Pulse: Mayoral candidates debate the debates
March 10, 2013 11:14PM
Kelly Turner, Lockport alderman
Article Extras
Updated: April 12, 2013 6:08AM
What is it with local mayoral races? First former Chicago Bear Steve McMichael says a debate with his opponent, incumbent Romeoville Mayor John Noak, would be “boring” and unfair because Noak knows more because he’s the incumbent.
Then Lockport mayoral candidate Alderman Kelly Turner called the media to announce a debate with opponent Steven Streit, but failed to invite Streit until the next day.
Turner said if Streit fails to show, he wouldn’t debate an empty chair. Streit said he didn’t like the fact that Turner picked the time, place and moderator: retired legislator and Judge Ed Petka, who donated money to Turner’s campaign. But Streit said he’s still willing to debate Turner if both candidates can agree on a time, place and moderator.
Come on guys, fill those empty debate chairs. The election is right around the corner on April 9 and early voting starts March 25.
Voots running in 2014
Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots, the woman who will be overseeing the April 9 election, would like to keep running elections here for at least four more years. The three-term incumbent told Pulse last week that she’s planning to seek re-election next year.
“I’m ready and I’m definitely running,” she said. “I’m excited about it. And as long as my heart is still in it, I’m going to keep going.”
Foreign fish frolic
If you don’t like the late winter cold snap and snow, blame Will County’s newest residents: the Asian carp.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants to trap the invasive species and remove it from a Rock Run Rookery lake, but two outings have been canceled. Cold temperatures scratched one harvest a couple of weeks ago and snowfall last week gave the fish another reprieve, said Bruce Hodgdon, a spokesman for the Will County Forest Preserve District, which owns the lake.
“Meanwhile, the Asian carp at Rock Run Rookery frolic carefree,” Hodgdon reported.
Fun first, work later
Gov. Pat Quinn wants legislators to deal with the state’s pension problem first and gambling expansion later, said state Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet.
Will they?
“The fact that a gaming bill came out of committee this week indicates that things are moving in a different sequence,” deadpanned the senator.
Cindy Wojdyla Cain and Bob Okon contributed to Pulse.
