It was a cherry-blossom Illinois Primary as candidates made last-minute pitches to voters in the 7th District.
The Proviso East basketball parade Sunday in Maywood provided plenty of handshaking opportunities for Emanuel “Chris” Welch, president of the Proviso Township District 209 school board. Twenty people showed up for a fundraiser for Welch at Healy’s Westside, including village commissioners Mark Hosty (owner of Healy’s) and Tom Mannix. Mayor Anthony Calderone, a Welch supporter, was not present.
Meanwhile on Roosevelt Rd. at McGaffer’s, 7th District candidate and Village Commissioner Rory Hoskins thanked his volunteers with a pizza party.
In a final push Monday evening, Hoskins greeted voters at the Circle Avenue Blue Line train stop. He voted Tuesday morning at Field-Stevenson School.
Both candidates complained of last-minute sign thievery. Welch’s campaign sent out a press release saying that a Chicago man and woman had been arrested on Roosevelt Road in Broadview stealing signs overnight on March 18.
Hoskins said he was surprised so many signs were stolen from supporters’ yards, “mostly along First Avenue and in busier areas.”
Hoskins also said he was amazed by volunteers and “Republicans calling me up to say they’re taking a Democratic ballot to vote for me. People have very generous hearts.”
