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Political Editorial Re Elmwood Park Il Election April 9 , 2013 “Freedom of the press cannot be limited without being Lost” –Thomas Jefferson
WHAT CHANGED THEIR MINDS!! It’s seems like yesterday, but in 2011, the Village Voice Party slate lost to Elmwood Park Village President Peter Silvestri’s candidates. Narrowly edged out by a slim margin of about 200 votes, the “Voice” slate included Diane Marchetti for clerk, Phillip Marcantelli, Anthony Del Santo and Hernandez for the trustee spots. The ex-Village Voicer’s, Anthony Del Santo and Philip Marcantelli, that in 2011, almost defeated the Unity Party slate last time around are now on the other side. Marcantelli has tried to explain by circulating a flier, in an attempt to justify his switching over to the Unity party. Is this possibly a case of an opportunistic defection or was it something else that brought this about? Maybe, this is just another shrewd political move, on the part of Unity Party Leader, Nonetheless, Del Santo and Marcantelli are the same two candidates that just 2 years ago, that with their feelings towards the Unity party, rallied, to the residents of Elmwood Park against the way the Village was being run under the Unity Party reign! Silvestri claimed to have his petitions for the Unity Party slate. Regardless, it is clear that Silvestri did not care one bit about the state of the Village or the race for its leadership. This may partly be due to the fact that the Village President post is a part time position and Silvestri’s Cook County Commissionership is a full time position. However this part-time Village President position still receives an annual salary, which is not bad in this economy. Then again, this leadership role is not a 24/7 job and interestingly enough, the Village does require a Village Manger to conduct its daily business under the Unity Party. Silvestri, the 24-year incumbent Village President of Elmwood Park and longtime Angelo “Skippy” Saviano ally, didn’t come to a decision until December of 2012. Despite it all, Saviano is reportedly running for Village President in a “Unity Party” disguised ticket. Even for Saviano and Silvestri, the double-S camp, this seems to be a good strategy to divide and conquer! The Old Switch neither around is almost imminent, Saviano doesn’t have Silvestri’s political influence, nor was he capable of using it, as Silvestri did. Saviano does however have the benefit of sympathy regarding his recent defeat as a State Rep. Saviano is an Elmwood Park insider who, if successful in his bid, will use his position to grease the village’s incumbent political machine. Nothing will change.
It will be the Same Old, Same Old Thing. Posturing as the “Unity” candidate, Saviano coerced Del Santo and Marcantelli to join him on his “Unity Party” slate. He then completed his slate by adding Gina Pesko as the village clerk candidate. In what Saviano thought, was a political master strike, he tried to raid and neutralize the “Village Voice Party’s” slate and message, with the hopes to hurt the future existence of the Voice Party! After the old political switch act of the double-S camp, the Unity Party was quickly rebranded the People’s Choice Party. This only means that the name changed but the Village will get more of the same. Marcantelli and Del Santo opportune move to Saviano, is one they justified as beneficial for the residents of Elmwood Park. Even Silvestri at one point admitted, that the idea of party unification is one of many rumors flying around. But if the colorful political yard sign battle is any indication, it won’t be the double-S camp who will win. Instead, waging an aggressive and very noticeable fight for Silvestri’s position of Village President, Joseph “Joe” Ponzio, the real “Voice” will be victorious.
BOTTOM LINE Despite their move to the Saviano camp and whatever deals if any at all with the Unity Party (now called People’s Choice Party); Ponzio does not hold anyone in ill regard, towards his former allies Joseph Ponzio has made it perfectly clear that his promise is to the residents of Elmwood Park. As he says “It’s time for new ideas, new principles and new solutions, for Elmwood Park,” and that’s exactly what he plans on delivering!