Dan Donnelly has the backing of some powerful friends in his bid for Norwood Park Township committeeman.
Electrical Union 134 recently endorsed the Democrat, who is hoping to replace Robert Martwick Sr., who has decided not to seek re-election and endorsed Frank Avino as his successor.
“I’ve worked in the construction field and was part of the union for 12 years,” Donnelly told the North Cook News. “It means a lot to me that these guys would come out for me as strongly as they have.”
Dan Donnelly and his family
Donnelly is running on a platform of increased services and greater accountability. He said his message has been passionately embraced by residents across the township.
“People have been ecstatic to hear that I will be in the community and helping them with everything from county services to senior services and everything else I can,” he said.
Part of Donnelly’s platform includes a vow to set up offices in the heart of the township. He has long insisted that Martwick has never had an office in the community and has more or less been an absentee representative.
“Martwick’s office is set up downtown and that makes it especially hard for working people and senior people to come in and talk to their representative about getting the kind of help they may need,” Donnelly said. “With me, they know that will no longer be an issue and that they will no longer be represented on a part-time basis.”
Even though Martwick has been in power since 1969, Donnelly claims that many of the people in the community don’t know who he is because he’s rarely seen.
“That’s just the way it is,” he said. “And it’s been that way.”
A local businessman who lives in Norridge with his fiancée and two young children, Donnelly has also owned an area pizza parlor.
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