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THE STAR/HERALD: Sunday, March 18, 1979By MARGE GRAD0WSK1This is the second in a series of articles profiling candidates running for Midlothian park district commissioner Two commissioners will be elected on Tuesday, April 3 Richard Burke, 50, is seeking his fourth term as Midlothian park district commissioner and says he would like to continue working on programs he began Burke has served on the park board for 18 years and is cur rently board vice president Burke says his accomplish ments on the board include initiating the first fireworks display in Midlothian and workinghave a referendum to raise the recreation tax So we did and it was defeated twice, Burke saidBurke and his wife. Kathleen, are the parents of 12 children, ranging in age from three to 24 The Burkes have lived in Mi* dothian for 24 years Burke is employed at Crain Trucking company in Chicago where he is presently on medical disabilityHe is the past treasurer, vice president and president of the Holy Name society of St Christopher’s church He has been a member of the St, Christopher activities committee* He is alsoa member of the Brother Wu liam Kerkel Knights of C'olum busBurke is a graduate of l,eo high school and attended Cen tral YMCA business college in Chicago He is a veteran of World War II where he served in the South Pacific He is a member of VFW Post 2580 and the Midlothian Civil DefenseHe has been active in township politics for 20 years and is a Democratic precinct captain Burke is one of the founders of the South Suburban Cook coun ty Park district associationREGARDING THE squat*bles with fellow commissioner.with the village board to estab lish the first family day picnic Burke also met with a Bremen Heights home owners group and convinced them to donate land to the park district Burke says he was responsible for starting the summer day camp for children In his last six years in office, Burke says he has been anticipating the expansion of Midlothian park district boundaries and planning for new parks Burke has discussed w ith planners the land near Midlothian country club and Midlothian turnpike and toured the area with new park areas in mindHe was instrumental in getting a park school agreement for land at 151st street and Kostner avenuel,aune Schuit, this year, Burke commented, At times I have had to make rough decisions and I made them with conscience The removal of Schuit had to be done. said Burke, adding he felt Schuit had overstepped his bounds as president and was taking over other commissioners’ duties without consulting themSummr.g up his bid for re-election Burke said, I have been p ivileged to be elected to the park board three times and I have tried to do my best I do care I w ant to serve ”RICHARD BURKE thinks the park district is coming outof the fiscal crisis of 1976 when two park referendums were defeated The referendums were proposed to bring in revenue to run programs in the then new community center It was silly to build that building without programs to run in it I fought to resolve the deficit and I did request funds from the village of Midlothian They said no and suggested weRichard Burke
Newspaper Details
Midlothian Star Herald
Midlothian, Illinois, US
Sun, Mar 18, 1979
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Kane B.
IL, USA 23 Jan 2022
Other Publications Near Midlothian, Illinois
Midlothian Bremen Messenger
Midlothian Bremen Township News Record
Midlothian PennySaver
Midlothian Star
Midlothian Star Tribune
