Steve Landek
Landek to retire from Illinois Senate
Porfirio will take his place on the ballot
By Bob Bong
In a move that had apparently been in the works for at least a month, Democratic state Sen. Steve Landek will not run for re-election in November.
Lyons Township Trustee Mike Porfirio, a close ally of Landek since his days as his chief of staff in Springfield, is now the only candidate in the newly drawn 11th Senate District. No Republican filed to run in the June 28 primary election.
Landek, 66, withdrew from the race on the last day allowed along with another Democratic state senator, Tony Munoz.
He did not respond to a request for comment.
Mike Porfirio
Landek and Porfirio had both filed petitions to run for the Senate seat in the June primary. Landek filed on March 7, the first day candidates could file. Porfirio filed on March 14, the last day for filing petitions.
Landek, who also serves as mayor of Bridgeview, will be retiring after 11 years in the Illinois Senate.
He was appointed in 2011 to replace state Sen. Lou Viverito, who resigned. He was elected in 2012 to fill the remaining two years of Viverito’s term. He won re-election in 2014 and 2018.
Landek also is the Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman and he is running for re-election to that party post.
He previously served on the Bridgeview Park District Board and as a village trustee in Bridgeview before being elected mayor in 1999 to replace longtime mayor John Oremus.
Porfirio grew up in Bridgeview. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served six years active duty. He holds the rank of commander in the Navy Reserve.
He did not respond to a request for comment, but has a lengthy resume of government service.
He was chief of Landek’s Senate staff from January 2012 to November 2015. He was public works director in Bridgeview under Landek from May 2014 to November 2015. He served as a part-time village administrator for Summit from 2015 to 2018. He’s been a member of the Justice-Willow Springs Water Commission for more than 10 years and has served as chairman since June 2019.
He has been elected twice as Lyons Township trustee and in between served two years as township clerk.
Local News
Changes coming to Palos Heights RAB despite resistance from McGovern
By Jeff Vorva The Palos Heights City Council is expected to approve new guidelines and regulations for the Recreation Advisory Board on Tuesday and at least one alderman doesn’t like what he sees. Jerry McGovern took issue with the proposed changes. “As many times as I read through this thing, I have to turn around…
Wu’s House modifies parking proposal to Palos Park council
By Jeff Vorva Wu’s House restaurant was rejected once in a bid for extra parking space, but is trying again. The eatery, which is located at 12300 S. LaGrange Road, is seeking an extra 82 spots — many on land next to the business. Citizens expressed concerns during a Plan Commission meeting and the request…
Girls Volleyball: Marist knocks Mother McAuley from unbeaten ranks
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Kamryn Chaney had the “eye of the tiger” and Marist got a huge win over their arch-rivals. Hosting Mother McAuley in the regular season for the first time in four years, the RedHawks came out focused. Chaney clubbed a match-high 12 kills and added five blocks and eight digs and an…
Area sports roundup: No drama here, St. Rita grad Hopkins named Mustangs football coach
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer There will be no drama waiting to see who the will coach St. Rita’s football team in 2023. Even though there are four weeks to go in the 2022 regular season, the school last week named Martin Hopkins the successor to Todd Kuska. Kuska, in his 25th season as the…
Football: Evergreen Park edges Reavis in SSC Red
By Steve Millar Correspondent The back-and-forth battle waged against Reavis in Week 5 was the kind of game for which Evergreen Park prepares. It provided the Mustangs a chance to test how they would respond in an intense situation. They passed the test. “Resilience was the key,” Evergreen Park coach Jerry Verde said after the…
Football: York hands Lyons first loss of season
By Steve Metsch Correspondent Lyons’ bid for a fifth win and to essentially clinch a playoff spot was put on hold by York and junior running back Jake Melion. Melion, thrust into the RB1 role because of an injury to starter Kelly Watson, ran for three touchdowns in a 27-14 win for the Dukes. Lions…
Palos Park Woman’s Club turns 120
The Palos Park Woman’s Club officially turned 120 years old on August 21, 2022. A celebration was held on that day at the Palos Park Rec Center with approximately 100 people in attendance including members, local dignitaries, family and friends. The Village of Palos Park recently proclaimed August 21 through September 17 as Palos Park…
Northwestern College holds summer pinning ceremony
Northwestern College’s Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing held a Pinning Ceremony for its Summer Quarter Nursing graduates on September 8. The ceremony was conducted at the Oak Lawn Public Library’s lower-level conference room, a new location following the college’s recent move from Bridgeview to Oak Lawn. The traditional ceremony marks the formal induction of…
Join the Polish American Cultural Club Meetings of the Polish American Cultural Club are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 1941, 900 S. La Grange Road, La Grange. Dues are $20 per year for individual membership and $35 for a family membership. The mission of our…
9th annual Halloween run at Moraine Valley
Grab a costume, dress up the kids and head to the ninth annual Halloween 5K run/walk and Kid’s Dash on Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m., at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills. Participants can walk or run the officially timed 5K (3.1 mile) path throughout campus. The Kid’s Dash will start…
Neighbors
CAPITOL RECAP: State announces further unemployment debt repayment
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced a plan Tuesday, Sept. 27, to reduce a $1.8 billion Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit by $450 million through an infusion of unemployment-related revenues. The trust fund is the pool of money paid into by employers to provide a social safety net for unemployed individuals. The employer’s insurance premiums…
State to reduce $1.8 billion federal unemployment debt by $450 million
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced a plan Tuesday to reduce a $1.8 billion Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit by $450 million through an infusion of unemployment-related revenues. The trust fund is the pool of money paid into by employers to provide a social safety net for unemployed…
Capitol News Illinois to expand operations with $2 million McCormick Foundation grant
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Capitol News Illinois will significantly expand its operations as it enters the fifth year of operations in 2023 because of a significant grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. The McCormick Foundation has announced a three-year, $2 million investment in Capitol News Illinois, a nonprofit news organization that provides…
State Sen. Emil Jones III pleads not guilty in bribery case
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Emil Jones III pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday to three felony counts stemming from an alleged bribery scheme involving a red light camera company. Jones, 44, is a Chicago Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2009. He is also the…
Pritzker urges two lawmakers to resign
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker called on two Democratic state senators Thursday to resign their seats amid allegations of misconduct. Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, was charged in federal court earlier this week with soliciting a $5,000 bribe from a red light camera company. And Sen. Michael Hastings,…
Pritzker urges two lawmakers to resign
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker called on two Democratic state senators Thursday to resign their seats amid allegations of misconduct. Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, was charged in federal court earlier this week with soliciting a $5,000 bribe from a red light camera company. And Sen. Michael Hastings,…
Illinois Supreme Court denies former lawmakers’ claim for back pay
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit filed by two former state legislators who sued for back pay they believed they were due for raises that they voted against while in office. Former Sen. Michael Noland, D-Elgin, and former Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, argued…
CAPITOL RECAP: Another Democratic senator charged in bribery scheme
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Emil Jones III has been charged in federal court with three criminal counts tied to his dealings with a red light camera company. Jones, a Chicago Democrat, is the son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr. The younger Jones has served in the Senate since 2009…
Treasurer’s Race: Frerichs touts investment gains, Demmer sees opportunity for GOP check
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – In Illinois, the role of state treasurer is that of chief investment officer. Treasurer Michael Frerichs has held that position for two full terms, winning by less than 10,000 votes in 2014 before cruising to an 18 percentage-point victory in 2018. He boasts that Illinois has…
Sen. Emil Jones III charged in bribery scheme
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Emil Jones III has been charged in federal court with three criminal counts tied to his dealings with a red light camera company. Jones, a Chicago Democrat, is the son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr. The younger Jones has served in the…
