AustinTalks - News and information covering Chicago's Austin neighborhood on the West Side
AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/2010/04/deadline-fast-approaching-to-represent-the-west-side-in-the-illinois-house/)
Time running out to represent the West Side in the Illinois House
By Hunter Clauss | April 9, 2010
If you're looking for a job, older than 21, love making frequent trips to Springfield, have lived in the state's 78th House District for at least two years and are willing to vote the way House Speaker Michael Madigan tells you to, then you might want to apply for Deborah Graham's old state rep seat.
Graham resigned from the position last month when Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed her as alderman of the 29th Ward.
Democratic Party committeemen have put out an open call for applications to find a replacement. Applicants have until 5 p.m. today to apply; applications can be found on the Oak Park Democratic Party's Web site.
According to state law, Democratic Party committeemen from various city wards and suburban townships will form a committee to determine Graham's replacement, and each committeeman receives a weighted vote based on Democratic voter turnout in the 2008 general election.
State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), who is the committeemen for Oak Park Township, is leading the committee responsible for appointing Graham's replacement. He says he based the selection process off of a similar one used by the state Democratic Central Committee when it searched for a new nominee for lieutenant governor after Scott Lee Cohen withdrew from the race.
"I think folks are just weary of politicians and of government," Harmon said. "That's horribly unfortunate. We're trying things we've done in Springfield to try and restore trust in government and trust in politics, and it's a long road."
In addition to the age and residency requirements, applicants must have cast a Democratic ballot in this year's primary election. Applicants also have to fill out a lengthy questionnaire that includes questions like:
1) What, if any, suggestions do you have to fill the $12 billion budget deficit?
2) Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor? Yes/No. If so, please explain.
3) Have you ever or do you currently have an abuse problem involving alcohol, prescription medications, illegal drugs, or inhalants? Yes/No If so, did you or have you sought treatment? Yes/No.
4) Have you ever voted in the primary election of any party other than the Democratic Party? Yes/No. If so, in which year or years? Why?
Harmon said the names of all the applicants will be posted on the Oak Park Democratic Party Web site on April 12. According to the application, public hearings for the candidates to make their pitches to committeemen will be held on April 17 and April 24.
But the application states, "Committee members reserve the right to determine which candidates will be asked to present their credentials in person at a public hearing. Applicants are encouraged to speak directly with all committee members before the scheduled hearings."
The other committeemen who will vote on Graham's replacement are former 36th Ward Ald. William J.P. Banks, Tom Cargie, 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts, 28th Ward Ald. Ed Smith, 7th District state Rep. Karen Yarbrough and Graham.
Rev. Marshall Hatch, pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, says he plans on submitting his application before the deadline. Hatch, who also applied to replace 29th Ward Ald. Ike Carothers, says he hopes open calls for application will become the norm.
"Progressive change is slowly coming into Illinois politics," he said. "People's expectations are requiring there be openness and transparency in theses situations. They don't come often."
austintalks.org@gmail.com
78th House District
Deborah Graham
Don Harmon
Michael Madigan
Rev. Marshall Hatch
Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterSubscribe via RSS
About AustinTalks
The Austin community, home to nearly 100,000 people, is rich in diversity, culture and life. AustinTalks seeks to reflect this richness and provide residents of Chicago's most-populated neighborhood with news and information not available anywhere. Help us make this a meeting place that showcases all Austin has to offer. Share your tips and questions; we'll share your stories.
"State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) issued this statement after Gov.-elect Rauner announced additional members of his transition team:…"
— AustinTalks on New governor off to wrong start
"Great piece!"
— Valerie Leonard on What's the real deal?
"The real sellouts and Uncle Tom's in the black community are those who work to make sure the "white" Democrats…"
— jkptak on Austin activist questions ministers' support of GOP candidates
"These are the kind of LIES that keep the black communities in Chicago enslaved by incompetent and corrupt Democrats...by blacks…"
"Great piece Malcolm. The problem, as you have always noted, is the fact that as a community we do not…"
— Dwayne Truss on What's in a name?
Browse Archives Select Month January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009
© Copyright 2023, AustinTalks