More about the appointment of Cyril Nichols to the 32nd District seat

 Found this of all places at Politico:

— New state rep appointed: Democratic leaders in the 32nd House District appointed Cyril Nichols, the associate athletics director for City Colleges, to replace Rep. Andre Thapedi, who has stepped down after 12 years. Nichols’ district encompasses part of the South Side and south suburbs and could be redrawn with the upcoming redistricting map. Others who applied: Allyson Scrutchens, who worked for Ald. Roderick Sawyer; Kimberley Egonmwan, a General Assembly staffer; and Cook County Young Democrats Chair Chakena Perry.

A headline from The Daily Line suggests that State Rep. Nichols is a placeholder at least until the state finally re-draws the state's legislative districts. Perhaps in 2022 as Illinois considers whether or not J.B. Pritzker should remain Governor, we'll have an open seat for 32nd District state representative?

Former State Rep. Andre Thapedi has a successor

 I saw this tweet by Speaker Chris Welch announcing the appointment of Cyril Nichols as state representative of the 32nd District. With a photo of Rep. Nichols taking his oath.

Congratulations to Cyril Nichols, who has been selected to represent the 32nd House District - Welcome to the General Assembly! pic.twitter.com/cAwbmWDsoE

— Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (@RepChrisWelch) April 8, 2021

State Rep. Andre Thapedi resigns

Saw this at CapFax yesterday. He already announced his intention to resign his seat in January, and in the letter you will see below noted from yesterday it's effective immediately. The 32nd District state house seat is now open.

Rep. Thapedi resigns https://t.co/Tlsixq3dkO

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) March 17, 2021

Capitol Fax: Rep. Thapedi to step down

Rich Miller has more about the resignation of state Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-32) on his blog yesterday. As you know this was reported on Sunday evening.

Rep. Thapedi to step down https://t.co/9Huw4GVFMD

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 1, 2021

Not to go too negative on this, but the comments to that post well a few of them discuss how they hate that an incumbent gets elected to their legislative seat then turn around and resign. Some call for special elections to state legislative seats. Especially for house seats.

There should be some discussion on this at the very least. Perhaps even special elections for Alderman upon a resignation, removal or death. 

State Rep. Andre Thapedi resigning from the state house

Found this on twitter just now and best wishes to Rep. Thapedi

New Trade Schools in Chicago and Metro East

The press release was sent to us by representatives for state Rep. Andre Thapedi who filed a bill to propose construction and operation of state-owned and operated trade/vocational schools in Chicago and East St. Louis, IL. These schools would have a focus on construction trades, information technology, and business-related services. Press release below.

Senior Utility Seminar & Ice Cream Social Hosted by State Rep. Thapedi

This event is expected to take place on Monday, Sept. 28, 2014 at the US Bank Building 4th Floor at 815 W 63rd St or 63rd & Halsted). Here there is a seminar for home energy assistance programs, LIHEAP, and other cost saving measures from ComEd, People's Gas, or CEDA representatives. Refer to flyer below for more details.

SELLOUTS: State Black Caucus Sell Out Each Other and Their Communities

This past Tuesday night I attended the Resident Association of Greater Englewood(R.A.G.E.) semi-monthly community meeting. At the meeting the topic of the formation of the Englewood Violent Crime Task Force(HJR-55) came up for discussion. The author of this bill is State Representative Andre Thapedi (32nd). The formation of the Englewood Violent Crime Task Force is Rep. Thapedi response to the crime that has occurred in his district. His district covers portions of the Greater Grand Crossing, Park Manor and Englewood communities.

 Previously Representative Thapedi  introduced a measure that would give the Illinois State Police the authority to support and co police with the Chicago Police Department the areas one mile east and west of the Dan Ryan where the Illinois State Police already have jurisdiction. The measure was supported by the Illinois State Police and the governor but shot down by both the Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent of Police Garry McCarthy. So in response to the cold shoulder by the City of Chicago the task force was introduced.    The purpose of the task force is as follows

1. Determine the causes of violent crime in Englewood and surrounding communities

2. Determine a comprehensive long term plan of action to substantially reduce violent crime in Englewood and surrounding communities

3. Make recommendations for laws,programs and initiatives  and or money to put the plan of action into immediate effect.

The official resolution is here. As the discussion about the resolution progressed one of the co-sponsors came forth, State Representative Esther Golar (6th) addressed the audience about the resolution with first stating it was not a bill but a resolution and secondly she did not support the resolution nor Representative Thapedi's previous measure to ask for support from the Illinois State Police. A number of hand went up in the crowd when the Representative asked how many of them supported the assistance of the Illinois State Police. Representative Golar district has one of the highest crime rates in the city, state and nation.  I sat in the audience puzzled as to why the representative would co-sponsor a resolution that she did not support written or in spirit. I asked the question to the representative who stated she lives in Englewood and that is why. She also gave me some political rhetoric that was nothing more than her way of cow towing to the crowd.  The representative was proud of throwing her colleague under the bus and this was another example of the ineptness of members of the State "Black Caucus". The caucus fumbled the ball on conceal and carry, same sex marriages and a number of other measures but consistently continue to come back to their constituents and state how hard they are working for them. My answer is Really!!. So after the meeting I contacted state representative Thapedi's office and asked how they felt about being thrown in front of a 18 wheeler going 50 mph. They stated they did not feel he was thrown under the bus and had no problem with Representatives Golar's response. I pondered the response and wonder how many measures that affect the south and west sides have been killed because of over inflated egos of members of the Black Caucus? I wonder how the residents of Park Manor and Greater Grand Crossing feel after telling their State Representative they are fed up with the crime and want a legislator who is going to look out for them and he  picks a team with a  sellout? I guess we will have to wait and see how the residents of these communities feel but for me its time that members of both the City and State Black Caucus's be held accountable and in a number of cases voted out of office. What do you think?

Rep. Andre Thapedi on CAN-TV Wednesday

Information sent to us from a member of his district staff.

State Representative André Thapedi to appear live on September 18, 2013 at 7:00pm on CAN-TV.

State Representative Thapedi is an attorney and represents the 32nd District.

Tune in to CAN-TV Channel 21 or online at http://www.cantv.org/live/index.html to view live.

Make sure to call in during the show to 312-738-1060 with legal questions or questions about the State of Illinois Pension crisis, Medicaid Reform and Obamacare.

Illinois State Police: Wanted in the 32nd District

This past Monday November 5, 2012. there were some guest at the Park Manor Neighbors Community Council (PMNCC) meeting. A television reporting team and several reporters were present at the meeting due to the following document.

Press Thapedi Park Manor  After opening with a prayer, the meeting started out with Andre Thapedi, State Representative 32nd District. The 32nd district includes portions of Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, Englewood, Park Manor and Chatham. Representative Thapedi updated his constituents on what was happening in Springfield as well as where he stood on several pieces of legislation.

The major portion of his time was spent on his proposal that he plans to submit to Governor Pat Quinn. Representative Thapedi stated that he was going to request that the Illinois State Police who currently patrol the Dan Ryan expressway expand their coverage area a minimum of one mile east and west of the expressway to assist the Chicago Police Department. There were some puzzled looks in the room, but Thapedi explained that the dan Ryan Expressway fell into the 32nd District and there are several street owned by the State of Illinois in the district, therefore he had a right to make this request. Also, he explained that the Illinois State Police patrolling the Dan Ryan is a result of an Intergovernmental agreement that dates back to the Harold Washington administration.

Representative Thapedi stated he could not stand back and do nothing for his constituents and felt that "out the box" solutions were necessary. He stated his office gets inundated with calls about crime and shootings. He further stated he could not see any reason why a parked State Police car could not assist the Chicago Police, He used a popular phrase "Really" several times to emphasize that this made sense. Some in the audience compared this to the calls several other State Representative have made to call on the Illinois National guard. Others called it the creation of a police state and others called it grandstanding and non innovative. Representative Thapedi stood firm that this was a quick fix but anything that saved the lives of young people was worth looking into. Also,he again reiterated that there is already cooperative between the two law enforcement agencies and the Illinois State Police have valuable resources that the Chicago Police Department does not have.

Representative Thapedi proposal overall was well received by members of PMNCC who have seen a spike in violent crime. He stated his office was researching all the necessary legalities and was open to input from the members. He office was also circulating a petition that he also plans to submit to the Governor. Lastly, he was asked did he think Mayor Rahm Emanuel would sign off on this agreement and he stated he is a State Representative, but could not see why the mayor would not welcome the assistance.

Flyer for Bobby Joe Johnson state representative candidate

I picked this one up at GCA's political forum at the House of Hope on March 3, 2012 where Bobby Joe Johnson was in attendance. He is running in the March 20th Democratic Primary against incumbent state Rep. Andre Thapedi who currently holds that very position in the 32nd District.

This will be a recurring feature until March 20th. Every day I will scan and upload flyers and mailers from this election. I have plenty for people running for judge in addition to plenty of mailers for those running for 34th District Representative.

NBC Chicago did a profile on both candidates. Here's one for Rep. Thapedi and one for Johnson.

Candidates have begun filing

Filings for candidates a separate page with candidates and contact info in the near future.

Some candidates are for offices such as Committeeman and are available through the Chicago Board of Elections, which have not yet posted filings.

You can also refer to the Cook County Clerk website for candidate filings. Kari Steele has also filed for Water Reclamation district according to the County Clerk. - Levois

Some offices needed to be filed through Springfield (literally), and are listed through the Illinois Board of Elections (http://www.elections.illinois.gov/ )

Some who filed on the first day:

For State Representative

• Mary Flowers, D-31
• Andre Thapedi, D-32
• Elgie Sims, D-34

For State Senator

• Donne Trotter, D-17

32nd State Representative elections...

In some recent comments, there have been concerns of bias regarding the 32nd disctrict State Representative candidates.

We here at TheSixthWard strive to be as objective as possible (though we have a particular interest in 6th ward residents), and we also welcome comments and suggestions from different people in the ward.

We are also working on policies to create a fair & just atmosphere for you, our readers to make decisions on candidates in the upcoming election. We will post that shortly.

There have been decisions made for the upcoming primary elections...

Final Summary of Decisions (December 8, 2009) by the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago as the duly constituted Electoral Board for the hearing and passing upon objections to nomination papers of candidates for the February 2, 2010 Primary Election in the City of Chicago:

here are relevent decisions for the 32nd district (which made up 1/3 of the approximately 28 decisions made):

10-EB-RGA-15: (see also RGA-16, RGA-17): Andre Thapedi vs. Bobby Joe Johnson - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Sustained - Candidate
OFF - 12/01/09 - Insufficient number of valid signatures

10-EB-RGA-16: (see also RGA-15, RGA-17): Yvette Williams vs. Bobby Joe Johnson - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections withdrawn and case dismissed as moot - Candidate OFF - 12/01/09 - See decisions in RGA-15 and RGA-17

10-EB-RGA-17: (see also RGA-15, RGA-16): Donald Tucker vs. Bobby Joe Johnson - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Sustained - Candidate OFF - 12/01/09 - Insufficient number of valid signatures

10-EB-RGA-18: (see also RGA-19): Andre Thapedi vs. Yvette Williams -
Denmocrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Overruled - Candidate ON - 12/08/09 - Sufficient number of valid signatures

10-EB-RGA-19: (see also RGA-18): Donald Tucker vs. Yvette Williams - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Overruled - Candidate ON - 12/08/09 - Sufficient number of valid signatures

10-EB-RGA-20: (see also RGA-21, RGA-22): Yvette Williams, Virgil E. Jones vs. Syron M. Smith - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Petitions withdrawn and case dismissed as moot - 12/08/09 - See decisions in RGA-21 and RGA-22

10-EB-RGA-21: (see also RGA-20, RGA-22): Andre Thapedi vs. Syron M. Smith - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Moot - Candidate OFF - 12/08/09 - Candidate withdrew

10-EB-RGA-22: (see also RGA-20, RGA-21): Donald Tucker vs. Syron M. Smith - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Moot - Candidate OFF - 12/08/09 - Candidate withdrew

10-EB-RGA-23: Virgil E. Jones vs. Andre Thapedi - Democrat - 32nd District State Representative - Objections Overruled - Candidate ON - 12/01/09 - Valid Statement of Economic Interests Receipt

As we can see, Syron Smith actually withdrew his nomination, while Bobbie Joe Johnson didn't have enough valid signatures. So it's Yvette Williams vs. Andre Thapedi.

A question i have ...who is Donald Tucker? He seems to support Andre Thapedi, but Rep. Thapedi has made his own objections...