Our editorials seek to help readers make sound decisions. The first to lose reelection in 40 years, she suffered the same fate as Jane Byrne, the first and only other female mayor of Chicago, per Chicago Tribune. U.S. Attorney John Lausch, center, prepares to speak to reporters on Sept. 14, 2022, at the Dirksen U.S. [Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Boardand onFacebook. Foxx has made the state's attorney's office more transparent, providing the public, for the first time, with online access to records for every felony case dating back to 2011. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. Choosing a new Cook County state's attorney in normal times, you might vote for a candidate who's had a hand in thousands of criminal prosecutions. The Tribune Editorial Board advocates for the equality of the individual, for personal responsibility, for a limited government role in the lives of the governed. But not his teammates. All rights reserved, Michigan Businessman Perry Johnson Launches Long-Shot 2024 Presidential Bid, Black Vietnam Veteran Finally Honored With Medal of Honor, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61. Here are our choices for contested races in the court's 15 subcircuits. That will mean building connections and trust between people in law enforcement and the impoverished communities where criminals prey on innocents. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Assistant State's Attorneys and support staff vigorously prosecute crimes committed in the County and provide extensive services to victims and witnesses. As we've written, beyond a polite hello in the elevator, prosecutors should be fiercely independent of politicians, especially those who sign off on their budget. We like the commitment to consent decree implementation that Raouls office has shown. He once griped in a Facebook post about an episode at a basketball game in which students struggled to give him correct change at a concession stand, the Tribune reported last month. In addition to the public corruption probes, Lausch has earned a reputation for going after Chicagos street gangs, which hed done previously as an assistant U.S. attorney under Fitzgerald. Read the full editorial here. Read the full editorial here. Fundamentally, the reason we believe voters should not give her a second term is that she seems unable or unwilling to entertain the notion that she should do anything differently in the face of Baltimores record violence. Some well-known lawyers in the region are going to bat for Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, President Joe Bidens nominee for the 7th U.S. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. ], [[Dont miss] See how candidates for governor answered our questions plus who the Tribune Editorial Board endorsed], [[Dont miss] Editorial: 175 years of editorials and counting]. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that she did not have the evidence to sustain the heavy charges she brought against the officers in the Gray case; her assertion that she would do nothing differently if given the chance is simply bizarre given the trials outcomes. General Counsel to the Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, taught at New York University School of Law, and served as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Judge of the. Endorsement: For state Senate, support incumbents Polsky and Berman. We find him unqualified for the job. June 30, 2022 . What else should Illinoisans know about DeVore? Later in the day, lawmakers in Springfield paused for a moment of silence. She's given plenty of thought to the suspicions and hostilities that have animated metropolitan Chicago since the McDonald case erupted in the public consciousness a year ago. But as violent crime rates rise, citizens, too, will have to do more especially to help police and prosecutors find perpetrators and put them away. He didnt. Durbin vs. Curran, Black, Malouf and Wilson: 10 questions for the candidates for U.S. Senate. Depending where you live, there are two contested vacancies: one in the 12th subcircuit and one in the 13th subcircuit. Should the amendment pass, we anticipate serious negative consequences for the taxpayers of Illinois. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. The politically charged issue of Chicago violence came to a head again two years later, when Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2020 threatened to sue after Trump announced he was sending federal agents to Chicago to tackle violent crime, which she said was done without her permission. Its not enough to simply mourn after a tragedy strikes, said state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, a Chicago Democrat whose district covers the Gage Park neighborhood. Jun 16 2022. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement A similar move in Portland, Oregon, had led to widespread denouncement after unidentified federal agents wearing camouflage uniforms were recorded making arrests. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Together, we mourn the loss of our hero, the Police Department said in a statement. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The defendant, who had no prior record, was given an I-bond after being charged on July 29, 2022, with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, after running from a vehicle that had been stopped by police, according to the statement issued by her office. Democratic voters so disapproved of how the current state's attorney, Anita Alvarez, handled the Laquan McDonald case that they rejected her primary election bid for a third four-year term. [[Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? We support the rights of unions to represent their members and to bargain collectively for the best deal they can secure. Here are the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board 's 2022 endorsements for the Nov. 8 elections. All candidates for Illinois judicial offices in the March 20 primary election have been rated by Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) evaluation committees, or in a poll conducted by ISBA. The Chicago Tribune endorsed former State Sen. Paul Schimpf in the race. If the treasurer is Illinois primary investment manager, the comptroller is the states main bill payer, with control over Springfields checking account. The public has demanded urgency and new approaches from everyone involved in trying to stop the killings. (Chicago Tribune). Nine sitting or recent members of the Illinois General Assembly have been charged with federal crimes since 2019. To what extent will candidates stances on pivotal national issues such as abortion, gun control and inflation hold sway in these races? In an unrelated case last year, Montano was charged on July 30 with a misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer for allegedly running from an officer who stopped a car he was in, according to court documents. iowa total care number chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement. We believe Ivan Bates is that person. In that primary race we endorsed Democrat Kim Foxx, who had spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court. (Yes, its legal.). An early voting location at the Loop Super Site on June 23, 2022. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Before the primaries, the Tribune Editorial Board posed a series of questions to the candidates to inform voters and make endorsements. Whenever an act of violence occurs in the neighborhood, he said, he tries to visit the location with churchgoers. Before Fardon, Patrick Fitzgerald, who also earned a reputation as a nonpartisan corruption fighter, served for nearly 12 years as U.S. attorney in Chicago under Democratic and Republican presidents. David Shestokas gets our endorsement for Illinois Attorney General. Retired from the US Department of Labor as Appellate Administrative Judge. Read part two of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois House here. Lauschs exit comes just days before the trial of the so-called ComEd Four gets underway at the Dirksen U.S. Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term 600175318 Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term Delegates also endorsed. Heres the full list of those answers. The board noted that Congressman Chuy Garcia's platform was too vague to issue an endorsement, while noting they were troubled by his associations with former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. During a debate at the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche address how the. The . White . Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. As the candidates for Cook County state's attorney debated the handling of the Laquan McDonald case before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Feb. 4, 2016, incumbent Anita Alvarez defended her investigation, saying, "I don't believe any mistakes were made." Also noteworthy is former State Representative John Cabello's . Of all the Republicans on the Illinois ballot in the 2022 election cycle, Kathy Salvi, an attorney from Mundelein, surely has the hardest job. On Thursday morning, about 100 people walked the two blocks from St. Gall Catholic Church in Gage Park, paying their respects at the block where Chicago police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was . In this month's Democratic primary, we endorse attorney Ivan Bates. In the months since the release of that breathtaking video of McDonald crumpling onto a street, many among us have come to better understand why so many law-abiding Chicagoans distrust the criminal justice system here. For years, we have argued candidates running for state attorney general should carve out a bigger role in tackling corruption in Illinois politics. 79th District - Lindsay Parkhurst (R) 81st District - David Olsen (R) 82nd District - Jim Durkin (R) 84th District - Stephanie Kifowit (D) 86th District - no endorsement. Mosser, who is a Democrat, will formally announce her candidacy during an. DeVore has chosen to not take part in the Tribunes endorsement process, but that doesnt really matter. The board added that Vallas will be expected to use experience gained as Mayor Richard M. Daley's budget director from 1990 to 1993 in tightening city finances. In the endorsement, the paper showed concern over Foxxs relationship with Preckwinkle, who has helped finance Foxxs campaign. Foxx, Alvarez and former state and federal prosecutor Donna More face off in the March 15 Democratic primary. Indictments stemming from the probe are expected soon, his office said. Lausch was sworn in as U.S. attorney on Nov. 22, 2017, two weeks after being confirmed by unanimous voice vote in the Senate. Yes, it's easy for her critics to pounce now, knowing the things we all know. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a campaign event on Aug. 25, 2022, at a Jackson County Democrats dinner in Murphysboro. She has the integrity and ability to serve the people of Cook County well as their states attorney.. We think Foxx, by contrast, in time would rebuild the public's trust. She spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court, and served as chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.. Foxx got where she is with strong help from Preckwinkle and the county Democratic organization. Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche give their closing statements to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Sept. 13, 2016. John Lausch has served the citizens with magnificent distinction, Pasqual said in the written release. Trying again on Tuesday, focused this time on crime, he was the top vote. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun). Today, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Governor Rauner, highlighting how critical this election is to the future of Illinois. Printable PDF guides available on the right side bar or see bottom of page on your phone. In this first slate of endorsements, most of the contested seats are longtime Democratic strongholds in Chicago, as gerrymandered to serve incumbents, and few are likely to be close races. The board said that progressive voters could find a formidable candidate in Ald. Courthouse in Chicago after verdicts were reached in the trial of singer R. Kelly . A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. I take the liberty of reproducing the Tribune's subcircuit endorsement editorial in full.The Tribune made endorsements Sunday in countywide races for the Cook County Circuit Court. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. During a debate at the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche address how the Laquan McDonald case degraded the integrity of theoffice. Former Secretary of State Jesse White, left, shakes hands with mayoral candidate Paul Vallas after announcing his endorsement for Vallas, March 2, 2023, in Chicago. It makes more sense for voters to try and figure out which candidate will best improve this most customer-service oriented of public offices. But the top job of state's attorney involves many other skills: judgment about law enforcement priorities and conduct; frank and comfortable communication with the public; administration of a big and vital office that, like all of county government, will have to get smaller as pension costs crush budgets. "This is a slate that represents the values . Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation's third-largest city.. Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, advanced . Former Illinois governor Pat Quinn also endorsedKim Foxx in the race for States Attorney on Sunday. Foxx talks eagerly and easily about police misconduct cases and whether too many people are in prison. Read the full editorial here. That means the top two vote-getters advance to an April 4 runoff. In Election, Support for Abortion Rights Was About Much More Support for abortion rights did drive women to the polls in Tuesday's elections. She spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court, and served as chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Foxx understands that disconnect; wanting to heal it is her most compelling rationale for seeking the office. Dig deeper into the stories and issues animating this year's election from the newsrooms at the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. That she could explain to them why cooperating with cops and prosecutors in finding and convicting the bad guys can curtail the bloodshed that takes so many of their children's lives.. The incumbents seeking reelection to the Stevenson High School District 125 board got the votes in the April 6 election. The loss of some experienced prosecutors from the office during her term is troubling, and so is the fact that she has not even acknowledged the strained relationship between her office and the police department, much less tried to mend it. Whether mayors, aldermen and other elected officials are doing all they can to ensure fairness in the system and to protect innocents from violent crime. But Lausch was allowed to stay on the job after an unusual push from Durbin and Duckworth, who extolled Lausch as a corruption buster who needed to see through investigations of some of the states most powerful politicians. That office is the General Assemblys watchdog, but lawmakers had weakened the IGs powers to a point where one-time Inspector General Carol Pope called her office a paper tiger.. The board added that incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot is their second choice and the candidate they feel should face Vallas in a potential runoff election. The mayor said Lausch assured her an influx of law enforcement would be working collaboratively with Chicago cops against violent crime. Browse this platform for a snapshot of each ward's candidates and demographics, and explainers for the key races including the U.S. Senate; Congressional districts 1 through 11, 14, and 16; Cook County Circuit Court Clerk; and Cook County State's Attorney. This contest comes at a time when citizens of metropolitan Chicago are re-examining, and demanding better of, the criminal justice system here: How prosecutors make charging decisions. And Orland Park constitutional attorney David Shestokas, a former congressional candidate, is back on the campaign trail after arguing alongside Rudy Giuliani in 2020 with false claims that votes in Pennsylvania and beyond were illegitimately counted to prevent former President Donald Trump from winning a second term. Mr. Bates has worked in Baltimore courtrooms for decades, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. Vasquez-Lasso, 32, lived in the Marquette Park neighborhood, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. She has been endorsed by her former boss, Preckwinkle, and the county Democratic organization, the endorsement reads. Read the full editorial here. It is tempting to view the race for Cook County state's attorney as a choice . (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). This primary election is critical for the direction of pro-family issues in Illinois, and the attorney general is a key office to protecting families' freedoms of choice in education, religion, and life. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune). WTTW's 2020 Voter Guide is your comprehensive library of resources for the General Election on November 3. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Today we endorse Kim Foxx for the same good reasons, and with the same two concerns, as we did before the primary. If nothing else, that list should serve as a sobering reminder that dismantling the culture of corruption staining Illinois politics must be a top priority for prosecutors at every echelon of government. Our concern was that (Boik) seemed committed to moving the process along, Raoul told us. It was my honor each and every day to help carry out the offices mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect our civil rights.. racketeering case against Chicago Ald. In a sit-down with reporters a few months into his tenure, Lausch was careful to steer clear of any political questions, saying he was not getting pressure from Washington to change any office policies but declining to comment specifically about Trumps tweets. Kim Foxx is challenging Anita Alvarez in the March primary race for Cook County state's attorney. These are Democratic primary elections, except for a Republican race in the 13th subcircuit. Matt Foley of St. Gall Catholic Church leads a procession back to their church after walking in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue in Chicago to sanctify the ground where Chicago police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was shot and killed. He knows how to operate in it, he said. That's the case Republican Christopher Pfannkuche (pronounced fon-COOK) makes for electing him chief prosecutor. According to a high-ranking Tribune executive . In 2008 and again in 2012, we endorsed Anita Alvarez for Cook County state's attorney. Mary Kay O'Brien EI's State Legislative and County-Level Endorsement Press Release Illinois Senate (District Number - Name) 1 - Javier Loera Cervantes 2 - Omar Aquino 4 - Kimberly Lightford 6 - Sara Feigenholtz 7 - Mike Simmons 8 - Ram Villivalam 9 - Laura Fine 10 - Robert Martwick 12 - Celina Villanueva 13 - Robert Peters 16 - Willie Preston Ms. Mosby came into office complaining her predecessor was too soft on crime, yet she hasnt proven herself any better at securing convictions. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. J.B. Pritzkers pandemic-related executive orders. In the endorsement, the Tribune board called Vallas "a smart, passionate and experienced candidate for mayor who long has specialized in doing precisely that.". Lausch, 52, who hails from Joliet and currently lives in Chicagos Beverly neighborhood, captained the 1987 state champion Joliet Catholic football team and was a linebacker and team captain at Harvard University. Courthouse in Chicago after verdicts were reached in the trial of singer R. Kelly. Alvarez should have been agitating to fix the things that we all now know desperately need fixing. (The Baltimore Sun video). Foxx suggested to us that she does understand the crime-fighting demands of the job, the endorsement reads. White's backing is a boost for Vallas, as White enjoyed immense popularity during his nearly 25 years in the statewide office and as Illinois' highest-ranking Black politician. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. A nominee of Republican President Donald Trump, Lausch was originally asked by the incoming Biden administration to step down from his post in 2021 along with other Trump holdovers. But not his teammates. Following the main prayer, a group of about 20 people formed a circle, grasped a long, bright blue streamer and held a light. Even among those who did not support him politically, he engendered trust during some of the darkest hours in the history of this great state. That she could explain to them why cooperating with cops and prosecutors in finding and convicting the bad guys can curtail the bloodshed that takes so many of their children's lives. The driver of the vehicle has been charged with felony counts of illegal gun possession, and the case is still pending., Vallas told reporters on Thursday that Foxxs office is not getting serious with the gun crimes.. While the board praised Lightfoot's leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic and work in initiatives to improve equity in struggling neighborhoods, she faced criticism for being reluctant to any changes in city leadership, most notably toward embattled CPD Superintendent David Brown. We must work together to find solutions that promote peace and safety for all.. In the Illinois Supreme Court's Third District, which picks up Will and Kankakee counties, Democrat Justice Thomas Kilbride is on the ballot for retention to a 10-year term. Those who view her actions then from the safe remove of three years and through the hindsight of the charges result are forgetting the real and justified fear that the city would erupt again into rioting if the foolish self-imposed deadline then-police commissioner Anthony Batts had set for completing the investigation into Grays death passed with no move toward accountability for the officers. But not his teammates. Oscar Cuellar, an elder at Hope Church Midway, was one of the speakers. Amid that turmoil, Lausch was also leading his office through the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, which virtually shut down the courthouse for a significant period, led to difficulties assembling grand juries to hear cases and has left a backlog of criminal defendants awaiting trial. Over the last two years, drivers heading north on Elston Avenue in Chicago, to cite one example, could see a snaking line of freezing Chicagoans, just trying to make it inside to get their plates renewed. He is well respected in the legal community, and we believe he would be able to recruit and retain skilled prosecutors while developing a relationship with the police that strikes the appropriate balance between partnership and accountability. CHICAGO Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation's third-largest city.. Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers . We endorse him. All three were taken into custody and officers recovered two guns in the vicinity, the report said. Amendment One We endorse a no vote. Read candidate questionnaires and see other endorsements atchicagotribune.com/candidates. And she had worked as chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, helping administer a $4 billion budget. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Meet the candidates for the 2022 Illinois General Election, which will be held on Nov. 8, 2022. TAKE THIS WITH YOU to the voting booth. Read the full editorial here. [Dont miss] Illinois primary 2022: What to know before Tuesdays Election Day, [Dont miss] See how all the candidates answered our questions plus who the Tribune Editorial Board endorsed. Here are the latest endorsements for each of the Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidates. Most recently, the leader of the West Sides notoriously violent Wicked Town gang faction was convicted along with an associate on racketeering charges involving a string of murders, shootings, robberies, beatings and other violence going back two decades. But not his teammates. That includes the office of Illinois attorney general. Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia now has the endorsements of both U.S. senators from Illinois. We trust that she could connect with people in those violence-ravaged communities. The reckoning the department is now going through as a result of its legacy of unconstitutional policing and the diminished trust city residents have for the force were born of policies and practices that long predated her. The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police threw its support Thursday behind Patrick O'Brien, the Republican candidate running to unseat embattled Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Thats when police began pursuing him, and shots were exchanged at close range between the suspect and Vasquez-Lasso, Brown said. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsementgetting married in tanzania. At this time in this county, Foxx is best suited to be that voice. Results are available at www.isba.org/YouBeTheJudge. He also repeated his campaign promises to use the bully pulpit of City Hall for directing Chicago police to press charges, which the department has the authority to do but is often thwarted when prosecutors drop those charges in bond court. Lawyer, admitted to the Maryland bar. Given that the county has more 800 governmental units, thats a crucial quality that voters must keep in mind. Brown told reporters Wednesday outside Mount Sinai Hospital that the officer was shot multiple times.. He faces bribery charges in connection with the states notorious red-light camera scandal, and has entered a not guilty plea. The victim and witnesses described the car used in the shooting and its license plate, which police learned was stolen a couple of days earlier, according to a police report included in the police case file. Now, however, he tells us he is working to expand the attorney generals jurisdiction over public corruption cases. The White House announced in February 2021 that Lausch could remain in office until a successor was nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, though no official search for a replacement ever materialized. Any incumbent's re-election ought never be an entitlement. She didn't whitewash this case; when her office learned details of McDonald's death, she recruited U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon to investigate. About | How rigorously oversight boards pursue accusations of officer misconduct. What we need is a prosecutor someone who will focus on building strong cases and securing convictions.