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Dem party role contested as Davis retires, Welch and Harmon vie for seat
With cash on hand, both party leaders seek key party role
By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter
The July 31 announcement that longtime 7th District Congressman Danny K. Davis was not running for re-election has changed the local political dynamics in more ways than one.
Don Harmon, State Senate President and Democratic Oak Park Township Committeeman, said Sunday that he will be circulating nominating petitions for the party office of7th District State Central Committeeman, an office Davis has held since 1998. Meanwhile, Harmon’s counterpart in the Illinois General Assembly, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has started ac-
TIFLong-term plan
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less doesn’t make it as palatable for developers, and it makes it difficult for our redevelopment agreements,” said Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s community development director. “From a very practical perspective, in terms ofmoving a development along in a project, we need TIFs that are not expiring.”
When a municipality creates a TIF district, the property value within the district is frozen. For the duration ofthe term ofthe TIF, property taxes are paid as normal and distributed to taxing bodies based on the frozen value. Any growth in the tax revenue goes into a special fund that the municipality can use to reinvest into the district, including offering incentives to possible developers.
While a TIF’s maximum lifespan of23 years can be extended by up to 12 more years, doing so requires approval from the state legislature. Instead, the village can create a new TIF district to reset the 23year countdown, said Doug Cooper, Brookfield’s finance director.
“We wanted to determine the best way
tively campaigning for the post and has secured an endorsement from Davis and 18 other political figures, including River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci and State Rep. LaShawn Ford
Minutes after Davis’sJuly 31 press conference in which he endorsed Ford for his seat in Congress, Welch released a statement trumpeting “Endorsement List Grows” for his campaign for Davis’s state central committeeman seat.
The endorsements were bannered on Instagram and X, and a copy ofthe press release was posted on the Democrats for the Illinois House website. Under the headline “The momentum is growing!” with Welch’s trademark exclamation point, he framed his running for the position as fostering “strong leadership, winning coalitions and the will to fight to make people’s lives a little easier.”
Nominating petitions for all offices on the March 17, 2026 primary ballot may be
to extend the life ofthese TIFs in order to make a development ag reement more plausible or feasible with the developer. We knew we had to extend it,” he said. “We, of course, discussed going to the state and passing legislation to extend it for the next 12 years, but we determined that might be a little bit more lengthy and involved than we want to do because we’re trying for a quicker turnaround.”
In conversation with SB Friedman Development Advisors, Brookfield’s contracted TIF consulting fir m since 2023, village of ficials realized it could be faster to move the village-owned parcels intended for redevelopment from the two expiring districts into a new TIF area, meaning the village will earn TIF funds on them through the 2040s.
Those parcels include three near Congress Park that Brookfield purchased earlier this year, creating a larger combined area ofvillage-owned land, Popovic said. She said the removal ofthose parcels from the existing TIF districts “shouldn’t affect them at all.”
“The Congress Park TIF itselfis a zerobase right now, so it’s not generating any revenue whatsoever. Once we get development in there, hopefully under the new TIF area, we’ll be able to develop that parcel, and then we’ll start realizing the incremental value,” Cooper said. “The other TIF par-
circulated for signatures starting Tuesday, Aug. 5. They must be filed with state election officials between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. Monday morning Davis confirmed he was stepping down from the State Central Committee next year and was endorsing Welch for the seat. “I haven’t had a press release put out yet, but I will,” he said. Davis did not go into detail re garding why he endorsed Welch, although he noted that Proviso Township “is a good part of the (7th) district.”
“The state central committee is supposed to help develop policy for the party and help organize the area,” Davis said. “To (foster) participation and get registration to vote.” Davis said he expected Harmon to run for the central committeeman seat, saying, “Don told me ifI didn’t run, he would. I’m not surprised he’s running.
Oak Park Township Committeewoman
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cels that we might be considering are such a small amount within that Ogden Avenue TIF that — this goes without the study — they might not be generating a whole lot of revenue in that area anyway.”
Village trustees on July 28 approved a resolution to contract with SB Friedman for consulting services on creating the new TIF district, including a study ofthe area and a public deliberation process. According to a village memo, the total cost for the project is about $35,000.
Geoff Dickinson, a partner at SB Friedman, told trustees the new district could be created within six months of the firm starting work, based on Brookfield’s direction.
“There’s a three-month notice of approval process that’s statutorily defined. Usually, it takes us three months to do our work and three months for the process. It can go slower than that, but we can’t usually go much faster,” he said.
Popovic emphasized the diligence of Brookfield’s staf f in deciding to pursue this new TIF district.
“This is part ofan overall, long-ter m strategy for economic development for Brookfield as a whole,” she said. “This has been in the works and something that we’ve talked about and looked into, and now we’re fully evaluating it from all angles.”
RBHS poms qualifies for UDA nationals
Place 3rd at Universal Dance Association camp; LTHS, Nazareth also qualif y
By LILY KOCOUREK Contributing Reporter
The Riverside Brookfield High School varsity poms team secured its first bid to the Universal Dance Association nationals by placing third at UDA camp, July 22-25, at Northern Illinois University. Led by second-year coach Tia Sherman, the varsity was joined by the junior varsity for the first time at the four-day camp, which has been a cornerstone in building the program’s unity and competitive edge.
Division I nationals are next Feb. 6-8 in Orlando. Fla.
“We’ve never gone before, so earning this bid is incredibly exciting for our program,” Sherman said. “Our goal is to compete and build on our success from training, competitions, and the strong team culture we’ve developed.”
The Bulldogs’ hard work throughout the week paid of f in a big way. The varsity earned third in the home routine in the Division I large varsity category.
Nine RBHS varsity seniors were named UDA All-America athletes: co-captains Aubrey Agne and Isabella Kirsch, Liv Creedon, Olivia Krzystofiak, Sofia Miller, Liliana Nieto, Kailyn Novak, Emelia Royer, and Sadie Towers. This distinction is awarded only after completing an additional choreography session and performing in front of the camp and judges.
Agne earned special reco gnition from a
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Sloger said her team made the most of a video session to improve significantly from that first meeting.
“In the championship match, I just looked at everyone and every single person I could tell just wanted it, wanted to win,” she said. “Everyone was focused and we could give it our all. Our energy was definitely a big factor into winning that. We cheered as loud as we could and just wanted to see each other succeed.”
Among other AAU entries, the 1st Alli-
UDA staf f member for her hard work and standout performance.
“We’ve never been more proud of our team. We’ve worked so hard for this and now it’s time to prove ourselves on the national stage,” she said. “My biggest takeaway from UDA camp this year is that you should never be afraid of a challenge. Challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone will only help you become more resilient.”
Kirsch echoed the importance of connection and team spirit.
“Our team dynamic is already strong and even with just a few events together, I feel so connected to these girls,” she said. “Everyone’s incredibly talented, hardworking, and supportive. It truly feels like a second family.”
For Sherman, the camp was more than just training. It was transformative.
“Watching the JV dancers walk into the gym the first day, full of nerves and excitement, and then witnessing their development over the course of the week was something special,” she said.
ance 16 Red team with LTHS junior Colleen Chambers reached the semifinals of the Club Division, the fifth–highest division.
The 16 Red team won its first 12 matches before losing in the semifinals 25-15, 21-25, 15-11 to runner-up Erika.
The 5-11 Chambers, another returning LTHS varsity starter, was one of the setters in a 6-2 offense. With the Lions, Chambers often ran a 6-2 last season with graduated Kate Badrov.
The 16 Red team previously won an early tournament in St. Louis in February.
“Going into nationals, we thought we
The dancers were immersed in a rigorous schedule of choreography, technique classes and team-building activities. Each day brought challenges that tested their stamina, focus and collaboration.
“At camp, the dancers are pushed mentally, physically and emotionally. They learn to lean on each other for support,” Sherman said. “We bond so much through nightly review sessions, team meetings and even the little moments in between. It really sets the tone for the rest of our season.”
Sherman is looking forward to what promises to be a landmark season. As the team moves into the fall, they’ll continue energizing crowds at home football games, promoting school spirit, and hosting their annual Youth Dance Clinic, an event that brings more 100 local kindergarten through eighth-grade students onto the field for a halftime performance.
In the winter, the team will focus on a return to the Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) state finals, where the Bulldogs were third in AAA Jazz division in 2024 and second in 2025.
were going to do well but I don’t think we were expecting to do that well,” Chambers said. “I think all of my teammates played very well the whole weekend, some of our best volleyball we played all season so that definitely helped.”
Also at AAUs, the Sports Performance 17 Red team with LTHS senior Anabelle Olson was fifth in the Club Division.
The 1st Alliance 17 Red team with RBHS seniors Lucy Boyle and Nola Mulcrone was ninth in the sixth-rated Aspire Division.
The DuPage Elite 16 United team with LTHS junior Avery Tyrrell was ninth in
“This is a special year with an incredibly talented team and 12 dedicated seniors,” Sherman noted. “It is my personal goal to send these seniors of f with many amazing memories of their time as RBHS Pupettes. We’re looking forward to a fun football season, a strong competition season and wrapping it all up with nationals.”
Lyons Township poms
Lyons Township delivered an outstanding performance at UDA camp to earn a coveted bid to Division I nationals.
All 14 seniors — Maya Bylsma, Peyton Carmody, Maddie Dienes, Hayden Frazier, Alexis Jain, Brooke Manley, Lily Martin, Maeve McCormack, Lucia Nemeth, Greta Newlin, Samantha Sexton, Elizabeth Shorrock, Karina Singh and Elaina Stoltz — received All-America recognition with two awarded combine scholarships. The Lions also brought home three Pin-It Forward honors, further highlighting their leadership and spirit.
The junior varsity also had an impressive showing, earning a superior trophy, all blue ribbons, and first place in the home routine Additionally the Lions were recognized with the St. Jude Spirit Stick for their enthusiasm and positive impact throughout the event.
Nazareth Academy poms
The Roadrunners qualified for the UDA Division II nationals, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, in Orlando after their varsity received superior status and a Drill Down award at summer camp July 19-21 at Illinois State University.
Varsity All-Americans were seniors Lilly Baldwin, Zoe Weiss, Bea Keenan, Gabriel Imbarrato and Elise Ochoa and sophomores Olivia Caputo and Ivy Wiet.
The JV also received superior team status. Bill Stone contributed to this story.
the Club Division.
The 1st Alliance 16 White team with St. Ignatius College Prep junior Lola Baker of Riverside was ninth in the Select Division, the fourth-rated division.
LTHS juniors Blake Spreyne and Brielle Simmons played with the Adversity 16 Purple Adidas team in the second-rated Premier Division, finishing 43rd.
TIA SHERMAN
Riverside Brook eld varsity poms team.
COLLEEN CHAMBERS