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THE STAR-TRIBUNE: Sunday, February 6, 19833right for a black mayor: David JohnsonTime isThis is the second of three interviews with the mayoral candidates in Harvey’s February 22 primary election. Today's focus is on David Johnson.By RONALD AYERSSTAR TRIBUNE: Do you think your age (34) will cause voters to think you’re too young to run Harvey, or that you lack experience in public administration?DAVID JOHNSON: How old wasMarty Russo when he went from an assistant state’s attorney, I believe, to a representative in Congress? He was about my age when he was first elected. So no, I don’t see my age as being a problem in the elections. I’m mature beyond my years, so I see my age as a plus, because my age will just simply allow me to out work most people.STAR TRIBUNE: Can a black man be elected mayor of Harvey? The same question is being posed in Chicago. Can it happen here, in Harvey?DAVID JOHNSON: Not only can it happen, it’s time for it to happen. It’s time for a black man to be mayor of Harvey.STAR TRIBUNE: Why is it time for it to happen?DAVID JOHNSON: When you look at the makeup of this community theNETTIE MEYERSNettie Meyers, a lifelong South Holland resident, died Sunday in Resthaven Convalescent center in South Holland. She was born August 27, 1894, in South Holland.Services were Wednesday at DeYoung and Vroegh funeral home, conducted by the Rev. Bernardus Van Som-meren. Burial was in Homewood Memorial Gardens cemetery.Mrs. Meyers is survived by two daughters, Joanne Trenning of South Holland and Alice Tichgelaar of Crown Point, Ind.; one sister, Jennie Vander-Wall of Fremont, Mich.; two brothers, Gerrit Van Drunen and Anthony Van Drunen, both of South Holland; five grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.MATTHEW VAN ZUIDAMSerices were Friday for Matthew Van Zuidam of South Holland. Mr. Van Zuidam died Wednesday at Ingalls Memorial hospital, Harvey.The Rev. Clarence Werkema, pastor of Bethany Christian Reformed church of South Holland, officiated at services at DeYoung-Vroegh funeral home, South Holland. Burial was at Homewood Memorial Gardens cemetery.Born September 30, 1898, in South Holland, Mr. Van Zuidam was a lifelong resident of the local area.He is survived by his daughter, Karen Otthoff of Munster, Ind.; a son, Michael of South Holland; two sisters, Sara Pals of South Holland and Henrietta Cou-wenhoven of Lansing; a brother, John of South Holland; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.MARTHA KUCINSKIServices were yesterday for Martha Kucinski (nee Kaya) of Bellen, N.M. Mrs. Kucinski, a former Posen resident, died Wednesday in New Mexico.The Rev. John Zock officiated at a mass at St. Stanislaus church, Posen. Burial was at Holy Cross cemetery. Calumet City.Born Feburary 5,1897, in Posen, Mrs. Kucinski was a member of the St. Stanislaus Rosary Ladies society.Mrs. Kucinski is survived by two daughters, Frances Unites of Bellem, N.M., and Florence Ribbik of Dallas, Texas; a son, John Novakowski of Posen; a brother, Bruno Kaya of Janesville, Fla.; seven grandchildren.numbers suggest that the person to provide leadership in Harvey would logically be a black man because Harvey is 70 per cent black. Another reason it's time for a black mayor in Harvey is because I, (commissioner candidates) Otis (Gilmore) and Ernestine (Berry Beck) are the by-products of the efforts of black people from the 50’s and all of the 60’s to provide greater educational opportunities for black youth in this country. I went to graduate school as a result of the open admissions policies at Rutgers university. Ernestine went to the University of Chicago for similar reasons. So, we’re bringing skills we were allowed to obtain during the civil rights movement back into the black community. Now, toe’re talking about the political power struggle here in Harvey. So, the answer is yes, a black man can be elected mayor of Harvey, and it’s time for that.STAR TRIBUNE: James Haines has been mayor of Harvey for 16 years. Based on the polices of the Haines administration as they have affected blacks as well as whites, can a black man become mayor of Harvey?DAVID JOHNSON: Again, the answer is yes. When you understand the Haines administration, you begin to un-WILLIAM J. MONKServices were January 31 for William J. Monk of the Dolton Terrace Nursing home, Dolton. Mr. Monk died January 28 at St. Margaret hospital, Hammond.Services were held at the Toole Brothers funeral home, Bradenton, Fla. Burial was at Manasota Memorial Park cemetery, Oneco, Fla.Born June 25, 1893, in England, Mr. Monk was a retired steel worker.He is survived by his son. James of Calumet City, a daughter, Donna Grady of Tumbling Shoals, Ark., and six grandchildren.DEAN PENNACCHIAA lifelong area resident, Dean Pen-nacchia of South Holland died Sunday in Ingalls Memorial hospital. He was born January 18,1959, in South Holland.The Rev. John Boryk, pastor, conducted services Thursday at Thornton Methodist church in Thornton. Burial was in Ridgewood cemetery in Countryside.Mr. Pennacchia is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pennachia; two sisters. Dale Pennachia of Iowa and Debbie Pennachia of California; one brother, David of South Holland, and his grandmother, Edith White of Fox River Grove.VICTORIA MACANDERFuneral services for Victoria Macan-der of 4163 Washington, Fort Myers, Fla., who died Wednesday at Fort Myers Community hospital, will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at West End funeral home in Chicago Heights. Visitation is today from 2 to 9 p.m.Mrs. Macander was born October 10, 1918, in Harvey and was a former resident of Chicago Heights. She was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2825 in Chicago Heights and the American-Slovic club in Cape Coral, Fla.She is survived by her husband, Frank; four daughters, Barbara Rose Pica of Crete, Dorothy Whitehead of South Chicago and Phyllis Mustonen and Mona Lisa Lawless, both of Fort Myers; four sons, Charles Bukowski of Fort Myers, Robert Bukowski of Ste-ger, Michael Bukowski of Fort Myers and Frank Macander of Fort Myers; one brother, Steve Chrzastowski of Harvey; 28 grandchildren, and eight greatgrandchildren.David Johnson*-' derstand that we’ve had 16 years of Reaganomics in Harvey. If you look at downtown, if.you look at Dixie Square, if you examine the number of discrimination suits, the number of police brutality suits brought against the city of Harvey, if you look at the hiring practices of the city of Harvey, if you look at the promotion patterns of the city of Harvey, the distribution of city services. . .those kinds of activities that we associate with Ronald Reagan at the national level, have been the order of the day under the Haines administration.STAR TRIBUNE: What are the factors operating in the black community that will allow for a black man to become mayor of Harvey?DAVID JOHNSON: i think the black community in Harvey understands some of the past mistakes that we’ve made in regards to municipal elections. For example, running a large number of candidates for mayor or for the city council has been a mistake because it has divided the black vote. Today the black community has the benefit of the experience gained from the 1975 Charles Mosely and the 1979 Jack Woods mayoral races, plus the experience gained from the Damon Rockett election. I think we’ve done a very good job of summing that up and using that experience to guide us in this election. Probably the most critical factor operating in the black community has been the South Suburban Leadership coalition (SSLC). Over the last three years SSLC has built a precinct organization that has systematically worked Harvey over. I think that the work of SSLC has raised the level of awareness among policy makers in the black community, and the everyday citizen about what’s happening in Harvey. Now, we hope that same precinct organization can turn out the vote for Johnson, Otis Gilmore, and Ernestine Berry Beck.STAR TRIBUNE: What are the factors operating in the white community that would allow for a black man to be elected mayor of Harvey9DAVID JOHNSON: Well, eveyone stands to lose, especially home owners, By the ineffective leadership of the Haines administration. When Dixie Square closed, when the downtown business district became blighted, some of the burden for city services, recreation, and education, had to be shifted to both black and white home owners. There are white citizens and white business people that are fed up with the Haines administration. And you have to remember that David Johnson has not caused or presided over the white flight from Harvey. Mayor Haines has contributed to that flight and has presided over it. Remember also, it was Haines who made the negative statement that one would be a fool to invest in downtown Harvey. This dosen’t help white people anymore than it helps black people.STAR TRIBUNE: How are you being received in the white community9 What is the message that you are taking toDAVID JOHNSON: The message that we re taking to the white community is that Berry Beck, Gilmore and myself are the most qualified people for the job of mayor and commissioner. We’re saying whites suffered at the hands of the Haines administration just as blacks have. We expect to get a fair amount of support from the white community. We’re definitely not writing the white community off.STAR TRIBUNE: Do you see Jack Spells being a threat to your run for mayor. Will his presence in the race split the black vote?DAVID JOHNSON: No I don’t think Jack Spells is a threat to my candidacy.I don’t think Jack Spells is the problem in Harvey. I think the Haines administration is the problem in Harvey. In fact Jack Spells and I agree on many issues. Foremost, we agree that if I run third on February 22, on Feburary 23, then I’m going to throw my support to Jack. And Jack has made a commitment that if he runs third on February 22, he'll throw his support to me. I think that shows a certain amount of sophistication in the black community. It shows that neither one of us is the problem in Harvey, and that the Haines administration is Harvey’s problem. Jack may take some votes. But I expect to run either first or second Feburarv 22.STAR TRIBUNE: Let’s turn to economic issues. If you were to be elected mayor of Harvey, what would you do to revitalize the city's economic base?DAVID JOHNSON: The first thing I would do is form a Harvey chamber of commerce. I’d pull together the business people of Harvey to let them know that city government is ready and willing to work with them to create a profitable business atmosphere. We would also need a chamber of commerce to let businesses and industry outside of Harvey know that there is life here. We'd let them know there are certain things they have that could enhance the life here, such as technical expertise and information. We’d let these businesses know there are things we could do like tax incentives, industrial revenue bonds to help them get started in business in Harvey.STAR TRIBUNE: The Small Business administration recently certified Quad-Cities Development corporation. Quad-Cities is designed to provide loans that would stimulate small business in Harvey, Markham, Dixmcor and Phoenix. If elected, would your administration co-operate with Quad-cities in revitalizing business and jobs in Harvey9 DAVID JOHNSON: Under my administration, not only would we endorse Quad-Cities. but we would work with them to revitalize Harvey.STAR TRIBUNE: The unemployment rate in Harvey is running at about 15 per cent. If elected Mayor, what would you do to combat unemployment in Harvey?DAVID JOHNSON. There are churches here that are economic resources.We re going to have to pull together the religious community, survey our needs, survey what presently exists in Harvey that can service our needs, and along with the religious community plan a strategy that can take care of those needs, in terms of shoe stores, clothing stores, that kind of thing. The same thing would apply to community organizations. We need to actively organize food buying co-ops, and other co-operative ventures. You see one of the good things about this campaign is that we’re putting a community based organization in the precincts. We intend to keep that organization alive in terms of communicating with the people, planning with the people of Harvey to create an internal economy in Harvey that provides goods, services and jobs for the citizens of Harvey.STAR TRIBUNE: Should you be elected mayor, will you push for aernment, from the commissioner torm, to the aldermanic form, and. . why change the form of Harvey's government?.DAVID JOHNSON: Let me go on record. I’m in favor of an aldermanic form of government. I think it gives people the best opportunity for representation in their government. We have quite a cosmoplitan community in Harvey. There are white people in Harvey, black people, Hispanics, Eastern Europeans, Hindus, and Haitians. I think an aldermanic form of government would give representation not only to this ethnic diversity in Harvey, but also to Harvey’s neighborhoods. I don’t think the commissioner form of government reflects this community as it’s constituted because the government is 70 to 80 per cent white, and the community is 70 per cent black. In terms of the white community in Harvey, the aldermanic form of government is going to gurantee them representation in city government, which is something black people have never had in Harvey. I think that’s fair that neighborhoodswith different needs, different population characteristics have someone in city hall that is going to speak out for them.STAR TRIBUNE: Most of the candidates I’ve talked to said race would not play a role in this election. What do you think? Will the winner of the Februrary 22 primary, and the April general elections boil down to the issue of race9DAVID JOHNSON: I don’t think the elections will center on race. I think the issue is one of faith. Faith in ourselves as individuals, faith in the leadership that invariably will come out of the black community because of the numbers here. And that’s what Dr. W. E. B. DuBois talked about when he said that the question of the 20th century is the question of the color line and that ultimately the leadership of the world is coming from non-white. And when I talk about that kind of leadership I’m talking about leadership that is fair, equitable and that is in the service of mankind. So the election will center around the question of faith, not race.44 Prosthetic Discomfort”Artificial limb discomfort should not always be attributed to the amputation, or to the disease(s) that caused the need for amputation.A prosthetist certified by the American Board for Certification, with years of experience in treating prosthetic discomfort, can deal with your artificial limb problems.Early detection and treatment by a certified prosthetist, can eliminate related symptoms and effects of prosthetic discomfort. _John F. Seibt C.P.Certified Prosthetist Hours by appointmentIlliana Orthopedics Inc.15525 South Park Avenue South Holland, Illinois 60473312-596-9881-82l/itu~7cUyiCELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARY SALE10% OFFON ALL ALTERATIONS AND CUSTOM CLOTHING AND SHIRTSFITTMSS US mMnUISMr GUEMTEEDComplete Alterations For Men i WomenRelining RestylingTHORNWOOD PLAZA» Narrow Lapels• Resizing• Reweaving617 E. 170th St.. South Holland, ILVince Galati, PropHOURS: Mon Thurs. 9 to 8Tues.. Wed., Fri. Sat. 9 to 5 596-1205 Closed SundaysTHIS VALENTINE’S DAYSend Your Love with Valentine GreetingsAPPEARING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13Obituaries
Newspaper Details
Harvey Star Tribune
Harvey, Illinois, US
Sun, Feb 06, 1983
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Patuxent R.
AL, USA 05 Oct 2024
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