HANKS POLITICAL BLUNDERS COSTING THE VILLAGE DEARLY

SAUK VILLAGE |  When over 100 years of combined service to the people of Sauk Village walked off the job on Tuesday night, what was going through David Hanks mind?  Apparently not much at all as he was trying to obstruct Trustees Derrick Burgess and Kelvin Jones from asking Public Works Director Kevin Weller questions.  Hanks’s obstruction of Burgess and Jones at one point became so belligerent and childlike that Jones called Hanks an “asshole” as Hanks was literally laughing. 

Earlier on in the meeting Hanks appointed Jeff Morden, who Hanks supported for his failed re-election bid in April, 2015, to replace former Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Art Johnson.  This prompted immediate resignations of long-time members Assistant Director Amon Darnell, Thomas Heatherly, Arlene Stephens and Mike Sopjestal.  “Thirty-five years down the drain because of your appointment” Heatherly said as he pointed to Hanks and dropped his resignation on Hanks’ desk at the dais.  Stephens and Sopjestal did likewise.  The resignations left the department with less than a handful of members.  Rank and file members of the department protested having Morden appointed as Director because of an alleged incident which took place in 2003 involving his minor step-daughter.  A police report was circulated Tuesday night detailing the alleged sordid incident.   Morden claimed to several people Tuesday night that his record was expunged, however, he did not categorically deny the incident ever occurred.   

Wednesday evening Morden apparently sent Hanks a text message resigning as Director less than twenty-four hours after he was sworn-in.  It was learned that Hanks appointed Allen Vavrik as Acting Director.

Trustee Burgess questioned Hanks as to why he did not appoint a director from within the department and felt that Morden was a better choice but Hanks had no reply during Tuesday’s circus-like meeting.

Morden went along with Hanks, while he was on the Village Board in 2015, voted to eliminate Sauk Village's Dispatch Center and contract this out to Calumet Park, Illinois a more costly and distant dispatch center when neighboring Lynwood was offering the same services for less money.

"This was nothing more than a political appointment by Hanks and the bobble heads.  This wasn't about putting the best guy for the job in the position" community activist Larry Steward said Tuesday night. 

Hanks has been making political appointments haphazardly as he recently appointed his campaign manager and sometimes "minister" of the controversial Sauk Village Baptist Church Charles "Chuck" Thompson III to replace Judy Cast as Police and Fire Commissioner in May.  He appointed another political supporter, village vendor and benefactor to the Travelgate scandal Patricia Couch to replace longtime Police and Fire Commissioner Ed Milkint following his death.  Also Tuesday night, Hanks appointed Lynda Washington-House's husband Terry House as Housing Commissioner which will likely further gain favor and votes from Washington on the Village Board.  Washington-House is allegedly running against Hanks in April for Mayor, however, has been one of his staunchest supporters politically speaking.

To see highlights of Tuesday’s Meeting Click on the LINK HERE