Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone and six other Proviso Township mayors issued a joint endorsement of Emanuel “Chris” Welch in the 7th Dist. Ill. Rep. race last week.
Mayors Frank Pasquale (Bellwood), Sherman Jones (Broadview), Joseph T. Tamburino (Hillside), Ronald M. Serpico (Melrose Park), Jeffrey T. Sherwin (Northlake) and Beniamino Mazzula (Stone Park) joined Calderone in signing a letter of endorsement on Jan. 25, 2012.
Meanwhile, Mayor Henderson Yarbrough of Maywood issued an endorsement of Rory Hoskins, the current Forest Park commissioner. Yarbrough is married to Karen Yarbrough, the current 7th District Representative, whose seat both Welch and Hoskins hope to win. Karen Yarbrough has declined to make an endorsement in the race.
Candidate Sherby Miller, of Westchester, announced Saturday that she was dropping out of the race and gave her endorsement to Hoskins. Miller is a committeewoman for the Proviso Township Democratic Organization.
Beyonca Johnson survived challenges to both her petition signatures and residency, according to the Cook County Board of Elections website. She had been challenged by Welch’s campaign because she was not registered to vote in Maywood, where she has lived for seven years.
The six pro-Welch mayors jointly praised Welch for the success of Proviso Math and Science Academy, his work as board chair for Westlake Hospital, and his work as president of the Proviso High School District 209 Board of Education. Welch also recently gained the endorsement of three unions: SEIU, IUOE Local 150 and SEIU Local 399.
“The endorsement is an accurate assessment of our collective feeling,” said Calderone.
Mayor Henderson Yarbrough praised Hoskin’s work with the Maywood United Party and his leadership as president of the PTDO.
The Welch campaign received donations in January from some of the mayors who endorsed him: Serpico’s campaign donated $400; the Neighbors Active Party of Stone Park Political Committee donated $160; Calderone donated $500 in 2011.
Hoskins’ campaign received $1,500 on Jan. 17 from former Forest Park commissioner and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Marty Tellalian. The campaign also received $1,000 in January from Don Williams of Maywood, Karen Yarbrough’s father.
