies and our own township to be a resource all on volunteer time.

We are the only government in recent times that has consistently lived within our means and actually reduced our budget while improving services to the communities we serve. I have proved myself for eight years as a trustee, consistently keeping a tight rein on your tax dollars while creating innovative programs that directly serve you, the community.

• Local politics means your neighbor, like me who works hard in the community
• Local politics means, your vote DOES count – Vote Laura Morask – #91
• Local politics means, voting NO to the Stroger referendum, keep your taxes low, we run great services with the money we have

Vote for the best record of fiscal responsibility and responsible use of your tax dollars.  

Punch #91 for Trustee Laura J. Morask on April 7th

Please forward this to your friends and neighbors, including newly minted 18 year old voters.

Just some thoughts  on recent events, views, forums and chatter. 

I hope all of you are aware by now there is yet another election!  And this one matters.  A lot. We are at a critical point in our state and local history and it is up to each and every one of you to put your vote to work.

Tired of ever increasing taxes that tax you out of existence?

Put Todd Stroger on a Tax Diet and vote No on the upcoming referendum on the ballot of many townships, including Maine Township.

Vote for the best record of fiscal responsibility and responsible use of your tax dollars. At Maine Township, we take less than 2 cents of your tax dollar and take care of the road district, run an award winning senior program and an award winning youth and family services program.  We hold instructive seminars like the upcoming one I am hosting, our bi-annual anti-gang seminar.

People are extremely upset with state and county tax rates and corruption yet they keep voting in the same old people that raised your taxes and hired their relatives the last go-around. BREAK the cycle!

Voters are tired.  

• Tired of the never ending bad news.
• Tired of the hysteria on TV every moment of every day.
• Tired of twitter.
• Tired of traffic gridlock.
• Tired of corruption.

WHAT TO DO?

Vote for Laura Morask Maine Township Trustee - Punch #91

Get out and Vote!!!

Early voting is now until April 2nd and makes it so easy there is just no excuse. Nor is the rationale that your vote won’t make a difference. Then you can’t complain when things aren’t the way you want them.

Who else to vote for?

You want responsible citizens who want to serve the public not to gain power or enrich their coffers but to make a difference. And with today’s cynicism, no one believes such people are out there, BUT THEY ARE.  A perfect example is the current race for Maine Township School Board District 207, encompassing Maine South, East and West, three award winning schools that have placed in top two of Best High Schools in the country in US NEWS and World Report.

People hear “school board” and think Big Yawn but it is a crucial  election for a thankless volunteer job that garners huge benefits not just for those with children in the community but everyone else who shares in the increase in property value of their homes when their hometown has one of the top high schools academically and athletically in the country. In this upcoming school board race-6 people are running for 4 spots and really folks, there is no pay, and tons of work these folks do for us.

The shining star candidate is Eric Leys who first ran for the board eight years ago as a 21 year old. Imagine that. He was the youngest candidate ever for school board and when I met him, I was genuinely impressed with his incredible maturity, business acumen and vision for the future that I have voted for him ever since. Eric went on to win another term, as well as a term as the youngest school board president ever.

Eric was instrumental in finally resolving the longstanding negotiations with teachers last year that threatened to cause a walk-out and cancellation of high school graduation and shut down the school. Eric is endorsed by the Daily Herald and is proposing merit pay for teachers, an idea that sounds so common sense you probably think  ”Oh, we must already have that, whats so novel?” Yet we don’t. The education and socialization of our youth is literally the future of our country but we don’t pay based on whether you do a good job teaching or not?  If that sounds nuts to you, (somewhat like whats happening on a national level!) Vote for Eric Leys, if you live in Park Ridge, Niles, Rosemont, Des Plaines, or an unincorporated area.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

Now -April 2nd - Early voting at your town or village hall. Mon-Sat. (Call specific one for hours)
April 1st, 7:00PM – Anti Gang Seminar hosted by Laura Morask at Maine Township Hall, 1710 Ballard Rd. PR-847-297-2510 for info.
April 7th – Election Day! VOTE and vote for your Township Team of responsible, dedicated and experienced officials. PUNCH # 91 for Laura Morask.
For District 207 School Board, Vote Eric Leys! PUNCH#206 –  To learn more visit www.ericleys.com and don’t forget to visit www.mainetownshipincumbents2009.com

Laura Morask, Maine Township Trustee was profiled by VoterInfoNet.com. Learn all about Laura and why you should put your trust in her and vote for her in the upcoming April election. Laura is looking to continue her service to Maine Township as a Trustee. Read about it today.

All citizens should enjoy the benefit of good government. Our township board is the only government to have lowered your tax rate, balanced or reduced our budget all while improving and streamlining services to the communities we serve. This is the essence of good government and I would be very privileged to continue this work.

Yes we did just title the post, “Putting on the Ritz”.  Yes, it is one of the most over used cliches of all time.  But in this case we meant the double meaning.  And no, we aren’t talking about Ritz crackers.

Laura is Putting on the Chateau Ritz as she launches her campaign as a Maine Township Trustee, her third term. Please join her at:

Putting on the Chateau Ritz
Champagne Brunch

Sunday, March 8, 2009
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Chateau Ritz Restaurant Banquets
9100 Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL

$75.00 donation
Please attend and click the orange “Donate” Button.

If you cannot attend or contribute, you can still help by putting a yard sign at your house. In our last campaign, many of you graciously took signs and we would love it if you would continue such generosity. If you can volunteer for a sign, please click on the sign of the times.

What does Township Goverment do?

Many of you may not have the faintest idea what Township government does for you.  Now is a great time to learn because it is truly the government closest to you and where people turn in time of need.  Maine Township encompasses Niles, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, portions of Glenview, Rosemont, and unincorporated areas.  Our highway department is responsible for the roads of all the unincorporated area and as Trustees we are the voting members on issues of great importance to our residents.  We allocate funds for Senior and Youth programs and much more.

What has Laura Morask, Trustee accomplished for Maine Township?

A few outstanding accomplishements during her two terms include helping reduce and streamline the budget, cut wasteful spending while streamlining and increasing the quality of services to our local residents. She is  always available and responsive to resident’s questions and concerns and specializes in trying to educate our youth and parents on gang-crime education and prevention.

What gang education has Laura organized for the Township?

She has instituted a series of  township wide popular anti-gang  seminars all done on volunteer time.  Laura has brought these interactive educational forums to local schools across the township and has sucessfully intervened in several at-risk youth’s futures, providing viable and attractive alternatives to the cycle of gang membership.

What can I do to help Laura Morask?

She  needs your help and support to win.  We are having one fundraiser only -and would love it if you could attend. Please Join us for a Champagne Brunch at  Chateau Ritz on Sunday March 8th, at 11:00Am-2:00PM.   Tickets are $75.00 each but any contribution is tremendously appreciated.

If you cannot attend or contribute, you can still help by putting a yard sign at your house. In our last campaign, many of you graciously took signs and we would love it if you would continue such generosity. If you can volunteer for a sign, please click on the sign of the times.

We are always on the lookout for volunteers.  Many of you are superb and dedicated volunteers and we ask you one more time to donate even just an hour on a weekend night for phone-banking at our headquarters conveniently accessible to Park Ridge, Des Plaines, and Niles located at 701 Lee Street in Des Plaines, call 847-297-2010 today.

Our website for the Slate is www.MaineTownshipIncumbents2009.com.

If you wish to donate or volunteer please feel free to use our convenient online donation or call  773-991-5766.

Laura Morask at the Maine Township Gang Seminar

Laura Morask, two term Maine Township Trustee is once again dedicating her time and energy to Maine Township and looking to serve the community in her third term.

Laura is credited as one of the people bringing everyone together for the good of the township. One of the remarkable events to unfold during Laura’s judicial campaign was the support she garnered from all factions of the local Republican party and the unification of prominent leaders behind Laura as an excellent candidate for Judge.

Maine Township National Night Out Against Crime Poster Judging

Fellow slate members of the Maine Township Incumbents have successfully come together with the Maine Township Regular Republican Organization (MTTRO) to form a unified group led by Committeeman Mark Thompson thus removing the possibility of an intraparty primary battle.

The Maine Township Republican slate is the only Republican slate and there will be no primary.Timing is everything and Laura did an amazing job of running a hotly contested primary as well as an incredible general election. Without any party money and the fractionalization of the local and national republicans, Laura got 56,000 votes in an election where Democrats saw a virtual tidal wave.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Supervisor Carol Teschky. “She would make an outstanding judge and we think the voters of Cook County really lost out but we are thrilled on behalf of our slate and our entire township that we have her energy, enthusiasm and dedication back on the slate to continue the great work she has done in her two terms as Township Trustee,” Supervisor Teschky stated.

“We all worked hard supporting Laura in her bid for Cook County Judge and know from our eight years of working with her that she would have been an outstanding dedicated, hard working judge,” said Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano.

“I couldn’t work with a better group of people and when I started out my judicial candidacy, one of the saddest prospects to me was that I would not be able to continue in the good work we have done with the Board if elected Judge. So, I have to say I am very happy to continue my record of service to the citizens of Maine Township many of whom I have grown to know quite well over the past eight years,” said Laura.

Laura Morask on WGN TV talking about Gang Education

One of Laura’s passions is gang crimes education and youth outreach. She volunteers long hours to conduct regular anti-gang seminars, coordinating bi-lingual speakers, area police departments, and local educators in her efforts to reach our youth before a gang can. 

The Maine Township slate recruited one new candidate to run for Collector, Mary Rhode, a well respected long-time Des Plaines resident.  Mary is a child education specialist as well as a community activist, Co-Chair of “Deep Green” – Des Plaines’ Environmental Energy Program.

“This is a great group of people who have an excellent record of achievement on behalf of the residents of Maine Township,” said Laura. “Sometimes, people don’t quite know what it is a township offers their citizens; its important to know as we are the government closest to the public and the place people turn to for help in times of crisis such as the September floods of last year.  We also have such amazing outreach programs for Seniors and youth and our Food Pantry is  very well run and like programs nationwide, much called upon in these hard economic times.

We have a great combination of experience, dedication, energy and knowledge from each of the people on our slate.

Carol Teshky, Supervisor

Carol Teshky has also won numerous awards as first trustee, then Supervisor. She is dedicated to the citizens of our township and has one of the most outstanding records of civic involvement. Everyone else brings their outstanding records and unique contributions.

Gary Warner, Clerk

Gary Warner, long time Clerk has streamlined the operations of the Clerk’s office at the same time making it more accessible and user friendly to all the people in the township. Some of the services offered in the Clerk’s office are welcome packets for new residents, vehicle stickers, passport applications and much more.

Tom Ruekert, Assessor

For Assessor, “Tom Ruekert is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in this area,” Laura said. He holds seminars at the township to help people understand and appeal their property assessments and really makes a huge effort at outreach to the community to help people in these hard economic times.  

Robert Provenzano, Highway Commissioner

Over the course of his years as Highway Commissioner, Bob Provenzano has earned numerous awards and accolades including the President of the Highway Commissioner’s Division of Township Officials of Illinois. He is a very hands-on and responsive public servant. During our most challenging weather events of the last four years, Bob was out there day and night with the snowstorms, icestorms and floods. Bob has been in the forefront of the environmentally responsible movement, instituting “Green” education and mandating that all highway department vehicles not idle at railroad crossings.

Susie Moylan, Trustee

Trustee Susie Moylan who started out her public service as Collector really devotes herself to the National Night Out Against Crime as well as the Neighborhood Watch where she personally runs monthly meetings to give citizens an opportunity to address issues of concern with representatives from the Sheriff’s police and the fire department.

Walter Kazmierciak, Trustee

As Trustee, Walter Kazmierciak, fondly referred to as “Wally the K” is the fiscal watchdog for the township Board. He is very protective of the taxpayer dollars and quite effective in proposing innovative solutions to streamlining expenses while improving services.

Pete Gialamas, Trustee

Pete Gialamas, a lifelong Des Plaines resident  and the newest Trustee candidate has been the Township’s Collector the past few years.  He is a popular local official well known to many local residents with an expertise in housing and development. Pete is also active in many civic, community and charity affairs.  Since being elected Township Collector he has done an incredible job of familiarizing himself with every aspect of Township government, participating in Agency day, Senior Fair, Chamber of Commerce activities and much more.

Dear Friends,

A big thank you to all our family, friends and supporters of which there were many.

Together we had the best, truly grassroots effort in the county, as we managed without any big party money to get 56,000 people to vote for us.  This is after our opponent headed into the general election with a 2 to 1 lead of 40,000 to 20,000 primary votes.  You folks generated an extra 36,000 voters compared to our opponent’s extra 26,000 voters.  Unfortunately this could not make up for the difference in voter primary turnout as the tidal wave of the country was too vast and there are no second places in elections!

But I am so proud to have the kind of friends, family and supporters who could turn out that many votes for the person you believed in! Think of it, folks, Our total vote count is five times the vote  of any local senate or rep seat! Our District is five times the size of those races and with none of the resources invested into those types of races you did an amazing job!

Dean and I are so thankful for your help, love, and support. I am as always humbled that all of you invested time, money and effort into my dream and future and the future of our country and I am sorry that this time that investment did not work out. But the sun comes up another day and the things that are truly important in anyone’s well-lived life, one’s friends and family are still with me and at the end of the day that makes me truly blessed. Thank you all again and have a wonderful, healthy and happy holiday season.

Love,
Laura

The Journal & Topics Newspaper has endorsed Laura Morask for 12th subcircuit Judge.

…excerpt….

Morask For Judge

Morask’s rise to a level of supervisor of the county’s Chicago West side gang crimes and senior sex crimes prosecutor staffs and her dedication to improving the justice system’s processing and investigation of these crimes, is outstanding evidence of her dedication and leadership skills.   Her jury trial experience of the last 21 years, her experience in Class X felony cases, and her experience dealing with some of the most serious criminal cases in Illinois in recent years, have given her unique and extensive insights into courtrooms and the life and responsibilities of judges. All of this leads the Journal to endorse Morask in this race.

~~SEEKING~~~

We desperately need some walkers this weekend.  Even one hour, grab a friend, meet at Laura’s Saturday or Sunday.  Help us reach out, we really need you. (It is supposed to be warmer, too.)
Call our campaign to help out – 773-991-5766

~~~Invite~~~

You are invited to “Join Laura on Election Night.”

November 4th
7:00 – 11:00 PM
Cheeseburger in Paradise
1472 Market Street
Des Plaines, IL

We wish to thank all of you who have worked and continue to work so hard on our behalf to help Put Laura on the Bench! Join us after the polls close for a burger and a beer at the little slice of paradise in downtown Des Plaines at Cheesburger in Paradise.

Food, Drinks, Music, and Fun at 1472 Market Street, Des Plaines, IL  847-299-3657

We’d love to see you and thank you !

Her YouTube video talks about her recent endorsement from Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police.  The video also shows her “Certified” by the Illinois Supreme Court Capital Litigation Trial Bar.