Mike Zalewski
Zalewski defends record in re-election battle
By Steve Metsch
Taking a break from the campaign trail – talking on a cellphone as he walked door to door – State Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-21st) said the choice facing Democratic voters on June 28 is simple.
“I’ve said consistently that it’s the choice for voters between a record and a promise,” Zalewski said.
The district is mostly suburban, but includes the northwest corner of Garfield Ridge.
Zalewski is challenged by Abdelnasser Rashid, with the winner expected to win the November general election in the staunchly Democratic district.
“I have a 12-year record of accomplishment, lowering taxes, protecting a woman’s right to choose, increasing access to affordable health care,” Zalewski said.
“Rashid has promised to be a politician now for three separate cycles and he hasn’t been successful,” Zalewski said.
Several attempts to contact Rashid for comments were not successful.
On his website, Rashid vows that if elected he will “prioritize the interests of working families, not corporate special interests.”
Rashid promises to “root out corruption, fund public education, and work to fix the broken property tax system that punishes working families while giving huge corporations major tax cuts.”
While meeting voters, Zalewski said “inflation, cost of living, (and) property taxes” are the big concerns.
“They very much want to see what the state is going to do to lower their property taxes, lower their grocery tax and gas tax,” Zalewski said.
“I’ve got a good record to stand on by helping craft a budget this year that will lower taxes. They’ve been very receptive to that message.”
Gun control “is emerging as a major issue,” he said. Zalewski is endorsed by the Gun Violence Prevention Action PAC.
“I will stand with my colleagues to fight the NRA and protect our schools by enacting common sense gun control,” he said.
“I sponsored a high-capacity magazine ban. I voted against the override of Gov. Quinn’s veto of a conceal carry law because it didn’t have an assault weapons ban.”
He is firmly pro-abortion rights, and he has voted to fully fund Planned Parenthood.
Zalewski is seeking another term because he enjoys what he does in Springfield.
“It’s a sense of accomplishment. I like to work hard and I’ve got a record of providing real world solutions for working families,” he said.
“I’m not just here for a paycheck like some people who want to get elected to the House. I want to do good things for people.”
He credits his father, former 23rd Ward Ald. Michael R. Zalewski, with teaching him about the responsibility elected officials have to the voters.
“My dad is important to me. It’s a shame he’s become a topic of the Rashid campaign. I love him dearly and I’m proud to have him behind me,” Zalewski said.
If elected in November, he vows to focus on gun control and reproductive health, hoping Illinois “is a safe haven for women in the Midwest” if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe vs. Wade.
Zalewski, 43, is married with four children.
Local News
Chicago Christian seeking new head football coach
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent Chicago Christian is looking for a new football head coach. The Knights’ next coach will succeed Tom O’Connor, who in two seasons in Palos Heights compiled an overall regular-season record of 9-9. This season, Chicago Christian won its last four regular-season games, including a 19-0 decision over Ridgewood in…
College Notebook: St. Laurence alum rewrites Greyhound record book
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent As senior seasons go, it’s tough to top the one authored by University of Indianapolis running back Toriano Clinton. Clinton, who prepped at St. Laurence, was one of three Greyhounds chosen for the 2022 D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team, and the only one to make the first team. This…
Area Sports Roundup: Marist, Nazareth mourns deaths of coaches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It was a sad week for two area schools. The Marist and local running communities were saddened by the death of Jon Gordon on Dec. 9, two days after sophomore Nazareth baseball coach Mario Ortiz. Gordon, the RedHawks’ boys track and cross country coach since 2017, died…
Area Hoops Wrap: Holiday tournament season starts early at Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn got a jump on the rest of the area basketball world when its girls holiday tournament opened for business Dec. 10. Most area boys and girls holiday basketball tournaments take place the week before or the week after Christmas. But Oak Lawn has a tradition of…
Holiday cheer continues at Hale Park
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com I hope your Christmas season is off to a warm and memorable start. Thanks to the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, the Midway Chamber of Commerce and everyone responsible for making the annual Christmas tree lighting in Wentworth Park and the…
Hockey star headed to Wisconsin
Spread the love Garfield Ridge resident Brooklyn Ramaglia, a star ice hockey forward with Team Illinois (the most respected Tier I, AAA hockey organization in the state), recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career with Concordia University (Wisconsin). She expects to wear the blue and white and play for…
White Castle opens after renovation
Spread the love Employees and community members are all smiles as they cut the ribbon to officially re-open the White Castle restaurant at 63rd and Cicero. A recent renovation means a spruced up interior, as well as what White Castle official John Whitaker called a “hospitality door” designed to make the drive-thru experience more comfortable…
Political sands shifting
Spread the loveLopez mayoral exit leaves question marks By Tim Hadac The political sands of mayoral politics shifted last week, leaving many in Clearing and Garfield Ridge asking “What next?” questions. Garfield Ridge native Lopez worked the neighborhoods hard since he announced his mayoral candidacy back in April. His law-and-order stance and sharp criticism of…
Neighbors
House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…
Remembering Lee Milner
NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…