Who is Running for Governor of Illinois in 2010? Who is Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2010?

Possible Candidate
(Party)Current Office or Job
How Close to Running

GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

Jack Franks (D)
State Representative
Talking with family about next steps

Dan Hynes (D)
Comptroller
Source: “Making plans” to run

Chris Kennedy (D)
President, Merchandise Mart
Spokeswoman: Kennedy is “considering all options”

Pat Quinn (D)
Governor
Running

Adam Andrzejewski (R)
Former businessman, non-profit director
Running

Bill Brady (R)
State Senator
Running

Kirk Dillard (R)
State Senator
Running

Frank Edwards (R)
Springfield Alderman
Running

Matt Murphy (R)
State Senator
Running

Dan Proft (R)
Commentator, publicist
Running

Bob Schillerstrom (R)
DuPage County Board Chairman
Running

Rich Whitney (G)
Attorney
Running

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

Mike Boland (D)
State Representative
Boland: 95% sure I’m running

Thomas Castillo (D)
Union electrician
Running

Scott Lee Cohen (D)
Businessmen
Running

Justin Oberman (D)
Businessman, former Homeland Security official
Running

Art Turner (D)
State Representative
Running. Spokeswoman: official announcement in early August

Brad Cole (R)
Mayor of Carbondale
Running

Randy White (R)
Hancock County Board Member
Running

Dave Winters (R)
State Representative
Running

Dennis Cook (R)
School District 230 Board President
Thinking about running

Who is Running for Illinois U.S. Senate in 2010?

Possible Candidate (Party)
Current Office or Job
How Close to Running

U.S. SENATE

Alexi Giannoulias (D)
State Treasurer
Running

Cheryle Jackson (D)
President of the Chicago Urban League
Explorartory Committee

Chris Kennedy (D)
President, Merchandise Mart
Considering

Anthony Williams (D or I)
Pastor
Running

John Arrington (R)
Businessman, former Harvey alderman
Running

Mark Kirk (R)
Congressman
Running

Don Lowery (R)
Retired judge
Running

Andy Martin (R)
Internet Publisher
Running

Eric Wallace (R)
Publisher
Running

Bellwood Family Day Picnic

August 1st will be the 6Th Annual Family Day Picnic. Children will be able to enjoy the Union Pacific kiddie locomotive ride. Food, Family, Friends, Car Show, and other activities will fill the Memorial Park Stevenson Park and Washington Blvd. Come join Bellwood and be a part of a great day.

New Belllwood Website

The Village of Bellwood recently unveiled their new website. The new website offers alot of information. I was happy to see that it lays out future plans for economic development in various areas of town. This new website is a great start, but there is more information the village needs to have available online. I am happy to see we are making efforts stepping towards a positive future. To view the new website visit http://www.vil.bellwood.il.us/

2010 Elections

There has been alot of discussion in regards to 2010 Elections. Who is running for Mayor of Chicago against Daley, who is running for Governor against Quinn. I can't wait until it is time to get these petitions signed.

State cuts Teen Program funding

State funding cuts Teen Programming in the Proviso Township

Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, Inc located at 411 Madison St, Maywood IL has lost funding for the Illinois Department of Human Services Teen REACH Program. The program was into its second week of summer session operations when the Program Coordinators Nathaniel G. Booker and Ashley S.C. Walls received letters informing them that as of June 30th there would no longer be a PLCCA Teen REACH program. Program Coordinator Nathaniel G. Booker was shocked saying, “we had no idea the program would fully be cut and for it to happen right in the middle of the summer is the worst time it could happen. I don’t think our elected officials thought this decision through, what do the kids do now”. This Teen REACH program along with 93 other Illinois Teen REACH programs have been cut due to state funding. The cut of this program affects 27,000 active teens throughout the State of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Human Services implemented the Teen REACH program (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope) in 1998 in an effort to provide positive youth activities during non-school hours. During the regular school year the PLCCA Teen REACH program operates as an afterschool tutoring and youth development program at Proviso East High School (Maywood, IL), Proviso West High School (Hillside, IL) and Proviso Math & Science Academy (Forest Park, IL). The Teen REACH program was scheduled to launch at Roosevelt Middle School (Bellwood, IL) in fall 2009 as a tutoring and high school preparation transition after school program, but due to the funding cut that linkage agreement will not be coming to light. Students received letters to take home to their families Friday June, 26th after returning from a field trip, informing them of the program being cut. Many students were outraged and very emotional. Teen REACH member Amanda Bradley who attends Proviso East High School with a 4.0 G.P.A. on the National Honors Society stated, “You never realize how much something is worth until it’s gone; I volunteered at the office as an administrative assistant to Ms. Walls and Mr. Booker. The program was helping me prepare for the workforce and college preparation, what do I do now”. This program was the only thing many of the at risk students in the Maywood, Bellwood, Broadview, and Melrose Park communities had to look forward to. With the Proviso Township already being the township receiving the lowest academic test scores in the state of Illinois it will be interesting to see how the next academic school year test scores will respond with such a successful program which employed certified teachers no longer in operation. With this program no longer in operation and other programs struggling, the question is what do the students have to look forward to in their communities?