En Español: This site is now available in multiple languages, including Spanish.

Translation:

This site is created for the benefit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Illinois Attorney General's Office, all political journalists, nonprofit investigators, civic and community activists, and, of course, residents of the Town of Cicero...

Second Cicero Industrial Building Sold...

By Robert Carr, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - April 27, 2013 - An undisclosed buyer has purchased its second industrial property here in the Cicero Business Center.

Opus Development Co. LLC sold the 260,725-sq.-ft. Building I for an undisclosed sum. The facility, Building I, is in the Cicero Business Center. The neighboring 291,814-sq.-ft. Building II was sold to Cabot in June 2012 and is 100 percent leased by Cloverhill Pastry-Vend, LLC.

Continue to National Real Estate Investor website...

Would Dan Proft Really Run for Governor Again?

By Carol Felsenthal, as originally published...

Chicago, Illinois - April 9, 2013 - Proft, 40, is a practicing Catholic, Wheaton-raised, who attended Catholic school, then Northwestern, and night law school at Loyola several years later. He sees Illinois as a state on the road to disaster. Not only that—it could be just a few yards from crashing.

“The usual suspects” who are likely running for the Republican nomination—Dillard, Brady, et al—did nothing, Proft argues, to clean up the mess in Springfield over the last 25 years. His goal, Proft declared, is to “turn Springfield upside down.”

Should he decide to try again, he’ll be lugging some heavy baggage. Proft has run several campaigns since graduating from college, and he was one of those who proposed Maryland resident (and uncontrollable gadfly) Alan Keyes as the Republican to go up against Barack Obama in the 2004 general election for the U.S. senate seat from Illinois. Proft has done PR work for Cicero’s president, Larry Dominick, and he has reaped some very rich contracts with the corruption-plagued town.

Continue to Chicago Magazine website...

Boxing Coming to Cicero, Illinois...

By Johnny B, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - April 5, 2013 - Cicero, Illinois will be the host of championship boxing for both amateur and professionals this month. The Clyde Park facility also known as Cicero Stadium, located at 1909 South Laramie, Cicero IL will be the venue for the Chicagoland 2013 Golden Gloves amateur boxing championships being held Thursday thru Saturday April 11th, 12th and 13th.

Continue to FightNews.Com website...

Dominick Wins Cicero Town President Race...

By Marcella Raymond, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 27, 2013 - With 25 of 33 precincts reporting, WGN is declaring Larry Dominick the winner in the Cicero town president race.

Dominick will be president for a third term.

Dominick has 61 percent of the vote.

Juan Ochoa has 30 percent and Joseph Pontarelli has 9 percent.

Dominick has been accused of corruption and nepotism.

In the campaign for this race, Dominick has been accused of voter intimidation and fraud. He has denied those claims.

Continue to WGN Television website...

Larry Dominick, Cicero Town President, Reelected Despite Latino Voter Intimidation Flap...

By Huffington Post staff, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 27, 2013 - Dominick has a history of dust-ups when it comes to the town's Latino residents: In 2011, Dominick allegedly used several racial slurs to describe Latinos and was sued by an employee on the city's payroll for allegedly firing him based on his race. In addition, he was criticized after admitting he hired more than 20 family members.

Ochoa told his own supporters Tuesday, according to Fox Chicago, that it was difficult to challenge an "organization that has been doing this for decades." Earlier in the week, Ochoa said Dominick would "stop at nothing to try to win this election and protect their patronage jobs."

Continue to Huffington Post website... 

Click here to view Juan Ochoa's concession speech: WGN-TV website...

The Town President Wins Third Term, Tells Vanquished Latino Challenger: 'Go Scratch Your Ass'...

By Chip Mitchell, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 26, 2013 - Dominick supporters, celebrating at an Italian banquet hall, said his victory margin proved that town residents are satisfied with his economic-development efforts and crime-fighting tactics.

But Ochoa blamed the results on “apathy” among fellow Mexican-Americans and said they lack “a belief in the democratic process,” having endured too much corruption south of the border.

“So when they come here, when we come here, some of us tend to believe that all politicians are the same and that, no matter who you elect, it’s all the same,” Ochoa said.

Told of that analysis, Dominick did not seem to agree. “Tell Juan Ochoa [to] go scratch his ass and move back to Berwyn, where he belongs,” the town president said. “Tell him that’s not a good thing to say about our people of Cicero.”

Dominick, 64, told WBEZ he hopes to keep the president’s post for “the rest of my life.”

On the way to his reelection, Dominick weathered a series of unflattering news reports and lawsuit filings. The Chicago Sun-Times linked a close Dominick ally who heads a local school board to a wholesale cocaine dealer and a motorcycle-gang leader with mob ties.

Continue to Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ-91.5FM) website...

Click here to view former Town President Betty Loren-Maltese's reaction to Dominick's win: WGN-TV website...

Sandoval Overreacts...Again...

By Rich Miller, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 26, 2013 - State Senator Martin Sandoval, joined by 16th District Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, today called on Cook County Clerk David Orr to immediately recuse himself from the Cicero elections charging that Orr has openly taken a partisan political position in an election in which he is supposed to be objective and non-partisan.

Sandoval said he sent a letter urging Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, the chief law enforcement officer on election day, to order David Orr to immediately recuse himself for conflict of interest due to his political bias in the Cicero elections due.

Sandoval charged that Orr has played a political and partisan role in the municipal elections in the Town of Cicero, aiding and supporting his political allies, candidate Juan Ochoa and his endorsed cohorts including Chicago Alderman Ricardo Munoz, Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia and U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez. Sandoval charged that Orr has donated thousands of dollars to candidates actively involved in the Ochoa campaign, which creates a direct conflict of interest. Additional instances of bias include David Orr’s physical appearance at rallies with Ochoa and his supporters (which included convicted felon and former Cicero President Betty Loren-Maltese).

University of Illinois at Chicago Political Science Professor Dick Simpson on Corruption in Cicero...

By Ashlee Rezin, as originally published...

Chicago, Illinois - February 26, 2013 - Since Al Capone settled in the town in the 1920s, Cicero has been known for corruption, according to Dick Simpson, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a former Chicago alderman.

“The process of ending corruption, either in Cicero or anywhere else, is one that takes a period of time,” said Simpson. “It takes electing government officials that not only say they support reform but actually carry out reform, and it takes changing a culture of corruption which, in Illinois, has existed for 150 years."

Simpson said a new government is needed in Cicero, and that to truly effect reform, the nature of political corruption should be taught more extensively in school.

“We need to build a citizenry that understands the problem of corruption and are prepared to undertake the task of curbing it over time,” he said.

Election Day: Races in IL 2nd District & Cicero...

By Tribune Broadcasting Company, as originally published...

Chicago, Illinois - February 26, 2013 - It’s election day for voters in Illinois 2nd Congressional District and in Southwest suburban Cicero.

Incumbent Larry Dominick is vying for a third term.

Dominick has been accused of corruption and nepotism. In the campaign for this race, Dominick has been accused of voter intimidation and fraud. He has denied those claims.

Dominick’s challengers include Juan Ochoa and Joe Pontarelli.

All Eyes On Illinois As Voters Head To The Polls...

By Aricka Flowers, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 26, 2013 - Progress Illinois has reporters in the field and will provide you with updates and stories covering the battle for the 2nd congressional district seat as well as other races, like the highly-contentious one in Cicero for town president. Check back often for the latest.

Continue to Progress Illinois website...

The Cicero Syndrome...

By Chicago Tribune, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 25, 2013 - If voters in Cicero have a hard time distinguishing between Larry Dominick, the candidate, and Larry Dominick, the incumbent town president, it's probably because Dominick himself doesn't seem to know the difference.

Town spokesman Ray Hanania confirmed last week that uniformed community service officers driving official town vehicles have gone door to door, questioning residents about whether they had applied for mail-in ballots for Tuesday's municipal primary election.

Dominick's opponent, former McPier executive Juan Ochoa, has encouraged voters to use the ballots, widely available since 2010. Ochoa's campaign says the Cicero officers were dispatched to suppress those (mostly Latino) votes.

In a letter to the town attorney, Cook County Clerk David Orr said the visits "could easily be construed as an attempt at voter intimidation."

Continue to Chicago Tribune website...

Continue to Illinois Campaign for Political Reform website...

Ex-Cicero Worker Says She Was Fired For Being Whistleblower, Sues Dominick, Park District...

By Becky Schlikerman, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 22, 2013 - A former Cicero park district employee claims she was fired after blowing the whistle on officials misusing public funds, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

Laura Perez-Garcia, the sister of the Cicero town clerk, is suing Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, the Clyde Park District, some of the heads of the district and its board members.

As Cicero President Seeks Third Term, Town Employees Wear Two Hats...

By Chip Mitchell, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 21, 2013 - Once upon a time, it was hard to get a government job in the Chicago area without going through a precinct captain or another party boss. Over the years, federal court orders and corruption prosecutions have helped draw a sharper line between public service and politics. But the message hasn't gotten everywhere. With an election looming in Cicero, many employees of that western suburb are wearing two hats.

Cicero Voter Intimidation: Candidate Calls For Probe As County Clerk Accuses Officials Of Dirty Politics...

By Huffington Post staff, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 19, 2013 - The race for president in the suburban Chicago town of Cicero is getting ugly.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, allegations of voter intimidation by town officials came to a head Monday when Cook County Clerk David Orr accused Cicero officials in a letter of “improperly - and possibly illegally” - using town employees to boost the campaign of the incumbent, Cicero Town President Larry Dominick.

Will Cicero Voters Stand Up To The Bullies?

By Carol Marin, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 19, 2013 - There’s nothing funny about the bullies who run the town of Cicero. Especially not with an election less than a week away. Then again, the ham-handedness of town President Larry Dominick’s desperate attempts to hang on to his personal gravy train has provoked a laugh or two.

I refer, specifically, to a recent piece of campaign trash literature that depicts Dominick’s chief adversary, Juan Ochoa, with Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz. It attacks them both — in this town that is 85 percent Hispanic — by calling Munoz “Another Criminal Supporter of Ochoa” with “A record of Gangs, Guns and Cocaine.” A symbol of the Latin Kings street gang and a tattooed, unnamed, alleged gang member provide further decoration for this piece of garbage.

Congressman Calls For Voter Intimidation Probe...

By The Associated Press, as originally published...

Belleville, Illinois - February 18, 2013 - Congressman Luis Gutierrez and a candidate for town president are calling for a probe of voter intimidation allegations in suburban Chicago.

Gutierrez asked for the investigation Monday with Juan Ochoa, who's challenging Cicero Town President Larry Dominick in the Feb. 26 primary.

Both want Cook County Clerk David Orr and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to investigate allegations that Dominick's supporters, including town employees, tried to intimidate Latino voters requesting mail-in ballots. Most Cicero residents are Latino.

Continue to Belleville News-Democrat website...

Continue to Daily Herald website...

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2013/02/18/2500890/congressman-calls-for-voter-intimidation.html#storylink=cpy

County Clerk's Office Tells of Possible Campaign Problems in Cicero...

By Joseph Ruzich, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 18, 2013 - Allegations such as voters being offered pizza coupons and campaign workers insisting on handling mail-in ballots for town residents have sprung up in Cicero as the heated race for town president heads into its final week.

The Cook County clerk's office has notified law enforcement officials, including the state's attorney's office and the U.S. Department of Justice, of such allegations and other claims of voter intimidation and voter fraud in the western suburb.

Continue to Chicago Tribune website...

Cicero Candidates Accuse Each Other of Voter Fraud...

By ABC-7 News staff, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 18, 2013 - An opponent of Cicero Town President Larry Dominick is accusing the incumbent of trying to intimidate Latino voters.

Juan Ochoa is running against Dominick in next week's election. Both candidates are accusing each other of voter fraud.

"Larry Dominick has used public resources to intimidate the Latino vote," Juan Ochoa said.

Aurora Ivarra says she was intimidated when a town employee wearing a badge came to her door on Sunday and tried to convince her that voting absentee or by mail is illegal.

Continue to ABC-7 News website...

Gutiérrez: Cicero Officials Trying To Suppress Latino Vote...

By Chip Mitchell, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 18, 2013 - A door-to-door canvass by town of Cicero employees over the weekend has U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-4th, and a candidate for the town president’s post calling for probes of alleged voter suppression.

Gutiérrez and Juan Ochoa, who is trying to unseat Town President Larry Dominick, say Cicero community-service workers visited homes on Saturday and Sunday to harass and intimidate Latino voters who had requested mail-in ballots ahead of the western suburb’s Feb. 26 primary.

Dominick Campaign Harasses Latino Voters; Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Juan Ochoa Call on Authorities to Intervene...

By Citizens for Juan Ochoa, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 18, 2013 - Congressman Luis Gutierrez stood with Democratic Cicero Town President candidate Juan Ochoa and other local leaders on Monday to denounce numerous attempts on the part of incumbent Republican Larry Dominick’s operatives to harass and intimidate Latino voters ahead of the February 26 election.

Gutierrez, along with Ochoa, Ald. Ricardo Munoz and Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia, called on the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as the Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Clerk and Cook County Sheriff to increase their commitment of resources to protect the election and prevent additional voter harassment by the Dominick campaign.
“Across the country, Republicans like Dominick are scheming to disenfranchise Latino voters,” said Gutierrez. “We fought back against Republican voter suppression efforts in places like Arizona and Alabama, and we’ll fight them here just the same. Our community is strong, we are organized, and these shameless thugs cannot stop us from fulfilling our duty and our civil right to participate in the democratic process.”

The Time Has Come To Throw The Bums Out...

Commentary by Michael Ciric, as originally published...

Chicago, Illinois - February 12, 2013 - One of the most watched elections will soon be upon us and it involves a town that has had a very cozy relationship with not only the Chicago Democratic Machine but the Illinois Combine and the Mob. Now some would think that these three entities are separate from one another but in reality they are the net effect of what has made Illinois Politics what it is - one of the most dysfunctional and corrupt governments in the entire United States.

Machine Politicians have long used Cicero Illinois as their piggy bank outpost and as such there should be no surprise that that history of sleaze politics has included everyone from Fast Eddie Vrdolyak to Dan Proft. The players have been many and they have all shared in the booty that has left Cicero in decay. Cicero residents have been forced to pay higher property taxes to support this political oasis but now that most property values have declined residents see nothing but an upside-down trap they can't sell.

Continue to Chicago Now website...

Former Town President on State Senator Sandoval and Town Attorney Michael Del Galdo...

Commentary by former Town President Betty Loren-Maltese, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 9, 2013 - Sandoval is more often than not at the political headquarters of Dominick. I am told from political insiders that Sandoval, town attorney, Mike Del Galdo, and current Town Assessor, Emo Cudari, meet on a regular basis in an effort to get Dominick re-elected.

While Sandoval has much to lose, the biggest loser would be Del Galdo who has made more than $30 million; he represents the town, park districts, college, and high school. Records show that Del Galdo has received hundreds of thousands from the TIF funds too.

I really believe Sandoval should be held accountable to the residents. And, produce the documents that warranted over a quarter of a million dollars in funds earmarked for redevelopment.

Local Television Show Host on Cicero: Highest Property Tax in the County, Water Bill is One of the Highest...

Commentary by Frank Avila, Jr., as originally stated...

Cicero, Illinois - February 9, 2013 - According to CAN-TV show host, Frank Avila, Jr., son of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Frank Avila, Sr., he described Cicero's patronage and corruption problem as follows:
"The corruption does have a cost. And that cost is in your increase in property taxes. And Cicero is the highest property tax in the county at a 9.75 index. That's number one. Number two: the values of your home, because of the economy, and the average home, for a single-family home, obviously, it varies in terms of [the] type of property, for a single-family home is about $58,000 [dollars]. So it varies between fifty and sixty thousand. Of that, you're paying five to six thousand dollars on that property. In a working-class, lower-middle-class, even low-income community. 
The other problem is that the water bill is one of the highest in the county. So, the corruption equals higher taxes. And the higher taxes cause foreclosures, people moving out. They can't afford it."
Watch the video on Issue Forum website...

Cicero Leader's Rival Calls for Fed Probe of Spending at Hardware Store...

By Becky Schlikerman and Jon Seidel, as originally published...

Cicero, Illinois - February 6, 2013 - A rival of Cicero Town President Larry Dominick on Wednesday called for a federal investigation into town spending at a Berwyn hardware store.

Juan Ochoa’s call came a day after the Sun-Times reported that the Town of Cicero has spent more than $3 million at Lembke & Sons True Value, a store that has contributed more than $50,000 to Dominick’s campaign fund since he took office in 2005.

Sharon Starzyk For Cicero Township Collector A Good Choice...

By Michael Ciric, as originally published...

Chicago, Illinois - February 6, 2013 - In my opinion, the level of political corruption in Cicero, Illinois is second only to the City of Chicago. And much of that corruption is predicated on how Cicero Tax Monies are divvied-up amongst the many political supporters and insiders.

Of course it also appears that Cicero’s Tax Money can wind up in the strangest of places given this latest tidbit found in the February 6th edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. Of course, Cicero Spokesman Ray Hanania had this to say about his buddy Larry Dominick - “he’s not involved in this.”

Continue to Chicago Now website...
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