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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
3 look to follow Robin Kelly in U.S. House as she seeks bigger profile in Washington
With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly looking to take the place of Dick Durbin in the Senate, others are looking to compete for her job in Washington. In the wake of Kelly's announcement of her plans, after Durbin said he would not seek reelection, those who've announced or are looking to follow her in the 2nd Congressional District include two Matteson officials and a South Side state senator. Assuming that Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. The primaries won't take place until next March, giving plenty of time for others to look at their possible campaigns for the 2nd Congressional District. Yumeka Brown, Matteson village clerk and a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, has formed an exploratory committee for a potential run, as has Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Both Brown and Chalmers-Currin said they will do listening tours to take the temperature of voters and potential support as part of their exploration of potential candidacies. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Southland communities including Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. The list of those potential candidates includes just about every known name on Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, including Chicago aldermen and local state representatives and senators. Those who've been mentioned as potential candidates in the heavily Democratic district include Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller of Lynwood, and state Sen. Napoleon Harris of Harvey. Harris is the new supervisor in Thornton Township after one-term supervisor Tiffany Henyard, also the former Dolton mayor, was not slated by Democrats in the recent election. Brown was elected to the MWRD Board in November 2022 and first elected Matteson's clerk in April 2017. She wasreelected to a third term last month. 'Over the past twelve years, Representative Robin Kelly has served the Second Congressional District well. We have all lauded her accomplishments and fight for the middle class, the underserved, and the voiceless,' Brown said in announcing her interest in succeeding Kelly. 'As she now steps forward to take that fight to the United States Senate, our district faces a pivotal moment.' 'We must elevate the mission in Congress to protect Medicaid, Social Security, the rights of women, and to guard against Donald Trump's planned destruction of the Affordable Healthcare Act.' Brown said. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term Tuesday, said she is working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. 'Given her recent announcement, it is imperative someone fills the possible void,' Chalmers-Currin said. 'I love being the mayor of Matteson so this was not on my radar.' 'I cannot not look at this,' she said. Chalmers-Currin said she's not yet making a formal announcement to run, and doesn't have a timetable for when she might decide. 'When it's something exploratory, there are moving pieces going on right now,' she said. 'You don't want to go out and make an announcement until you know if there is a track and a desire.' While testing the water at this point, Chalmers-Currin said she wants to be ready should Kelly stay committed to the U.S. Senate run. Kelly told the Chicago Tribune she doesn't plan to circulate nominating petitions later this year for an eighth term in the U.S. House. 'Right now it looks like she's all in,' Chalmers-Currin said of Kelly. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. 'I'm running for Congress to take on the billionaires in charge of Washington and to build a government that delivers for the people,' Peters said Tuesday in announcing his candidacy. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our fundamental rights, and we need a proven fighter in Congress to stand up to them and their extremist followers.' Along with Kelly, declared Democratic candidates for Durbin's seat are Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Stratton is being backed by billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker and is also endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Krishnamoorthi is a five-term congressman from Schaumburg sitting on more than $19 million in campaign cash. Kelly had more than $2 million in her campaign war chest at the start of April, campaign records show. Chicago Tribune contributed
Chicago Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
3 look to follow Robin Kelly in U.S. House as she seeks bigger profile in Washington
With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly looking to take the place of Dick Durbin in the Senate, others are looking to compete for her job in Washington. In the wake of Kelly's announcement of her plans, after Durbin said he would not seek reelection, those who've announced or are looking to follow her in the 2nd Congressional District include two Matteson officials and a South Side state senator. Assuming that Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. The primaries won't take place until next March, giving plenty of time for others to look at their possible campaigns for the 2nd Congressional District. Yumeka Brown, Matteson village clerk and a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, has formed an exploratory committee for a potential run, as has Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Both Brown and Chalmers-Currin said they will do listening tours to take the temperature of voters and potential support as part of their exploration of potential candidacies. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Southland communities including Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. The list of those potential candidates includes just about every known name on Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, including Chicago aldermen and local state representatives and senators. Those who've been mentioned as potential candidates in the heavily Democratic district include Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller of Lynwood, and state Sen. Napoleon Harris of Harvey. Harris is the new supervisor in Thornton Township after one-term supervisor Tiffany Henyard, also the former Dolton mayor, was not slated by Democrats in the recent election. Brown was elected to the MWRD Board in November 2022 and first elected Matteson's clerk in April 2017. She wasreelected to a third term last month. 'Over the past twelve years, Representative Robin Kelly has served the Second Congressional District well. We have all lauded her accomplishments and fight for the middle class, the underserved, and the voiceless,' Brown said in announcing her interest in succeeding Kelly. 'As she now steps forward to take that fight to the United States Senate, our district faces a pivotal moment.' 'We must elevate the mission in Congress to protect Medicaid, Social Security, the rights of women, and to guard against Donald Trump's planned destruction of the Affordable Healthcare Act.' Brown said. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term Tuesday, said she is working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. 'Given her recent announcement, it is imperative someone fills the possible void,' Chalmers-Currin said. 'I love being the mayor of Matteson so this was not on my radar.' 'I cannot not look at this,' she said. Chalmers-Currin said she's not yet making a formal announcement to run, and doesn't have a timetable for when she might decide. 'When it's something exploratory, there are moving pieces going on right now,' she said. 'You don't want to go out and make an announcement until you know if there is a track and a desire.' While testing the water at this point, Chalmers-Currin said she wants to be ready should Kelly stay committed to the U.S. Senate run. Kelly told the Chicago Tribune she doesn't plan to circulate nominating petitions later this year for an eighth term in the U.S. House. 'Right now it looks like she's all in,' Chalmers-Currin said of Kelly. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. 'I'm running for Congress to take on the billionaires in charge of Washington and to build a government that delivers for the people,' Peters said Tuesday in announcing his candidacy. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our fundamental rights, and we need a proven fighter in Congress to stand up to them and their extremist followers.' Along with Kelly, declared Democratic candidates for Durbin's seat are Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Stratton is being backed by billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker and is also endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Krishnamoorthi is a five-term congressman from Schaumburg sitting on more than $19 million in campaign cash. Kelly had more than $2 million in her campaign war chest at the start of April, campaign records show.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Editorial: Springfield missed another opportunity to cut red tape and get Illinoisans back to work
Illinois gained over 32,000 nonfarm jobs on net since before the pandemic. But 73% of them were government jobs. Where the state could use some work is private-sector growth. Some of Illinois' most important industries still haven't recovered from the pandemic. For example, the state is down more than 20,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry since that industry's pre-COVID-19 peak. Illinois still has among the highest unemployment rates in the country. We say an easy place to start is to get rid of rules and requirements that prevent people from finding work. This legislative session, there was broad, bipartisan momentum around occupational licensing reform, a rare and welcome example of both sides of the aisle supporting pragmatic solutions for the public good. Despite support from both sides of the aisle, licensing reform legislation went nowhere. Licensing reform always faces stiff opposition from special interest groups that benefit from keeping out competition. But if we want to get people back to work, it's a necessary part of the solution. To understand how burdensome rules keep people on the sidelines, consider what aspiring barbers have to navigate before they can become licensed: 1,500 hours in an approved barbering school, which can cost as much as college tuition. By comparison, New York requires just 500 hours — a third as much — yet suffers no apparent decline in public safety or service quality. A Democrat-sponsored bill could have made it easier for Illinoisans to become licensed stylists. State Rep. Michael Crawford, D-Chicago, is behind legislation that would enable aspiring barbers to become licensed through apprenticeships, offering an alternative to traditional schooling by recognizing hands-on training under licensed professionals. Meanwhile, a downstate Republican wanted to make it easier for newcomers to our state to find work. State Rep. Paul Jacobs, R-Marion, is the lead sponsor of the Recognition of Licenses Act, which would establish provisions for the recognition of out-of-state professional licenses in Illinois. Illinois does recognize some out-of-state professional licenses, such as teaching licenses, but not all. And it's not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which establishes mutual recognition of nursing licenses among the 41 member states. Another bill, sponsored by state Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, would've added Illinois to the NLC — a long-overdue and crucial step in addressing the nursing shortage that's plagued hospitals since COVID-19 hit. With a list of legislative backers ranging from Democrats such as Morris and Crawford to Republicans such as Jacobs, sponsors of these proposals span the political spectrum, and you'd hope that alone would've given Springfield politicians the confidence to act decisively. The benefits are clear: More people working leads to stronger communities, better personal fulfillment and other perks for government — namely, more tax revenue, more consumer spending and less reliance on public aid. In a state that desperately needs private-sector jobs growth, these are not controversial proposals. It's true that reducing licensing red tape wouldn't fix all that ails Illinois' economy — but it's a smart place to start. We wish Springfield would've acted on this initiative and hope these bills are revived soon. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
