IAFF Members Are Big Winners in Illinois Elections

April 8, 2009 – Fourteen candidates in the April 7 Illinois general election were IAFF members, and seven of them were elected to four-year terms for their their respective office. All 14 candidates received a FIREPAC contribution during their campaign.

Robert Lovero, a member of Berwyn Local 506, was elected mayor of Berwyn, defeating the incumbent and two other challengers. Lovero won with 49.4 percent of the vote against the incumbent, who received 41.2 percent. He was previously a ward alderman in Berwyn.

Winning the Ward 6 alderman seat in Berwyn , Theodore “Teddy” Polashek, a member if Cicero Local 717, won 46 percent of the vote in a field of three candidates.

In his campaign for Joliet City Council, Thomas Giarrante, a member of Joliet Local 44, was re-elected to a four-year term – coming in third in a field of 11 candidates -- the top three won.

In another city council race, Richard Dunne, a member of Elgin Local 439, was elected to the Elgin City Council, finishing first in a field of 10 candidates -- the top three won. He was the number-one vote-getter, besting two long-term incumbents. Local 439 President John Fahey, a 2009 Political Training Academy graduate, says, “This proves that, as first-time candidates, fire fighters can be successful. The Political Training Academy was a great resource for us.” Elgin is the seventh-largest fire department in Illinois. More than 70 percent of Local 439 members campaigned for Dunne, including knocking on more than 4,000 doors.

David Tomlinson, a member of Champaign Local 1260 who currently serves as president of the Champaign School Board, was re-elected. He was the top vote-getter in the field of four candidates.

In the race for Franklin Park Village, Tommy Thomson, a member of Franklin Park Local 1526 was elected as the Franklin Park Village Clerk, winning 52 percent to his challenger’s 48 percent.

Another Franklin Park Local 1526 member, Nicholas Steker, was elected as Westchester Village Trustee, finishing third in a field of six candidates  -- the top three won.

Two of the seven winners – David Tomlinson and Tommy Thomson – graduated from the IAFF Political Training Academy in 2007.