Who's running for Bobby Rush's seat

I've made some hay about Jahmal Cole and he doesn't mind saying that he was the first one to place his hat into the ring. Of course that was before Rep. Rush decided he wasn't running again.

I see on wikipedia and of course if you have any names that isn't in the picture feel free to share.

To start some names were through around in the news such as Ward 3 Ald. Pat Dowell who announced that she was pursuing this today. She also dropped out of the contest for yet another open seat for Illinois Secretary of State. 

Then other names that surprises me State Sen. Elgie Sims, Ward 6 Ald. Roderick Sawyer, Ward 8 Ald. Michelle Harris, former city treasurer Kurt Summers, or State Rep. Marcus Evans. Sims, Sawyer and Harris are names familiar to those who live in the 6th ward. It's interesting that they're looking into this open seat.

However this is a wide open contest and time will tell who might ultimately get the nod once the primary is over in June - don't forget the primary is on June 28, 2022 this year. Let's see how many of those names listed as potential challengers will contest for the Congressman's seat.

Here's a story about Rep. Bobby Rush's announcement regarding his retirement [VIDEO]

Oh wait, Ald. Sawyer was quoted in the above story from CBS 2 saying he's happy with where he is, however, admitted that he'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested. Another name is activist Ja'Mal Green and also Rush's son Flynn Rush - who's listed in the wikipedia article linked above.

Update to the alleged gunman who chased Sen. Sims in Springfield

 You can read the update at CapFax. The man a Sprinfield business owner named Michael L. Hoyle pleaded not guilty and his trial is schedule for July. He was able to post a $15,000 bail the day after the incident.

Springfield-area man who allegedly chased Sen. Sims in his car and pointed gun enters not guilty plea https://t.co/1mHmKu8M9b

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) April 23, 2021

CapFax: Sen. Sims chased by alleged gunman

Elgie Sims

So sorry to hear this happened to State Sen. Elgie Sims as he performed his duties in Springfield. This seems like an odd road rage incident. If this guy had a revoked F.O.I.D card and certainly would show his anger in such a way he shouldn't have been released after posting bail. 

Sen. Sims chased by alleged gunman https://t.co/TzwKSXaSjt

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) March 19, 2021

Also noted from the State Journal-Register article that Rich Miller linked to:

We have a new IL Senate President

IL State Senate Chambers - Randy von Liski

There is an update to who will become the next Senate President. I learned last week that it's between state Sen. Kimberly Lightford & Sen. Don Harmon. Sen. Elgie Sims was another person who threw his name in the hat for the presiding officer and essentially Democrat leader (Dems are in the majority) of the state senate, however, he withdrew and backed Lightford (who's also the Senate Dems Majority Leader).

Sunday it was reported that Don Harmon who represents Oak Park amongst other cities in his 39th District will succeed the outgoing John Cullerton as Senate President.

I've linked to CapFax often over the years and among other sources it's a great resource to follow state politics. Rich Miller provided a post for live coverage and then showed a post about reaction to Harmon's ascension.

Capitol Fax: Senate President preview

IL State Senate Chamber - Raymond Cunningham

Sharing this on the blog since earlier this week it was in the news that state Sen. Elgie Sims (D-17) had been running for Senate President only to withdraw and endorse his colleague state Sen. Kimberly Lightford for that role. Lightfoot is vying for the spot to be vacated by current President Sen. John Cullterton with state Sen. Don Harmon.

The vote is expected to take place on Sunday according to the preview from CapFax. What you see here seems like high stakes. Typical politics I suppose....

Senate President preview https://t.co/qPH6dOzBml

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 17, 2020

Sen. Elgie Sims withdraws from race for state Senate President

State Capitol Springfield, IL via kurtsj00

Last year, Senate President John Cullerton stated his intention to retire before the end of his term from his seat and leadership position. The means the Illinois Senate has to elect a new Senate President. I'm sure there was speculation once Cullerton made his announcement last year, but I never had any idea that 17th District state Senator Elgie Sims threw his hat in the ring.

On Monday via CapFax, he will withdraw from contention and intends to endorse state Senator Kimberly Lightford. The only other person who's seeking the Senate President seat is state Sen. Don Harmon.

Sims drops out, backs Lightford https://t.co/ZYsuX5dNci

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 13, 2020

Just bear in mind over a decade ago that his predecessor Emil Jones had also retired before the end of his term and not long before the elevation of former state Senator Barack Obama who later became President of the United States. Cullerton was elected Senate President just in time to preside over the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Capitol Fax: Sims talks more about Orland Square Mall shooting

State Sen. Elgie Sims was at Orland Square Mall where that fatal shooting took place last week. Rich Miller does a quick round-up with Sen. Sims' statement on his blog.

Sims talks more about Orland Square Mall shooting https://t.co/xihfOpHtG2

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 28, 2019

Tribune: Mayor Rahm Emanuel floats port district land as Chicago casino location #Serving17

Even though Rahm Emanuel will only remain mayor until May 2019, he seems to be coming up with some proposals. He's still trying to use what's left of his political heft to come up with some ideas for the city:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday floated a port district site on the Far Southeast Side as the possible location for a Chicago casino, if state lawmakers finally grant the city the long-sought gambling palace.

In a meeting with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Emanuel noted his “love-hate” relationship with the idea of a casino but said if the city finally builds one it should be away from the Loop and McCormick Place. Instead, he said it should bring economic development to an area of the city that needs it, before floating an Illinois International Port District site near Pullman as “an example.”

The land, just off the 111th Street exit on the Bishop Ford Freeway, currently is home to the Harborside International golf course with some harbor operations and terminals nearby on Lake Calumet. The port district that owns the land is a joint city-state entity.

“If you go down to the port authority where the golf course is, there’s enough land there for both a hotel and a casino,” Emanuel said. “That would be a big boon economically to the Southeast Side of the city.”

Emanuel made the remarks on the same day he gave a speech to aldermen on his recommendations to address the city’s pension funding shortfalls moving forward. The mayor’s plan included revenue from a proposed Chicago casino as part of the answer.

Personally I'm with this, who says a proposed casino has to be in or near downtown Chicago. Put one in a neighborhood that's struggling. In this case Pullman, and then again hopefully there are other proposals.

However, to be honest it seems like forever that there's been discussions of a Chicago casino that seems to have a tendency to fall through. So perhaps deciding on a site or finally building one will still take years. Wait and see I suppose.

h/t to state Sen. Elgie Sims FB page hence why I used the #Serving17 hashtag.

 

Southside Chicagoans deserve economic development solutions

You might have seen this in state Sen. Elgie Sims' latest e-mail blast referring to the future closure of Target stores in Chatham & Morgan Park.

I’m disheartened by the news that the Target Corporation has decided to close two stores in February 2019 on the city’s South Side, including one located in my neighborhood, Chatham. Not only is the store a source of income for more than 100 people, but many of my constituents rely on it for everyday essentials, including food and medication. This closure will make it harder for families who are already struggling, forcing them to find a way to travel farther to get the items they need.

It seems that the people of Chicago’s South Side, in predominantly African American neighborhoods, are always the first to be left out in the cold by big box stores. Members of the communities surrounding these stores supported them for 10 years, and now Target has decided to close their doors, giving explanations that do not seem to match with reality.

Recently, I joined with elected officials from the state, city and federal governments to speak about this ill-advised decision, which happens to involve closing the stores AFTER the lucrative holiday season, and I intend to find solutions to this problem. The people of the 17th District and all of the communities it includes deserve better.

Yes we do! Now how do our communities avoid being left out in the cold?

And also bear in mind Sims' constituent office is also near the Target at 87th & Cottage Grove.

CAN-TV "Political Forum" with state Sen. Elgie Sims

[VIDEO] This is another item I had been slow to advertise lately. I got an email about state senator Elgie Sims' appearance on CAN-TV's Political Forum. From the description:

Illinois State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (17th District) discusses the state budget, police-community relations, his recent legislative efforts and more. This program was recorded on September 12, 2018 at Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Duration of this program is about 27 minutes.The program itself aired live on this past Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

Pullman Community Playground Build Day/Block Party

Found this flyer in an e-mail blast from state senator Elgie Sims

Pullman Community Playground
Build Day/Block Party
August 10, 2018
10440-10444 S. Corliss
Building begins 7:45 AM
Ribbon cutting 2:30 PM

Want to join the Illinois State Police?

In an e-mail blast from state senator Elgie Sims we see some information with regards to recruitment for the state police.

IL State Police

• The Illinois State Police Merit Board is currently processing applications for Cadet Class 129, tentatively scheduled for April, 2019. In order to be considered for Cadet Class 129, the Merit Board must receive a completed application and required documentation by August 15, 2018.
  
  Applicants may apply online here. 

Also the Chicago Police have again begun recruiting for more police officers starting on August 1 through October 1, 2018. Follow on fb, ig, and twitter @bethechangeCPD or visit www.chicagopolice.org. Also call 312.744.4976 or 311 if you have any questions.

17th District Resource Fair

The flyer below you might have seen in an e-mail blast however more details are contained on state senator Elgie Sims' official webpage. On the agenda according to a flyer you'd see on his webpage are resources that includes youth employment & summer programming, senior & veteran services, wellness checks, property ownership, job readiness and more.

When:

• Thursday June 7, 2018
  6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Where:

• South Central Community Services
  1021 East 83rd Street

Call Elgie Sims' office in Chicago @ 773.933.7715 or his Springfield office @ 217.782.3201. Flyer for this event is below

You are NOT getting the people you are voting for as state representative and senator!

Sen. Trotter's name is on the ballot even though he has resigned from the office

For those who live in the 34th district (for state represenative) and 17th district for state senate: Did you know that the people you might be voting for  state represneative and state senator will NOT be the people who will take office for the term you are electing them for?

State Senator Donne Trotter resigned on January 19, 2018. This was essentially just in time to meet the deadline for people who wanted to register as a write-in candidate.

He will NOT be in office again. 34th district State Representative. Elgie Sims was chosen by Democratic Committeemen (NOT the vote of the people) to replace Trotter. Sims was in turn replaced by the same committee (and NOT the average voter)  by Nick Smith as State Representative.

The Chicago Tribune wrote an editorial about this voter omission in January.

What do our readers feel about this? Are you bothered by it? Do you feel it is a form of voter suppression? Support it? Please let us know

Community meet & greet on Saturday

Sorry for the late notice on this as I just got wind of this on Friday night. Meet not only your new state Senator Elgie Sims, and state Rep. Nicholas Smith also county Commissioner Stanley Moore at their offices.

• 8658 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
  Suite 404
  Chicago, IL 60619
  1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
  Phone: 773.933.7715

Flyer is below.

Nick Smith succeeds Elgie Sims for 34th district state representative

On Wednesday with Elgie Sims moving up to his mentor's - Donne Trotter - state senate seat there was now a vacancy in Sims' 34th state house district. In a meeting with Democratic bosses Nick Smith was named Sen. Sims' successor in this state house seat. Smith is the current 9th ward Streets and Sanitation superintendent and was at one point a former President of the Roseland Heights Community Association.

Though I said I was going to step back from Nextdoor it was interesting the see the names who presented their credentials for this vacancy. Michael Lafargue of West Chesterfield, Richard Wooten a former police officer who actually ran for this seat in 2012, Jahmal Cole of My Block My Hood My City, Eli Washington of Chesterfield. These are all names many of us have heard of in public as leaders of community or youth organizations.

It let's you know that even though many of us didn't get to vote on any of these names, you can have an impact in your community and you can forward your name for any political position. And of course the possibility is there that you can become an elected official using in part that experience.

Congrats to state Rep. Smith!

Elgie Sims succeeds former Sen. Donne Trotter

If you've subscribed to now Sen. Elgie Sims' e-mail list you might have seen this in your e-mails at around 6 PM this evening:

Dear ,

One of the greatest honors of my life has been to serve you and the people of the 34th Representative District as a voice and advocate as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

It has been my honor and privilege to stand up for working families, to fight on behalf of the most vulnerable citizens of our state, to work to provide the best educational and economic opportunities for our communities and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hard working people of the 34th Representative District.

While I will no longer serve as your voice in the Illinois House of Representatives, I look forward to continuing to serve the families and communities of the 34th Representative District through my service as your voice in the Illinois Senate as State Senator of the 17th Legislative District.

Elgie
Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
State Senator - 17th District

Here's a pic provided with the e-mail and also a video from ig which shows him being sworn into the Illinois state senate.

Thank you Sen. Donne Trotter

Illinois State Capitol - Springfield

First I'm going to post this tweet from ABC 7. It was announced on Friday that state Sen. Donne Trotter - in the Illinois state Senate he's the assistant majority leader - is retiring from his seat. His resignation is effective immediately.

State Senator Donne Trotter announces retirement: https://t.co/Q1CH5jK5ei pic.twitter.com/HXnx0dyV16

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) January 20, 2018

As the process normally goes Democratic committeemen in the 17th state senate district will have 30 days to select someone to fill the remainder of his term. Sen. Trotter's term would end in January 2019.

Whole Foods Market distribution facility open in Pullman

This all occurred yesterday including the bread breaking which is what they do when they open new stores. For example they did the same thing upon opening the Whole Foods store at 63rd/Halsted. This is from the Mayor's ig page.

A post shared by Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@chicagosmayor) on Jan 8, 2018 at 1:50pm PST

And also Elgie Sims - state representative of the 34th District for Illinois - was also in on the action and also posted a college of pics on his ig page also.

West Chesterfield on the recent Walgreen's closure in the neighborhood

347 E. 95th Street - June 2017

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to go to the recent meeting hosted by state Rep. Elgie Sims on the Walgreen's store that closed on Tuesday Jun. 27th at 95th/King Drive. However I'm glad that the West Chesterfield Community Association was able to share a quick report on their fb page. That report is embedded below