Time for new blood at the helm!

I personally like George and I think if you think you can do a better job in Mokena and the empty store fronts then maybe you should run .Why aren't you mentioning any of the good things he has done.Hmmm maybe your just a martyr.Let's not take into account that the economy has gone to crap and maybe that's why we have empty store fronts .Seems to me you might want to find a hobby other than causing drama and discrediting people

Hi "Mr. Johnny on the spot," I appreciate what you have to say, but if you want to challenge us all to as you say: "contact me I got plenty to tell lots of hush hush stuff I welcome you to knock on my door and place your signs in my yard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", then you need to step up and tell us who you are and how to contact you and quit hiding behind your veil of ambiguity. Talk is cheap.

Johnny on the spot,

Your comment was deleted because it contained personal attacks, which is a violation of Patch's terms of use.

Thank you for reading,
Anna

Thankfully the incumbants won at the hearing!

Who is this Doug Heathcock character? Seems he’s always lurking around behind the shadows only reveling himself at strategic times. Where did he come from and what is his interest in this group of neo cons? He seems to be their “handler”. Who is controlling him and why? Someone or something big appears very intent on keeping the bunch together. Why? Anybody know? Something doesn't seem right here.

Doug Heathcock is an excellent attorney who lives in Mokena and his law firm is in Joliet. Doug is a very active citizen in Mokena and an active parent in the school district. He doesn't lurk in the shadows, but is all out in the open.He is nobodies handler. No one controls anyone else. The incumbents were objected to and they hired legal counsel, and paid him. No favors. Something appears very intent on getting the Fleischer bunch in. Why? Anybody know? Something doesn't seem right here.

I would suggest to you that it would be wise to look up the meaning of the term “useless idiot”.

Mindless post. Wasted use of this platform.

The headline should have read:
Frank Fleischer's Follies Foiled - Future Finished.

Mr. Heathcock certainly has a right to represent whomever he pleases for whatever fee he chooses. A bigger question is why Mr. McGrath, a paid village employee, did not recuse himself from serving on the electoral board. He should have followed the lead of the mayor and stepped down. Would have also been good reporting if Anna Schier would've noted that In the article.

Why would anyone defend and vote for an incumbent politician who has already done two terms? Most of these trustees going on even more than that. This commenter is not defending the challengers, haven’t seen their platform as yet. That’s not the point. A major problem with this country is due to career politicians because the American people don’t rotate them nearly enough. Politicians by nature are mostly psychopaths who are control freaks and narcissist. They need to be replaced periodically. Once entrenched in power they lose touch and become corrupt. M. Madigan comes to mind. One way or another it’s past time to replace the current crew. Whoever comes out on top this commenter wants to see far more openness. With modern technology at our fingers there is no excuse to not to put all Village business on line. In Mokena “they” keep lots of semi-secrets. One is forced to file a FOIA request for what should be online. This isn't right and it’s only one point of dissatisfaction.

A Village employee with nothing to gain or lose (Deputy Clerk Mrs Frieling ) testified that Trustee Metainias withdrew his Petitions from her and then after 5 to 10 minutes resubmitted them . Mr Broziuos who is a candidate also stated this but let's assume he had something to gain and his testimoney could be suspect ! So we now have a Mokena Trustee who should above all show the integrity and character he claims to have and admit he made an inadvertent tactical mistake not knowing the ramifications and did indeed withdraw his Petitions which invalidated them and thus he would then only be able to run as a Write -In ! But NO we again have a POLITICIAN who cannot tell the Truth and due to the placement of a Electoral Board Chairman with an "absolute conflict" ( Mr McGrath is a paid Mokena contractor ) will remain on the Ballot . Trustee Metainias creates Ordinances and Laws that we the Mokena residents must follow but he the POLITICIAN of little Integrity does'nt have to . It is very unfortunate this occurred but the Law is the Law and Trustee Metainias by his actions and statements is now perjuring the Sworn Word of Mrs Frieling . I would hope the ruling is appealed and the Chief Judge of Will County is made aware of Mr McGraths conflict and disregard of the letter of the law and reverses this. I question Mr McGraths integrity and he should have recused himself when appointed ! I agree that Anna Schier should review this and if a conflict exists notify the Court !

It seems ironic that Mr McGrath as the Mokena Hearing Officer is the one who Rules on the Ordinance and Law Violations that Trustee Metainias enacts and creates ! This isn't a CONFLICT ?

Follow the Law: The petitions never left the sight of anyone in that room! Otteson had his time yesterday to prove his case and he couldn't. Fleischer and company should have prepared for the hearing better if they are so convinced they are right.

The Law states the Petition cannot be withdrawn ! When Trustee Metanias took them back from Deputy Frieling he withdrew them , her Testimony stated exactly that ! Leaving the room has nothing to do with it , there is an opening in the window into the Clerks office and through this the Petitions were submitted to Deputy Clerk Frieling and then after being stamped and a receipt issued Trustee Metainias reached through and took them back into the LOBBY ! As they say on TV the Chain of Evidence was then broken . Mrs Frieling is the only person involved in this process with "nothing to gain or lose " and why would we not believe her Testimony ? She is a dedicated employee and a very nice person and resident of Mokena and she only told the Truth ! Shame you discredit her !

Maybe the Chairman of the Board Mr. McGrath should have disclosed his interest/conflict in Mokena , and maybe since he is "appointed by the Mayor " and PAID to be the Mokena Hearing Officer his decision seemed obvious !

Eliminate all the players who have a vested interest in the Petition Challenge Metainias , Brozious and McGrath and just take the Sworn Testimony of Deputy Clerk Frieling ! What was her Sworn Testimony ?

I have said nothing to discredit Mrs. Frieling. There was alot of nice people involved in this objection mess. Again, Sunday was the day to argue this out. For whatever reason it ended in Metanias favor. There was attorneys on both sides. Ask the attorneys why Metanias prevailed.

No you didn't say anything Negative about Mrs Frieling , she was put in a very difficult spot and give her a lot of credit showing honesty, integrity ,and character . Shame Metainias couldn't do the same ! He's now gone from a Mokena Trustee to a typical Politician he once stated to loath !

Fresh Ideas/Follow the Law: Pick one screen name and stay with it.

Robert Stillman - Where are you in our of need?

Robert Stillman - Where are you in our hour of need?

Cute Norm ! Cute , if your going to criticize at least have your game together ! Lol

PS: Norm , there are not only 3 or 4 people following this conversation !

Follow the Law: Are you a lawyer? Obviously not since its apparent you don't know the law. You only heard one side of the story, the objectors side. Obviously, they did not have a case against Trustee Metanias because they didn't even need his side to present their case. People lie all the time for whatever reason. Trustee Metanias is a dedicated trustee here to help the village and the people of Mokena. Unlike these guys running who only have one thing on their agendas, to discredit those in office now ( which they are doing unsuccessfully). I haven't heard anything from any of them about how they want to help the village, its just all about their attacks on the incumbants. The village is in good hands, in good shape, and better then ever! I hope the citizens look past all this mudslinging and see just how well the village is under these dedicated incumbants.

Seems it doesn't matter that Trustee Metainias stated in today's Messenger " that he indeed did take back the Petitions through the window but didn't leave the Lobby and didn't think he did anything wrong " . This is exactly what Deputy Clerk Frieling said and Mr Brozious . It's important to know that the Election Board Chairman McGrath is a Village Hearing Officer appointed by the Mayor and he FORGOT to disclose this during the Hearing ! KANGAROO COURT

Eric Blair , Mayor Werner works his full-time job in Blue Island , and also runs his plumbing business in Posen which by the way is on the list of plumbing companies provided by Mokena to contact to do an RPZ Test for Mokena residents sprinkler systems ( isnt that a conflict ) and he's our Mayor ! Wonder why we have a dismal economic development record ?

There are no provisions in the state statutes or Illinois election code for candidates to retrieve petitions and resubmit them after they have been filed. It matters not due to ignorance of the law, how nice the person may be or what they have or haven't done as an elected official. 

Independent witness statements verify that candidate Metanias withdrew his petitions after he was informed that he was subject to a lottery for ballot position. Did he think he was making a strategic decision to avoid the ballot lottery? Only he can answer that question. The law is clear, once withdrawn, registered petitions cannot be resubmitted. It can be spelled or parsed it many different forms but those are the facts.

Each candidate has the responsibility to learn and understand election laws. 

It seems the Election Board Chairman ( who is also a paid Mokena Employee appointed by Mayor Werner ) forgot to disclose this conflict prior to or during the precedings and voted contrary to the Law . It's a shame because another Member of the Election Board disclosed he was a occasional acquaintance of one of the contestors , when he did this the Chairman should have followed suit. It's a real shame because these precedings are conducted while under Oath !

I think Doug Heathcock should find out who pays the lowest real estate taxes on Cherry street.. If Doug won't do it, Frank Fleisher should because Frank is fearless, in fact he's fearless and factual. Let's call him fearless factual frank fleisher finding favoritism on Cherry Street. .