Oak Park Elections

Despite our recent preoccupation with domestic matters, life around us continues to move on. This past Tuesday was election day around these parts. Politics in Chicago is considered a full-contact sport, albeit one which not infrequently involves a lot of indictments. Out in our leafy suburb, we've avoided the criminal prosecutions, and focused on the usual issues: property taxes, development, schools, and traffic.

Having been a resident for under two years, I'm stilling trying to sort out all the issues and interest groups. I never paid much attention to the local political landscape in Massachusetts, but I've been vociferously reading the local papers and watching Village Board meetings on public access tv. In fact, I've gotten somewhat hooked on the Board meetings. Kelly can't stand it, and walks out of room when meetings are on. I don't blame her, the production values are low, and people tend to drone on and on and on. Still, I've enjoyed listening to the nuts and bolts of issues, as well as watching the rhetorical sparks fly on occasion. Yes, I know, I am a dork.