By Lucas Hawley -
In November, 72 percent of southwest suburban Tinley Park voters said they favored setting up a committee to study term limits for their elected city officials. Nearly four months later, Tinley Park's 32 year incumbent Mayor Ed Zabrocki announced the committee participants.
Of the seven announced to be on the committee, only two are Tinley Park residents. Most notably omitted was the author of the November ballot referendum, Stephen Eberhardt. Eberhardt is challenging the mayor in the upcoming April 9th election.
Among those appointed to the committee are:
- Donald Peloquin is the 28 year Mayor of Blue Island, who during his failed 2012 US Congressional campaign said he was in favor of term limits for Congress and was endorsed by Mayor Zabrocki.
- Ken Slater of Normal, Illinois, is a former judge of Illinois Appellate Court of the Third District and a former Circuit Court judge. He will be the committee chairman.
- John Perry is a former Woodridge village administrator.
- David Ribbens is one of two Tinley Park residents on the committee. He is the director of athletics at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.
- Neil Finnerty is the other Tinley Park resident appointed and is former Vice President of labor relations at Dean Foods Company.
- Rev. Mark Timmer, Pastor of Faith Christian Reformed Church in Tinley Park is the only other committee member, besides the other two Tinley residents, who has any community connections in Tinley.
- Vita Meyer is the former Principal of Bremen High School (Midlothian, Illinois).
No date has been announced for the committee's first meeting, but they must report to the village board within 180 days, possibly after the April 9th election. The village board will have up to 60 days to reject or accept all or any part of the commission’s findings and recommendations.
Of the current Tinley Park Village Board, four members have served 25 years or more:
- Edward J. Zabrocki, Mayor: 1981 (32 yrs)
- Patrick E. Rea: 1980-2009 (38 yrs) Village Clerk: 2009-Present (4 yrs)
Board Trustees: - David G. Seaman: 1984 (29 yrs)
- Gregory J. Hannon: 1987 (26 yrs)
