By: Ashmar Mandou

Incumbent Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, 76, was re-elected on Tuesday for 6th straight four-year term, defeating Esteban Rodriguez. Also winning re-election were all of Dominick’s running mates including Supervisor Joe Virruso, Clerk Maria-Punzo-Arias, Assessor Emilio “Emo” Cundari, Collector Fran Reitz, and Trustees Bob Porod and Blanca Vargas. Dominick received 4,586 votes (57 percent) while Rodriguez received 3,412 (42 percent). Dominick, the longest-serving town president in Cicero’s history, celebrated his 20th year in office with a crowd of supporters at Paisan Pizzeria on Ogden Avenue. Dominick attributed his win to focusing on “the real issues” affecting Cicero families and businesses.

“I want to thank my family and my running mates and the people of Cicero for giving me this victory so I can continue to serve them with the best and most comprehensive public services a community can receive,” Dominick said. “We focused on two things that are most important to the people of Cicero, services and safety. We will continue to expand those services during the next four years and continue to make Cicero the safest town in the Chicagoland region. They were dishonest about the issues. The people of Cicero who know me and know my administration and what we have done over the past years know that we have given them the best possible services for the lowest costs,” Dominick said.

“Their issues were about a once-in-a-lifetime storm. Every town was hit hard. But I responded quickly and by noon I was on the phone calling our state Senators and state Representative. That’s why FEMA came to Cicero first. And why we received $96 million in federal funding to respond to our needs. We are planting more trees, and replacing the alleys and El Strip with green alley technology to absorb rain water,” said Dominick.  

`Dominick added, “The people can see past the political rhetoric and what we are doing. Cicero has the best Senior Center, the most expansive senior services, departments that deliver the services the public expects from street cleaning to snow plowing, and we have created a family and community atmosphere that has attracted more businesses and more jobs.”  

Photo Caption: President Dominick addresses media and supporters Tuesday night after the election win.
Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania