Monday, May 20, 2013
Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub talked about his first meeting on the board of trustees in his latest "Friday Wrap" YouTube address.
Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub discussed in his latest "Friday Wrap" YouTube address the "peaks and valleys" of his swearing-in on May 13, including the comments of two residents who criticized Straub's campaign this spring. "Here's a message to my detractors: I forgive you," Straub said. "The election is over and let's focus on the future." Straub cited an acquaintance who used the words "tasteless," "sad," and "poisonous" to describe the critical comments from Tom O'Toole and Elaine Milota. READ: Mickey Straub Sworn In, Then Criticized for 'Win-at-All-Costs' Politics All in all, Straub said May 13 was an "emotional night" and he was appreciative of his supporters who turned out at Village Hall. "It came and went pretty quickly, but it …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Two residents said Straub employed questionable campaign tactics during the run-up to last month's election.
A packed Burr Ridge Village Hall boardroom watched as Mickey Straub was sworn in Monday night, and while many of those in attendance applauded the new mayor, a couple of residents had harsh words during the public comment session that followed. Straub, who won the April 9 election over longtime trustee Bob Sodikoff and fellow challenger John Bittner, smiled as he recited the oath of office and later saluted the neighbors, friends and family members who he said convinced him to run last winter. “Thank you so much,” he said. “I would not have run without your support and we could not have won without your support.” The thank-you came after two residents, Tom O’Toole and Elaine Milota, stepped to the microphone and criticized Straub’s …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Patch looks back at five of the most read stories from the week of April 29 to May 3.
1. School Laptops Go Missing, Plastic Discovery: Police Blotter: Burr Ridge police reports, April 22-24 2. Watch: President-Elect Straub Addresses Criticism in First YouTube 'Friday Wrap': The village president is pledging to release regular "Friday updates" like this one "to improve the communication with residents and let you know... what's going on in the Village." 3. D86's One-Bid Packages Products of 'Flawed' Process: Board Member: District 86's general contractor said the low number of subcontractors bidding on several summer-improvement packages is actually due to a construction market on the rise and a corresponding lack of desire by firms to take on small-scope projects. 4. UWGB Coach Wardle, Hinsdale Central Grad, Accused of …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The village president is pledging to release regular "Friday updates" like this one "to improve the communication with residents and let you know... what's going on in the Village."
Burr Ridge Village President-elect Mickey Straub took to YouTube last Friday for his first "Mayor-elect Mickey's Friday Wrap," in which he introduced himself and his concept of generally weekly videos, but also fired back at the criticism he faced at the last Village Board meeting, including charges of electioneering. "If you ever want to teach your children how to not lose graciously, you may want them to watch reruns of that particular meeting," Straub says in the video. The president-elect also pledges that regular videos will fulfill a campaign promise "to improve the communication with residents and let you know... what's going on in the Village." Other topics Straub discusses in the 6:39 video include You can watch the address above …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Other popular stories last month dealt with a Burr Ridge man charged with a Medicare scheme and a girl who went missing in Hinsdale.
We're moving on from April to May, but we certainly won't forget some of the big stories from the last 30 days. In reverse order, here are the top 10 most-read local stories from April on Burr Ridge Patch, according to our reader metrics. 10. Election Day Diary: 'Democracy in Action' at Polling Places, April 9 9. Mickey Straub on Election Win: 'It Was Meant to Be', April 10 8. Photo Gallery: DuPage County Underwater in Spring Flood, April 18 7. Teen Girl Reported Missing in Hinsdale, April 8 6. Village President-Elect Mickey Straub Accused of Electioneering Violation, April 15 5. Man Killed by Freight Train Near La Grange Stone Avenue Station, April 11 4. Mickey Straub Wins Burr Ridge Village President Race, April 9 3. Fire Near Burr Ridge…
Monday, April 15, 2013
The DuPage County Election Commission said Mickey Straub violated electioneering rules by standing near a window of the polling room at the Burr Ridge Police Department while voting was going on Tuesday.
A DuPage County Election Commission representative says the commission received complaints during last Tuesday’s election from multiple people that alleged newly elected Burr Ridge Village President Mickey Straub violated electioneering rules at the Burr Ridge Police Department polling place by standing near a window of the room where voting was taking place. Between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Election Day, the commission received four complaints, one from the site’s technical election judge, about Straub standing just outside the polling room at the police department near a vehicle that had a Straub campaign sign attached, according to DuPage Election Commission Assistant Executive Director Joe Sobecki. Sobecki said rules dictate that …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Burr Ridge's new village president says he wants to make the village "resident-focused and business-friendly."
Mickey Straub said he didn’t expect to win the Burr Ridge village president election until Saturday, when he felt momentum building as he visited residents door-to-door and gained their support. “It was like an ah-ha moment,” Straub said on the phone Wednesday in between appointments with local people he wanted to thank. “It felt like I really can win this thing.” Straub beat acting Village President Robert Sodikoff and fellow challenger John Bittner in Tuesday’s municipal election. The Abraham Lincoln enthusiast who traveled to all 50 U.S. capitols last fall to recite the Gettysburg Address grabbed 919 votes Tuesday. Sodikoff had 758 and Bittner had 287. Straub admitted his campaign could’ve been better, and that he’s not the perfect …
Friday, April 5, 2013
Patch asked the question, and the three Burr Ridge village president candidates provided their answers.
In its 2013 candidate questionnaire, Patch asked the three candidates for Burr Ridge village president the following questions: What sets you apart from the other candidates? Here, in alphabetical order, are the candidates' responses: John Bittner: "My ability to let people work together!" Robert Sodikoff: "I have served the village for the past 24 years, 14 years as trustee (1999-2012), 10 as chairman of the Plan Commission (1989-1999), and also as chairman of the village’s Economic Development Committee (9 years), and various Village committees. Since my appointment as acting village president, I have made it a point to introduce myself to the elected official on the county boards and in Springfield who serve our community, as well as …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Patch asked the question, and the three Burr Ridge village president candidates provided their answers.
In its 2013 candidate questionnaire, Patch asked the three candidates for Burr Ridge village president the following questions: What do you think the role of village president is in Burr Ridge? Here, in alphabetical order, are the candidates' responses: John Bittner: "As village president, he or she should insure responsibility to its residents, that the village is working in each person's best interest and that each decision made is made in an ethical and responsible manner!" Robert Sodikoff: "As village president I will preserve village assets and protect home values by being fiscally responsible through a balanced budget. I will encourage family friendly growth and development, and foster business growth within the Village Center and …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Patch asked the question, and the three Burr Ridge village president candidates provided their answers.
In its 2013 candidate questionnaire, Patch asked the three candidates for Burr Ridge village president the following questions: What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? Here, in alphabetical order, are the candidates' responses: John Bittner: "Safety of our children, community, and to protect our interests (our homes)." Robert Sodikoff: "My most important priority as village president will be to maintain Burr Ridge as an upscale, safe, residential community while promoting the Village Center and businesses throughout the village which reflect the standards of our community." Mickey Straub: "The most pressing priority is to help the Village Center succeed. With a 35% vacancy rate and many shops getting rent …
Richard Morton
3:22 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Jeez, I am certainly down to criticize our elected officials most if not all richly deserve it based on their really crummy performance. But doesn’t our new president – newly minted - first ever public office get a pass on his first meeting? I guess the answer is nope! The rest of meeting was high drama with Trustee Bolos leading the charge (other trustees hopped on board) to submarine an … more ›