20180105 - Bob Anderson making inroads to abolish townships (HRB) (HRB)

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Bob Anderson discusses his almost three decade old quest to consolidate townships on Friday, Jan 5, 2018. The Wonder Lake barber has seen little support from his political peers, and progress has been slow. Now backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission: abolishing townships.

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Sitting in his Wonder Lake barber shop on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Bob Anderson talks about his almost three decade quest to abolish townships. The Wonder Lake barber has seen little support in the past from his political peers, and progress has been slow. Now backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission.

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Framed newspaper clippings and a hand made sign in Bob Anderson's Wonder Lake barber shop. Anderson declared a war against townships almost three decades ago and has seen little support from his political peers, and progress has been slow. Now backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission: abolishing townships.

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Barber Bob Anderson takes an appointment by phone Friday, Jan 5, 2018 at his shop in Wonder Lake. Anderson declared a war against townships almost three decades ago. Progress has been slow and now Anderson is backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission: abolishing townships. "For years, he’s been talking about it," said state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills. "Finally, now he’s in the mainstream of thinking."

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Bob Anderson discusses his almost three decade old quest to consolidate townships on Friday, Jan 5, 2018. The Wonder Lake barber has seen little support from his political peers, and progress has been slow. Now backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission: abolishing townships.

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Wonder Lake barber Bob Anderson assists customer Dean Patnude of Wonder Lake on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. Anderson declared a war against townships almost three decades ago and has seen little support from his political peers, and progress has been slow. Now backed by the support of some legislators in Springfield and a new state law that gives voters the power to consolidate units of government, it appears Anderson is at the doorstep of accomplishing – at least in part – his controversial mission: abolishing townships. "For years, he’s been talking about it," said state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills. "Finally, now he’s in the mainstream of thinking."