As pivotal a role as the south and southwest suburbs have had lately in political dramas played out for control of the General Assembly, Governors State University professor Paul Green writes in a recent report that Downstate Illinois is fast becoming the “lead player” and taking “a new starring role” in determining electoral outcomes.
“Given the 1998 Illinois primary results and turnout numbers, it’s my view now that Downstate is moving away from being merely a `balance tipper,” for city Democrats and suburban Republicans writes Green, director of GSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Administration.
In a just-released analysis of the March primary, the often-heard-from Green said voter turnout Downstate reflects what he calls “a prairie uprising in both political parties.”
“Downstate now looms as the potential `life source’ for votes-hungry Democratic and Republican political candidates,” according to the south suburban-based pundit.
In addition to his lead observation, following are some other political tidbits offered up by Green based on his research:
– Included among the eight townships that together accounted for 54 percent of the Democratic suburban vote in March were Thornton, Worth, Bremen and Rich. Of special note was Thornton Township, where Democratic (21,065) turnout topped every Chicago ward, outpaced the Democratic vote in Kane and McHenry Counties combined and came within 4,000 votes of matching the total number of Democratic votes cast in DuPage County, second in population only to Cook among Illinois’ 102 counties.
– Though DuPage and Lake Counties, as expected, continued to lead the Republican turnout parade, fast-growing Will County turned out far fewer GOP voters in the primary than McHenry County, the least populated of the five collar counties.
– Will County was the lone collar county to deliver for Republican Senate nominee Peter Fitzgerald, leading Green to opine that “Suburban collar county women . . . will once again be a major focus in the 1998 fall campaign.”
New digs: The vacant Garofalo’s Food Store, Vollmer Road and Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights, will be purchased by Suburban Heights Medical Center and converted to its Ambulatory Services/Surgicare Center.
Three different grocers have occupied the 60,000 square-foot building. The original tenant, Garofalo’s, built the building in 1985, but financial and personal problems forced the family to abandon the store. Key Markets and Cee Bee’s also tried to run the grocery but failed.
“It was only occupied 13 of the last 76 months,” said Joseph Christofanelli, Chicago Heights city planner. “It was a delight to find a new use for the property.” Because the area has been designated an enterprise zone, Suburban Heights Medical Center will be eligible for up to $3 million in tax incentives to renovate and modify the structure, Christofanelli added.
Paul Kats, executive director of the medical center, said the old grocery will be gutted and redesigned.
Chamber forums: Include the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce among the organizations planning to offer a series of candidate forums or debates as part of their summer and fall programming. Although the times and locations of the events are still to be determined, chamber president Michael Seward said candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor and Cook County Board president are expected to be among the participants in the coming series.
