"Threemil" appointed to the ballot

Emil Jones III is slated to replace his father, Senate President Emil Jones on the ballot for his state senate seat. The Capitol Fax has the round-up, but I want to show another aspect of this story.

State Rep. Monique Davis had a problem with this and put up her own candidate for Jones' state senate seat. That person wasn't likely to win, however, there was a point to it. Excerpt from WLS-TV:

"I don't know him. I've never met him. And I'm sure he's a fine person," said Rep. Monique Davis, (D) Chicago.

Davis is one of the two state representatives who serve within the 14th state senatorial district that includes parts of the city and south suburbs. Davis said she never met the younger Jones, and if she saw him on the street she wouldn't recognize him:

"I think there's some other people perhaps who could better represent us in that senate seat," Davis said.
...
Davis complained that the elder Jones, by announcing his retirement Monday, did not leave other prospective candidates time to mount a campaign for the nomination - other candidates, like her own son:

"He worked with me and Harold Washington and worked in government. He was a researcher. And he's also a former staffer for (house) speaker (Michael) Madigan," Davis said.

Another story from the Sun-Times as to the candidate Rep. Davis put up against "Threemil":

State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) nominated a candidate to run against the son of Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-Chicago) during the little-publicized meeting at the 34th Ward Regular Democratic Organization office, 507 W. 111th Street.

Davis' nominee, 73-year-old retired schoolteacher Dozier Thomas, didn't score any votes. But Davis used his candidacy to make a point that others should have been encouraged and given time to seek the South Side and south suburban seat the elder Jones is vacating after 25 years.

"The public, in my opinion, should be much more involved," said Davis, a fierce opponent of the Senate president despite living in his district. "You have a meeting, and anyone interested should come and present yourself to the public. Then there could be a final meeting."

The Senate President won this round, unfortunately...

At the meeting, the elder Jones defended his decision to anoint his 30-year-old son and asserted he would remain active in politics after he retires in January.

"Just because you're in public office does not mean you're a second-class citizen," he said. "And I respect fathers who take care of their children. So would I support my son? Sure I'm going to support my son."

Another quote...

Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn says by putting a son in place, Senator Jones is doing what Lipinski and Cook County Board President John Stroger, among others, have done. He said he believes it's wrong.

"I think voters ought to have much more of say-so in an election contest to nominate who they want," Quinn said.

I hope no one would argue with that.