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17
Nov
2018
Since the political pendulum has swung in favor of the Democrats on the Will County board, leadership in both parties will be shifting, officials said.
In a Nov. 13 meeting, the Democratic Caucus unanimously chose Denise Winfrey as the new speaker of the board, making her the county’s first female in that role.
Winfrey has represented District 8 in Joliet since 2009, previously chaired the Capital Improvements Committee and holds several positions with the National Association of Counties.
Categories: Local Issues
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Will County officials unanimously approved a $569 million budget, including funding for a new Health Department facility, after leaders met to compromise on how to finance the debt service for that $27 million project.
“I am proud the county board and my administration were able to come to a consensus on this budget,” said County Executive Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, Thursday in a prepared statement, which acknowledged that there was “some concern” about paying for the bonds for the Health Department.
“There are always different ideas on how to spend the limited funds that are available to operate county government,” but officials were able to “compromise and keep Will County moving forward,” he said. “We have always tried to keep the politics out as much as possible and focus on providing effective and efficient services for our residents.”
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Riding the wave that thrust many Democrats and women to victory throughout the state Tuesday night, were Will County Democrats who appear to have won just enough seats on the county board to gain a 14-12 majority.
They also apparently claimed all county-wide seats and two judgeships, according to unofficial results.
It is the first time that Democrats controlled all county-wide seats, board leadership said.
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Former President Barack Obama returned to his former hometown Sunday, attempting to convert Democratic enthusiasm into votes on Tuesday as he decried Republicans for going beyond political spin to fearmongering and “blatantly, repeatedly, baldly, shamelessly lying” to win support.
“Vote IL DEMS November 6” was a message scrolled on the ribbon board of the 9,500-seat arena at the UIC Pavilion as well as on the podium as Obama, joined by the statewide Democratic ticket and two suburban congressional hopefuls, challenged voters to seek better.
“Democracy doesn’t work if there is no check, if there’s no consequences, for an absence of truth,” he said during his 45 minutes of remarks, his voice hoarse from campaigning for Democratic candidates across the country as a counter to Republican President Donald Trump.
Categories: Local Issues, State Issues, National Issues
Aug
Will County continues to “prosper” and its future is “very bright,” said County Executive Larry Walsh in the opening of his annual state of the county address Thursday.
But the county must also “actively prepare for our future and act responsibly as we face the challenges of growth,” he said.
Walsh recited a litany of building projects the county has tackled in the past year – the new $33 million Public Safety Complex that opened in January, the construction of the $210 million courthouse now underway in downtown Joliet, and the new health department facility, which will soon begin to replace a 100-year-old structure.
Categories: Local Issues, Larry Walsh
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P.O. Box 4242 | Joliet, IL 60434 | Email: members@willcountydemocrats.com
