Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled Phase III of his New Americans  project  to make   state services available more efficiently and  effectively to new immigrants to the State of Illinois to the praise  of  Hispanic   leaders,  including   State Rep. Lisa Hernandez.
Hernandez was one of the keynote speakers  at Our  Lady  of  Mt. Carmel  in Melrose Park  where Quinn announced the launch of the final phase of the program that makes state services available through one-shop stop locations to immigrants. She  praised Quinn’s efforts to support immigrants, citing  his  backing  of  the Dream  Act and  his adoption of legislation making  drivers licenses available to undocumented residents that will begin  later this year.

“There are  countless  stories  that I  know firsthand, but I want to focus on why this model works first because it is about the state in- vesting in its own infrastructure to serve im- migrants,” said Hernandez. “If the state does not invest in this area, we will not be prepared to serve immigrants and its growing numbers throughout the state.”

Hernandez noted GONA “offers over  100 services  under the same roof,  a  one-stop comprehensive service center.”
The  Illinois  Welcoming   Center  opened in Melrose  Park  at 1115 N. 23rd  Street in Melrose  Park  in July 2007. A second cen- ter was  opened in the summer of 2010 in North Riverside to also service Cicero, Berwyn,  Lyons  and  surrounding communities.
Three   more centers  are   planned,  Quinn said.  “We want to be  the most welcoming state in the union  when  it comes to new immigrants coming to our state. Our diversity is our strength,” Quinn said.

State Senator Martin Sandoval, joined by 16th District Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, called on Feb.26 on Cook County Clerk David Orr to immediately recuse himself from the Cicero elections charging that Orr has openly taken a partisan political position in an election, in which he is supposed to be objective and non-partisan.
Sandoval charged that Orr has played a political and partisan role in the municipal elections in the Town of Cicero, aiding and supporting his political allies, candidate Juan Ochoa and his endorsed cohorts including Chicago Alderman Ricardo Munoz, Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia and U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez. Sandoval charged that Orr has donated thousands of dollars to candidates actively involved in the Ochoa campaign, which creates a direct conflict of interest.
Sandoval, who is vice chairman of the Illinois Senate Committee on Local Government, said he will call for public hearings to examine Orr’s conduct in this election and in past elections, and will be filling legislation to eliminate the elected office of Cook County Clerk, making it a separate, non-partisan agency similar to the Chicago Board of Elections.
“David Orr’s conduct and conflict of interest has tainted this election in Cicero. David Orr is politically partisan and has and continues to use public resources to support his political allies to work against those he opposes,” said Sandoval.
Senator Sandoval represents the 11th Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Park, Clearing, Gage Park, Garfield Ridge, Little Village, West Lawn, and West Cook municipalities of Bedford Park, Burbank, Cicero, Forest View, Lyons, McCook, Stickney, Summit and Riverside.

Compiled from the Cook County Clerk website

As you know, we have a very hotly contested race in Cicero for Tuesday’s primary election. Three candidates are running for town president and have been running very aggressive campaigns.

Partly because of Cicero’s history, and party due to the nature of charges back and forth from the competing parties, I am here to assure all registered voters that they will be allowed to vote and any efforts at voter suppression will be strongly opposed.

Over the last month, there have been allegations of impropriety from all sides, and our office has taken the necessary steps to follow up where appropriate for us. We have worked with the State’s Attorney on issues beyond our purview to make sure that the rights of voters and the integrity of the election are protected. I have also been in regular contact with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Department of Justice.

We have had reports of improper activities. So, before I go into specifics, here are the basic rules:

• If you are a duly registered voter, it does not matter who calls you on the phone, or who comes to your door. You can vote early at an Early Voting site or you can vote on Election Day.
• Again, if you are duly registered and have applied for a mail ballot, do not worry about campaign workers who call you, or who come to your door. You can apply for a mail ballot, also known as an absentee ballot and vote through the mail. There is still time to apply, but mail ballot applications must be received by this Thursday, February 21. Please don’t delay.
• Of course, you cannot do both. You must either vote in person or through the mail.

Now, for specifics. I am going to talk about phone calls, mail ballots, Early Voting and Election Day.

TELEPHONE CALLS

If you get a phone call about your ballot, please verify that it is from our office.

• Get the name and phone number of the person speaking to you, and feel free to call us back.
• Our office does have a Spanish hotline to take calls at (312) 603-6767.
• Or, please call (312) 603-0946.

MAIL/ABSENTEE VOTING

Some voters have reported that precinct captains, campaign workers or local elected officials have asked to take their voted mail ballot. This is absolutely illegal.

• A precinct captain or a campaign worker cannot take your mail ballot and deliver it for you.
• You cannot hand over your mail ballot to your local town clerk or elected official. This is also illegal.
• A voter who votes a mail ballot must send it back to our office through the mail or hand deliver it to the Cook County Clerk’s office themselves or via a bonded delivery service or family member. Furthermore, a voter cannot have anyone but themselves or a family member place their ballot in the mailbox or mail slot at the post office.

This information has been sent to all candidates and committeemen throughout the County.

EARLY VOTING

We have had complaints from Cicero residents concerning the atmosphere at Cicero’s two Early Voting sites.

• Cicero voters do not have to vote at the Cicero PSO or Community Center. They can also vote downtown at our office or at any of the other eight sites listed on cookcountyclerk.com.
• A nearby Early Voting site is located in Berwyn at the Berwyn Public Library.
• Early Voting continues through Saturday, February 23.

ELECTION DAY

As for Election Day—because emotions are running high we have been working with the US Attorney, the Department of Justice, the State’s Attorney and the Cook County Sheriff’s office to make sure that no voter suppression or intimidation occurs on Election Day.

I want to assure voters that we are doing everything we can to make sure Election Day goes well. We will have attorneys, monitors and sheriff’s deputies on hand to prevent voter intimidation. I want to encourage everyone who is registered, to go out and vote.

Nobody should worry about anything except casting a ballot for the candidate of their choice.

And finally, I want every voter to know that their ballot is private. Whether you vote early, through the mail or on Election Day, your vote is secret. Nobody can know how you voted.

Cicero Polling Locations

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Polling Locations for Cicero

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