Super Bowl Bears Gather to Show Support for McMichael for Mayor
At a campaign event Saturday, some members of the 1985 Chicago Bears said Steve "Mongo" McMichael would make a good candidate for Romeoville mayor.
Steve McMichael kicked off his campaign season Saturday surrounded by an all-star cast of Chicago Bears football legends who said their former teammate was a natural leader and a good choice for Romeoville’s next mayor.
Romeoville residents packed Mongo McMichaels restaurant to show their support for the candidate and meet and greet members of the 1985 Super Bowl Bears, including Dan Hampton, Otis Wilson, Gary Fencik, Tom Thayer, Jay Hilgenberg and Shaun Gayle.
McMichael faces incumbent Mayor John Noak and former mayor Fred Dewald in the April 9 election.
McMichael said he’s been active knocking on doors, listening to residents and taking notes. He said residents are concerned about their declining property values and the high rates of foreclosures and short sales that are affecting neighborhoods throughout the village.
He said that property is too often being taxed at the value their home was several years ago, and that residents need property tax relief.
“I’m talking about a reduction of your property taxes,” McMichael said.
McMichael also said that the village needs to stimulate business growth and aggressively market the historic Route 66 as an icon in town.
Residents have been receptive to his ideas and have agreed to post “McMichael for Mayor” campaign signs in their lawns, McMichael said.
Being surrounded by his former teammates who are showing their support for McMichael’s mayoral bid is a testament to his leadership, said McMichael’s wife Misty.
“All these '85 guys are here to support him,” she said. “If they didn’t think he’d do a good job, then they wouldn’t be here.
“We want this town run right,” Misty McMichael said.
Many of his former teammates on Saturday called McMichael a natural leader.
“He’s a great leader on and off the field,” Hilgenberg, the former Bears center, said of McMichael, adding that he is a positive motivator.
Wilson, the former linebacker, called McMichael a “hard-working, smart and caring individual.”
“These are qualities most politicians don’t have,” Wilson said. “Most politicians care about themselves. (McMichael) cares for the people.”
Gayle, a former cornerback and safety for the Bears, said McMichael is a person of “integrity.”
“It’s important to have someone in office who is trustworthy,” he said.
Tina Oberlin, a Crest Hill alderman, attended Saturday’s campaign event to show her support for McMichael, who she met through the Romeoville Lions Club.
She said McMichael once helped raise $1,000 for the Crest Hill food pantry, and she feels he is getting into politics to make a difference.
“He’s a great intellect when talking politics,” Oberlin said. “I believe he’s entering politics for the right reasons.”
Bears fan and Lockport Township Trustee Candi Thuringer, called McMichael “a good fit for Romeoville.”
“Not only is he a football legend, he is very astute when it comes to politics,” she said. “He looks towards the future and he thinks outside the box.”
Bears fans got a chance Saturday to buy footballs and shirts and have them autographed. The $50-per-person fundraiser also included appetizers and drinks. The Super Bowl Shuffle played on the radio.
Romeoville resident Tommy Torres said he supports McMichael’s candidacy.
“He’s a great guy,” Torres said. “He understands the people of Romeoville. He listens to what we have to say.”
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In This article
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Village of Romeoville Municipal Center
1050 W Romeo Rd, Romeoville, IL -
Mongo McMichael's
1101 N Independence Blvd, Romeoville, IL -
Amanda Bowl
10:56 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Why did Fred Dewald come back into the picture? He needs to just stay away for the good of Romeoville.
Sharon Capell
12:29 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
The only reason people came out was to meet the old bears!! Mongo needs to stay out of politics!
Matt
2:39 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
I agree Dewald is done. Stay away. All he is going to do is steal votes from Mongo and then Noak will get back in. Go away Fred.
Richard Garr
3:42 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Noak has a done a great job and Romeoville residents know it. There are not going to be fooled by the novelty run that Mongo is engaged in
I'm Just Saying
6:16 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Dewald did bad. He stole from the residents. By that I mean used Village Credit Cards for Trip,Dinners , and what ever he thought he could get away with. He did some good for the Village But then went SOUR :( Noak is ok Mayor But Now we need New Leader for the Town of Romeoville. We will only see what happens on election Day. Good Luck Steve McMichael :))
thomaszalewski
6:59 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Why is dewald on the ballot? Does Noak really think Dewald can be a spoiler for McMichael - i do not think so! Look at our village hall, it is half vacant, yet it needs heat, electric and water to survive. Why do we need this. We are not Oak Brook or Naperville!
I'm Just Saying
9:26 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
I Agree 100% the Building Cost The Tax Payers Of Romeoville Around 63 Million When there was nothing wrong with The old . They just Want to Keep up with Naperville.. They hopefully will Keep Streets,Parks,and Our New Development Clean.
Time will Tell we will see How our Village will IMPROVE!!
Romeoville First
7:29 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
McMichael says “I’m talking about a reduction of your property taxes.” – Does he not realize that the village does not set the rate of the taxes? The Will County Tax Assessor’s office does. This is not the job of the mayor. The mayor also has nothing to do with the school board. I am tired of hearing buzz words from him. Please explain Mongo how are you qualified to run a village when you have never even been on a committee in Romeoville? You need to have a basic understanding of how the government works before you can take the helm.
Mayor Noak has done a wonderful job as mayor and will continue to do so in the future. Dewald does not have a prayer to be re-elected.
Rich B
11:01 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Came here to post exactly this. I don't care how well-intentioned or caring he may be, if he doesn't understand the basics of how the government or the Mayor's role works, I find it hard to take him seriously.
Annie H.
3:04 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Don't assume you know reasons why people resign positions or how good people are as leaders based on "their" accomplishments. Don't believe everything you read - on any of this - talk to people involved and find out for yourself. Much good has happened in Romeoville but a lot of the groundwork was done by DeWald and Trustees who served with him and the staff who worked with all of them. Some people might want to forget that but some of us remember and are grateful for the efforts of all those who have lead this town over the years - through good times and not so good times. I, for one, think having more people wanting to lead the Village is a good thing and I'm interested to see how this plays out. I wonder, if there is any opportunity to have some kind of debate among the three Mayoral candidates? A real debate, on real issues for our community? Maybe the Romeoville Patch could sponsor this? Or are there already some planned?
Bill
5:21 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Well said Annie H.
Heather Varland Heavens
4:43 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Maybe they can come out the Plainfield Rotary's 2013 Mayor's Cup Golf Outing too!!!
Ray
5:39 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
A great deal was of progress was managed under Fred but John stepped up and took the ball and ran with it. In the 45 years I've lived here, NEVER has our village been managed so effectively! He has made this a wonderfull town to live in and given us all a place to be proud of! When other towns and cities are sinking we have a half a million surplus! This didn't happen by itself. This happened due to the effective leadership of John Noak!
Personally, all the Bears, from all the years, couldn't change my mind on who I want to lead this village in the coming years!!!
David Schiro
6:00 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Steve McMichael is a blowhard and has no place in Romeoville's Politcal scene. Leave our town alone and Grandstand somewhere else. You ran for Mayor because people at your bar said you should? LOL Yeha you are serving them drinks and what the hell are they doing there at 1 in the afternoon anyway? haha
Ray
6:25 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
God help us all if Dewald or McMichaels gets anywhere near the Village Hall!
Bergo
9:02 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Please, don't make the mistake of trying to fix something that is not broken. Romeoville is looking good, finally rid of the old eye sore buildings. Streets are clean when we have snow. Let's keep Noak where he belongs, as Romeoville mayor.
Rich
9:58 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Funny that people think romeoville looks good, from the outside maybe, If your looking from weber rd. Try atleast 1-4 vacant/abandoned homes on atleast every 2-3 blocks that's not including over 130 just for sale in romeoville, and thats fact. i live and drive and worked in this village for over 20yrs and i cant wait to move.This isn't saying very much for this village. You can polish a turd and its still a turd.
anonymous
9:58 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
I agree with Rich and thomaszalewski. All this clown Nowak has done is to duplicate Weber Rd. North of 55. We have the old Jewel thats an eye sore, vacancy on Weber Rd., a Dominick's thats not long for this world, and more foreclosures and houses for sale then ever. Somone needs to step up and fix this stuff. Why do we need 3 walgreen's? The residents of romoeville deserve better. At least Mongo has a vision of a better place to live. Nowak is just going to copy other towns. Remeber who is pushing for a Meijer at Weber and Renwick, a Sam's Club next to Walmart, and who has failed to fix the top 2 dangerous intersections in Illinois. Add a history lesson here, Romeoville used to go all the way to Old Chicago which is now Bolingbrook Auto Auction, and Lockport Fire Station 3 was obtained illeagaly. That was to be the original site for Romeoville Fire Station 3, Thanks Fred! So before you attack Steve McMichael do some fact checking and see who is "qualified" to run a business.
Rick Buscemi
12:49 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Anonymous...... you have to be that crazy dude that talks off the wall sometimes at the town meetings. You don't fool anyone.....you have some bad past with this town and you are one of those people who believe you are owed something even though you don't give a damn about anyone but your self. Stop going to those town meetings and flapping your jaws.....tired of it. !!!!!
Lowell Wood
8:22 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
All the Best...
What is McMichael's stance on allowing full time air traffic into and out of Lewis? Obnoxiously loud airplanes not only reduce property values but lower everyone's peace and quiet. I moved here for the peace and quiet, and you know Noak is all for expansion of Lewis airport. Also, allowing Hanson to blast deep underground when most people don't even know about it hurts our quality of living, shaking our homes (who gives them the right to do that?) and spewing dangerous levels of dust in our air. Don't forget we already have cancerous sulphur spewing out of Midwest Generation. Noak is a pretty good businessman but leaves Nottingham Ridge residents in toxic clouds full of noise and dust. If Mongo can run on these issues, he has my vote.
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