A name to remember

Czyznikiewicz wins GOP nod in 6th County District

 By Jason Maholy

The incumbent Cook County 6th District commissioner convincingly won Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, while an upstart Republican who never thought she’d run for office will be the GOP challenger in November.

With 242 of 259 precincts reporting, Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy received 53.47 percent of the vote (15,534) to secure the Democratic nomination. Nick Valadez finished second with 30.36 percent (8.819) and John Fairman received 16.317percent (4,697), according to unofficial vote totals on the Cook County clerk’s website. Murphy, of Crestwood, has been commissioner since 2004.

Valadez, of Oak Forest, cited a desire to “fix Cook County government’s excessive taxation” and decried what he called a patronage system that does not hire or promote based on merit. He advocated consolidating services and adopting an ethics ordinance that would require public disclosure of and criteria for hirings and promotions.

Fairman, of Justice, said he wanted to repeal the 1 percent sales tax passed in 2008 and believes the County’s budgetary issues can be solved by freezing management salaries, and cutting county president and commissioner salaries, among other measures.

In the Republican race, Oak Forest resident Sandi Czyznikiewicz received 46.29 percent of the vote 4,200) to best former 6th District commissioner William Moran of Lansing, who received 32.56 percent (2,954). Bridgeview resident Michael Hawkins finished third with 21.15 percent (1,919).

Czyznikiewicz said she was “very happy” about her election night victory, but disappointed in the low voter turnout. She had hoped people would come out and “express their anger” about Cook County politics, and government in general, but only 24.9 percent of registered suburban Cook Coutny voters went to the polls Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

“Two years ago if somebody would have told that I’d be running for office I’d have had them committed,” she said. “I didn’t want to be involved. Then I got mad.”

Czyznikiewicz said she supports the conservative Tea Party movement and has a lot of respect for Republican Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, but that both political parties are guilty of violating Illinois’ residents’ trust. Many government officials are sampling using their positions for personal gain when they are supposed to be serving the interests of the people.

She also said she’s up to the challenge of taking Murphy on in the general election, and would be happy to debate the incumbent commissioner on the issues facing Cook County, she said.

“Bring it on,” she said. “I would love for Joan Murphy to explain raising taxes on the people of Cook County.”
 

This is part of the January 28, 2010 online edition of The Reporter.

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