The election is over, and it appears David Gonzalez and his Unity Party running mates have taken very seat in the Chicago Heights city elections, expect for the Fourth Ward Alderman position. See how the night played out with photos of the candidates, their families and supporters.  

The Chicago Heights elections saw plenty of controversy, from accusations of electioneering and voter fraud during the early voting period to both mayoral candidates filing lawsuits against each other. In the end, David Gonzalez came out on top, scooping up more than 3,500 votes in the first contested mayoral election in Chicago Heights since 2003. Gonzalez defated his opponent, Joseph Faso, by more than 900 votes, unofficially.  The mayor-elect's celebrated the victory at Reflections in Chicago Heights Tuesday night. "It was a great victory," Gonzalez said. "We put a message out to residents…

With help from the Cook County Clerk's office, Chicago Heights Patch is bringing you the numbers, so you can see who's winning races in Chicago Heights, Olympia Fields and South Chicago Heights. This page will only display results for contested elections. *= All precincts reported Chicago Heights Elections Mayor David A. Gonzalez* 3,529 Joseph A. Faso 2,628 City Clerk Lori Wilcox* 2,767 Ethel M. Taylor 1,159 Beverly Anne Goncher 1,942 City Treasurer James "Jim" Dee* 3,337 Anita McLaughlin 2,421 Ward One Alderman (Write-in results not reported yet) Robert McCoy 196 Willie J. White* 342 Arthur …

Wilson School Voting Site (Apr. 5, 6:35 pm) First Ward Alderman candidate Art Wiggins spoke about election predictions and democracy outside the Wilson School voting site. Check out the video of above. Wiggins’s opponents Robert McCoy and Willie White also made appearances at the site. Greenbriar School Voting Site (Apr. 5, 4:20 pm) We caught up with Fifth Ward Alderperson candidate Toni Spada at Greenbriar School, where she says she’s been since 6 am.  Check out the video above. Chicago Heights Fire Station #3 (Apr. 5, 2:50 pm) An election judge in Chicago Heights talked to us about voter …

Election campaigning in Chicago Heights took a strange turn Tuesday morning in Ward Four, a friendly turn.   The candidates, Joshua Deabel and Pete Bartolomei sounded more like best buddies than political enemies, as both are vying to take Joe Faso's vacated alderman seat. “Win, lose or draw, if I lose I’m behind him,” Bartolomei said, pointing at Deabel. "I’d help him in a heartbeat. We need to work on programs together.”  Deabel shared Bartolomei's sentiment, pointing out their common goals for Ward Four. “We care about this neighborhood, he’s a good guy, we both care about our community,” …

David Gonzalez and Joe Faso just might be the busiest men in Chicago Heights today. The two mayoral candidates have been making their rounds, talking to voters and even taking residents to the polls in style. Take a look at our Election Day photo gallery, capturing a morning of kind smiles and campaigning.

With the second highest early voting turnout in Cook County, Heights residents have proven their unwavering interest in this year's City elections. At the top of the list of concerns is the mayoral race. Despite an decrease in decision-making power for the next mayor of the Heights, most of the recent comments on our site have been in regards to who can best lead this city. Here are Joseph Faso and David Gonzalez's positions on three issues in this election. On Crime Gonzalez mentions gang violence, drugs and crime frequently in campaign mailers. Responding to a questionnaire Chicago Heights …

When to Vote The election takes place Tuesday, April 5. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Where to Vote Your polling place depends on which precinct you live in. To find your polling place, visit the Cook County Clerk's Website. Polling places can change last minute. You can also refer to the precinct map to the right.  If you know your precinct, we've put together a list of polling places you can refer to: Bloom Township BEACON HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (52, 71) 401 CONCORD DR CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60466 BLOOM TOWNSHIP HALL (3) 425 S HALSTED ST CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60411 CHICAGO HEIGHTS …

While there is plenty of prestige attached the title "Mayor," the next person to hold that position in Chicago Heights won't be able to do a whole lot in the way of decision making. If six aldermen can't agree on a decision i.e. there is a 3-3 vote, the mayor gets to make the decision. Under the new system, there will never be a tie vote (unless an alderperson does not show up or declines to vote), because there will be an odd number of aldermen.  We asked former Chicago Heights mayor Anthony DeLuca what he thought of the new structure a couple of months ago. Here's what he said: Will things …

With more than 2,000 ballots cast at the Chicago Heights City Hall early voting location, election officials said to expect a big voter turnout on Election Day. Cook County Clerk David Orr named a few reasons why some towns saw a lot of action during the early voting period of March 14 to March 31. "Judging by early voting turnout, it's clear there are some hot races in this election," Orr said in a press release. "The areas with the heaviest turnout were clearly those with a contested race, such as Chicago Heights, or those with a tax increase referendum, such as Wilmette and Lemont." Clerk'…

Rich Township High School District 227, candidates met at two debates in March, addressing the issues presented in questions from the community. The March 12 forum, held at Rich South High School, introduced the candidates positions on more broad topics, such as their personal goals and plans. The March 20 forum, held at Rich East High School, was more specific, asking each candidate to speak to his or her first plan of action, if elected. The debates aired on Comcast Channel 19 over the weekend, but in case you missed them, check out the video. Incumbents Emmanuel A. Imoukhuede and W.A. "…

As early voting comes to a close today, Chicago Heights City Hall remains one of the busiest locations in Cook County. The Cook County Clerk's office released numbers that showed Chicago Heights to have the second highest turnout, with this past Monday being the busiest day of record for the County. According to a statement from Clerk's office spokeswoman Courtney Greve, Wilmette had the only early voting site with a higher turnout than the Heights. Greve ranked the top three sites in her statement: The busiest sites after two weeks of Early Voting are in areas with contested races: …

Cook County Circuit Judge Carolyn Quinn denied David Gonzalez’s request for a temporary restraining order preventing his opponent, Joseph Faso, from promoting negative campaign ads. The judge decided Faso’s mailings and videos are protected by the First Amendment, Southtown Star reports. Faso spoke with reporter Casey Toner: I knew it was a frivolous lawsuit to begin with. It was propaganda on their part, and they knew what they tried to accuse us of wasn’t true. The best defense for a slander is the truth, and that’s what we expected the outcome to be. Faso's campaign manager Alan Cottrell, …

What would you consider the biggest issue facing the future seventh ward? How would you handle that issue if elected? As with most communities where unemployment is high, the school drop-out rate is high, and organized activities for our young children is almost non-existent. Crime is what I see as the biggest issue facing the 7th Ward.  When I say crime, I include gang activity  and drugs as well. The violent crimes, gang activity and drugs are like festering sores feeding off the bacteria of high unemployment, etc. It's like a superbug, so there is no quick fix -- no one antidote that will …

The Olympia Fields Village Board was in 'war room' mode Monday night, continuing the fight to stop a referendum once championed by its Park District. Park District President Richard J. Pozdol told the board he's been living a "nightmare" since the revelation that the referendum's true cost was three times its advertised amount. "I'm just waiting to wake up," Pozdol said. That ballot query had been viewed as a tempting funding source for a new athletic facility at Bicentennial Park, offering a voter-approved tax increase of approximately $13.60 per $100,000 in assessed property value. But the …

What would you consider the biggest issue facing the First Ward? How would you handle that issue, if elected? I cannot narrow the problems 1st Ward faces down to one single issue. I can offer my opinion that has been formed by speaking with residents, and my own perception.   The issues are: Unemployment and under-employment The decreasing value of homes Random gun fire in the spring through early fall every year Open air drug market Loitering Littering   This area is so depressed because of the job market that some people through desperation have lost what we know as common courtesy, and …

What would you consider the biggest issue facing Prairie State College? How would you handle that issue, if elected? The easy answer would be to say “the looming fear of budget cuts from the state and federal government” but I am not going to say that. I believe that the biggest problem facing Prairie State College is retention rates.  It was encouraging news that the college is a 2011 recipient of the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRIO Programs for Student Support Services (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triostudsupp/index.html) and was awarded roughly $220,000 per year over the next …

Early this morning Sun-Times Media reported mayoral candidate David Gonzalez has filed a lawsuit against his opponent, Chicago Heights Ald. Joseph Faso, for allegedly using mailings and YouTube videos to accuse Gonzalez of selling drugs out of his Chicago Heights accounting firm and using City funds to pay his home mortgage. The Sun-Times also reports: The five-count suit seeks injunctive relief against Faso; his campaign manager, Alan Cottrell; Friends of Joseph A. Faso and the Integrity Party to immediately retract the statements made about Gonzalez. The suit also claims slander, libel and …

An organization of local clergy members, along with mayoral candidate Joseph Faso and other Integrity Party candidates, have called for the closure of City Hall in Chicago Heights as an early voting location. At a press conference Thursday morning, the Rev. Lawrence Blackful Jr., President of the Chicago Heights Area Ministerial Council, referred to incidents that occurred on the first day of early voting, in which people were entering the voting area and harassing voters. Blackful also said employees of the city were feeling the effects. "There are employees of the city that have been …

In a surprising turn of events, the Olympia Fields Park District is telling voters not to support its own referendum. The ballot question, which voters will answer April 5, asks if residents would pay a tax increase of an estimated $13.60 per $100,000 in assessed property value so the park district can build a new athletic facility at Bicentennial Park. The problem: that isn't the correct amount. Recently Ali ElSaffar, president of the Cook County Township Assessors Association, revealed Olympia Fields residents would actually have to pay an increase of $45.83 per $100,000, more than three …