Mettawa Mayor Casey Urlacher’s name has been in the news of late. Nothing to do with his hoping to become a state senator, however.
Instead, Urlacher’s name pops up when one of a number of Chicago area gamblers is sentenced or arrested. The latest was a Melrose Park police officer who was sentenced to home probation by a U.S. District Court judge last week.
According to The News-Sun report of Aug. 21, John Amabile was the second former cop to be roped in by the wide-ranging federal probe into betting rings, one of them which allegedly employed Urlacher. Last month, Chicago police officer Nicholas Stella was sentenced to 15 months in the federal slammer after pleading guilty for being one of the bookies in the multimillion dollar sports gambling ring which allegedly involved Mayor Urlacher.
Urlacher was indicted as part of the scheme in February 2020, while federal investigators said the mayor was a key associate of Vincent “Uncle Mick” DelGiudice, ringleader of the betting syndicate based in the south suburbs.
The mayor was charged by federal authorities in the gambling investigation, accused of recruiting bettors in exchange for a cut of their losses. At that time, he decided not to seek reelection to another four-year term in 2021.
After pleading not guilty, he was pardoned in January by President Donald Trump in Trump’s last day in office, just before Joe Biden moved into the White House. With a presidential pardon in hand and never having to face trial, Urlacher decided to run as a write-in candidate for mayor.
His opponent was former Mettawa Mayor Jess Ray, by far a quality candidate. Urlacher, brother of Chicago Bears Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher, won by 46 votes, 151 to 105.
Soon after his victory, Mayor Urlacher announced he would run in the Republican primary next year in the 26th Senate District against incumbent Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods. Perhaps district voters will be more discerning when it comes to electing a state senator than Mettawa voters in selecting a mayor, despite the well-known Urlacher name.
The 26th District meanders through Lake, Cook and McHenry counties, and in Lake County includes Barrington, Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mundelein, Mettawa and Wauconda.
McConchie and Urlacher tangled in the March 2016 GOP primary for the seat in Springfield. Also on the ballot was Martin McLaughlin, mayor of Barrington Hills, who now is a state representative from the 52nd House District.
McConchie won the three-way race with 36.6% of the vote. Urlacher came in second with 32.8%, with McLaughlin trailing with 30.6%. McConchie subsequently won the general election with nearly 60% of the vote, and has served in the state Senate ever since.
Of course, the 26th District primary was four years before Urlacher was charged for felony gambling. Urlacher will have to face a larger constituency than the tiny paper village of Mettawa, where some joke that horses outnumber residents.
One of those horse owners was the mayor’s brother, who last month sold his nine-acre ranchette, complete with two pole barns, off Little St. Mary’s Road for $1.5 million. Three years ago, it was on the market for $2.6 million.
Mayor Urlacher also will face a seasoned campaigner in McConchie, who recently came down with a mild case of breakthrough COVID-19 despite being vaccinated earlier this year. The Senate minority leader also should have the strength of the state GOP’s party apparatus behind his run for reelection. Other candidates also could surface.
Then there’s that gambling indictment, which remains dangling over Urlacher’s candidacy. Urlacher has to persuade voters his indictment was nothing more serious than a mere bagatelle.
How far a presidential pardon, especially one issued by Donald Trump, can carry a once-indicted candidate next year is a chance Casey Urlacher is willing to take.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
Twitter: @sellenews
