W E D N E S D A Y
February 3, 2021 Vol. 41, No. 27 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Anthony Clark back on ballot
Electoral board reverses ruling on residency objection By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park Municipal Officers Electoral Board made a stunning reversal of its prior decision to sustain the challenge levied against village trustee candidate Anthony Clark. Just days after their original ruling, in a unanimous vote Jan. 28, the three-member electoral board voted to dismiss the challenge, allowing Clark to serve as trustee if elected. “It has been a whirlwind, these past two days,” Clark told Wednesday Journal. “I truly, sincerely thank the community of Oak Park; whether they’re supporters of Anthony Clark or not, they are supporters of democracy.” In what was expected to be only a formality in the candidate objection review process, the electoral board reconvened Jan. 28 for the last time to issue the formal decision on Clark’s case. But the decision itself changed completely in the few days after the board last met. The electoral board did not uphold their original determination that Clark was ineligible to hold a trustee seat, as the board decided in a 2-1 vote on Jan. 25, due to a change of heart in two of the three electoral board members. “I have had time to reflect on the decision we are required to make in this case today, and I have thought a lot about what has been presented to us,” said Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, chair of the electoral board. Abu-Taleb made a motion to reconsider the Jan. 25 decision, which was seconded by Jim Taglia, electoral board member and senior village trustee. Both Abu-Taleb and Taglia had previously voted to uphold the challenge against Clark, effectively barring his name from appearing on the ballot. Village Clerk Vicki Scaman voted to dismiss the challenge in both instances. “After reflecting upon the proceedings before this See CLARK on page 15
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
HOVER BOARD: James Kelly, 12, of River Forest, takes advantage of ideal conditions for snowboarding at Keystone Park, following a hefty weekend snowfall.
Dan Moroney withdraws from race
President pool down to Readling and Scaman By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Citing the toxicity of local government, Village Trustee Dan Moroney withdrew his candidacy for village president of Oak Park on Thursday, leaving a race that once had four candidates
with only two. Still in the running are Cate Readling, former part-time parks district employee, and Village Clerk Vicki Scaman. “I have come to a point where I no longer have the necessary drive, belief or desire to proceed with what I set out to do two months ago,” Moroney said in an email thanking his campaign supporters. “Although my concern for Oak Park has increased during this time, my con-
fidence has diminished regarding how much can be done to alter its downward political trajectory.” Twice in his email to campaign supporters, Moroney stated that he believed he would have won the election had he decided not to drop out. “While I believe that if I stayed in the race I would get to a winning outcome, I am unconvinced that I would be able to be productive after taking office,” MoSee MORONEY on page 15
SUBSCRIBE! O N LY $ 4 1 A Y E A R !
@OakPark.com/subscribe • Enter “FREE MONTH” in comments for...you guessed it...a FREE month!