Since then, he has managed this office skillfully, making sound investments for the states portfolio that have earned taxpayers more than $1 billion. We don't regret those endorsements. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. ], [[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]. 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. We believe Ivan Bates is that person. But if Foxx is elected, her chief challenge will be persuading crime-ravaged communities to cooperate with law enforcement and curtail the slaughter of so many youths. Note: This list is. 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. We agree that her announcement of charges against the six officers involved in Freddie Grays death staved off violence. The Chicago Tribune editorial board made their long-awaited endorsement in the upcoming mayoral election on Friday, backing former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas for the city's top job. Edward Burke, the bribery probe involving Commonwealth Edison, and the bombshell charges levied against ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan last March. In the highly-contested race for Cook County State's Attorney, the Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed candidate Kim Foxx Friday. Later in the day, lawmakers in Springfield paused for a moment of silence. He died while protecting Chicago and its people. June 30, 2022 . Durbin vs. Curran, Black, Malouf and Wilson: 10 questions for the candidates for U.S. Senate. Illinois Supreme Court. But not his teammates. In Election, Support for Abortion Rights Was About Much More Support for abortion rights did drive women to the polls in Tuesday's elections. 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. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It's an endorsement to move forward and finally get the city and the state, most importantly, moving forward," he said. Read the full editorial here. Republican. And Foxx would need a deputy who has the gritty experience with criminal law that she lacks. Read the full editorial here. WTTW's 2020 Voter Guide is your comprehensive library of resources for the General Election on November 3. 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. Yet we endorse one of her challengers, Kim Foxx, in the Democratic primary for state's attorney.. CHICAGO A Cook County prosecutor was reportedly placed on leave for the misleading description he gave in court about the fatal shooting of Adam Toledo before the video release. That long tradition of. In that primary race we endorsed Democrat Kim Foxx, who had spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Why Mr. Tong? We'll again note that while taking criminals off the streets and standing up for crime victims aren't the entirety of this job, those are the reasons this job exists. 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 . Second, in that session with our editorial board, we tried to make sure Foxx is running for chief prosecutor, not for public defender (actually an appointed post). This case also should have taught her the peril of binding together the state and federal investigations. But that doesn't mean Alvarez has handled her subsequent role in the case well. 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. Alvarez came under fire amid the Laquan McDonald scandal. 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. We find him unqualified for the job. Courthouse in Chicago after verdicts were reached in the trial of singer R. Kelly. Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner, Paige Fry, Rosemary Sobol, Deanease Williams-Harris and Shanzeh Ahmad contributed. [Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? Beyond a polite hello in the elevator, prosecutors should be fiercely independent of politicians, especially those who sign off on their budget. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. (Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune). The State's Attorney Office works to uphold public safety through the fair and efficient administration of justice. Find a downloadable, printable list of Chicago Tribune election endorsements and candidates responses to our questionnaires here. We think Foxx, by contrast, in time would rebuild the public's trust, the editorial board wrote. Our editorials seek to help readers make sound decisions. We as a city have replaced the mayor and police commissioner (several times), and we have placed judges, the governor, parole and probation and juvenile services officials, the police union, legislators and others under intense scrutiny over their roles in stopping the bloodshed. A similar move in Portland, Oregon, had led to widespread denouncement after unidentified federal agents wearing camouflage uniforms were recorded making arrests. Also noteworthy is former State Representative John Cabello's . Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that owns the Tribune, announced that its nearly 200 papers will no longer endorse major political candidates. Retired from the US Department of Labor as Appellate Administrative Judge. (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). 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 point is to augment, collaborate where needed, and more aggressively work to ensure that corruption no longer persists as a defining characteristic of Illinois politics. We endorse a no vote. Too often his response to critics is to simply sue them. For years, we have argued candidates running for state attorney general should carve out a bigger role in tackling corruption in Illinois politics. He faces bribery charges in connection with the states notorious red-light camera scandal, and has entered a not guilty plea. Today we acknowledge Alvarez's 29-year career in this office. Mr. Tong's experience as an attorney and state legislator and chairman of the state House Judiciary Committee clearly. 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. Coziness invites intrusion from above in matters of patronage, policy and principle. John Lausch has served the citizens with magnificent distinction, Pasqual said in the written release. According to a high-ranking Tribune executive . 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. CHICAGO Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx issued a statement Thursday addressing the criminal history of the 18-year-old suspected of killing Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso on Wednesday as . 2022. v. t. e. The 2020 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives . Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. U.S. Attorney John Lausch submitted his formal resignation Wednesday stating hell be leaving his high-profile post as Chicagos top federal prosecutor later this month. It's a tall mountain to climb. 9th District: Matt Podgorski 15th District: No endorsement 17th District: Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman Find a downloadable, printable list of Chicago Tribune election endorsements and. With respect for Alvarez's long service and also for the third candidate in the race, Donna More, the Tribune gives Kim Foxx its endorsement. For now, reports Crain's Greg Hinz Endorsement: . 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. In the large field of eight Democratic candidates running for Illinois attorney general, Sharon Fairley has now received the endorsement of both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. He also faced criticism over not acknowledging the effects of prolonged school closures, which the board said is likely tied to the support he receives from the Chicago Teachers Union. She sounds to us as if, presented with the same facts, she might make the same judgments again. But not his teammates. Raoul pledges to expand the attorney generals jurisdiction over corruption cases, and Illinoisans should hold him to that pledge. 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. ]. In 2008 and again in 2012, we endorsed Anita Alvarez for Cook County state's attorney. The McDonald case gave Alvarez an opportunity to display sound judgment. 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.. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Alvarez should have been agitating to fix the things that we all now know desperately need fixing. The office also represents the County in civil proceedings. 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. But not his teammates. To our eyes . 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. 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. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Foxx suggested to us that she does understand the crime-fighting demands of the job, the endorsement reads. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a campaign event on Aug. 25, 2022, at a Jackson County Democrats dinner in Murphysboro. Alvarez's wordy non-answers to that question did nothing to quash the impression that she slow-walked this case, hoping for a joint news conference with the U.S. attorney when he finished his (still-unfinished) probe. I know the commander there, and I know some of the officers, so I went over and offered my services and paid (my) respects.. Lightfoot changed her tone after speaking with Lausch, her former colleague at the U.S. attorneys office, whom she said she admired and trusted. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Rev. When she debated Pfannkuche before the Tribune Editorial Board, Foxx appeared more focused than she was in her primary campaign on the horrific killings by the hundreds in poor Chicago neighborhoods each year. Weve seen the gangs change and shift, Lausch told the Tribune in an interview in 2021. Brandon Johnson, Vallas opponent in the April runoff, said the officers death was a painful reminder of how much work we have to do in the city of Chicago to end violence., My prayers and my thoughts are with the family and all families involved, Johnson said. is the right one, indeed the only one, in this election. But it is why this job exists. 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.. Elections are opportunities to evaluate the needs of the times and of the citizens who write their public servants' paychecks. This is not an easy choice for Baltimore voters, but Mr. Bates gives Baltimore its best chance to break the cycle of violence. Van Dyke was not charged with McDonalds murder until November of 2015 when dash-cam footage of the incident was being made public as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request. Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia now has the endorsements of both U.S. senators from Illinois. Someone who knows the intricacies of felony statutes, what the precise burdens of proof will be, which arguments a jury is likely to embrace or discard. Incumbent Democrat Michael Frerichs has had this job since 2015. Alvarez has missed chances to assure voters that she's learned something from this debacle. On Nov. 8, Illinois voters will elect their governor, junior U.S. senator, two Illinois Supreme Court justices, all 17 of Illinois representatives in the U.S. Congress, every state senator and state representative in the General Assembly, and county and judicial offices throughout the state. DeVore has chosen to not take part in the Tribunes endorsement process, but that doesnt really matter. Foxx, a Chicago native, served as an assistant. Chicago Tribune; The Baltimore Sun; The Morning Call of Pa. Daily Press of Va. -Salvi has received endorsements from. White . 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 police officers place blue ribbons on trees outside District 8 Chicago Lawn Police Station on March 2, 2023, in honor of police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso who was fatally shot the night before. Under Frerichs, Bright Start has gone from one of the nations worst-rated college savings programs to one of the best it has gotten a Gold rating from independent investment analysis firm Morningstar for five successive years. (Chicago Tribune), A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. In 2018, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions tapped Lausch to oversee the process of sorting through roughly 880,000 records in part of the House probe into former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons use of a private email server. She also has the pulse of this moment in Chicago: She essentially shares our view that cases in which police use deadly force should automatically be assigned to an office that doesn't work intimately with that police department perhaps to a prosecutor from a different jurisdiction, or the state attorney general's office, or some other body empowered to weigh the filing of criminal charges. Foxx has strong communications skills. Today, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Governor Rauner, highlighting how critical this election is to the future of Illinois. 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. But not his teammates. Our concern was that (Boik) seemed committed to moving the process along, Raoul told us. What standards police officials require of their departments. The former Cook County assistant state's attorney, Navy veteran and son of the billionaire co-founder of The Carlyle Group private . She worked well with a politically diverse County Board, and we think she can be a bridge to the bloodied communities that are most alienated from the criminal justice system. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Brandon Johnson was rejected an endorsement due to proposals to raise taxes that the board says would cause more people to leave Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune). TAKE THIS WITH YOU to the voting booth. 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. Read part two of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois House here. But we do not see an Illinois threat to those rights and we see this endorsement as an opening to skew the balance of power in the public sector to an unacceptable degree. If the treasurer is Illinois primary investment manager, the comptroller is the states main bill payer, with control over Springfields checking account. U.S. Attorney John Lausch, center, prepares to speak to reporters on Sept. 14, 2022, at the Dirksen U.S. Roderick Sawyer's positions are "reasoned and thoughtful," though he is not expected to gain much traction in the race. In the highly-contested race for Cook County States Attorney, the Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed candidate Kim Foxx Friday. Heres the first installment of the Tribune Editorial Boards endorsements for Illinois House contests. [Dont miss] Whats an endorsement, and why does the Tribune Editorial Board do them? 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. Yet we endorse one of her challengers, Kim Foxx, in the Democratic primary for state's attorney. In Springfields post-Michael Madigan era, how much of a dent can Republicans make into the viselike grip that Democrats have on the Illinois House of Representatives? But not his teammates. The mayor said Lausch assured her an influx of law enforcement would be working collaboratively with Chicago cops against violent crime. The fact that Boiks defense of officer training factored into his termination was also something we had concern about. The Chicago Police Department has repeatedly shown that it needs external oversight to ensure it complies with the consent decree, and were heartened to see Raoul embrace that role. 79th District - Lindsay Parkhurst (R) 81st District - David Olsen (R) 82nd District - Jim Durkin (R) 84th District - Stephanie Kifowit (D) 86th District - no endorsement. Despite very public calls to oust school board members and reject candidates who opposed fully reopening schools until April, Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 incumbents appear to have cruised to reelection by hefty margins. Foxx is a strong communicator. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. DeVore dropped the lawsuit in 2020. 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. They remark on Pritzker's inability to stand up to Democrats, particularly their tax-and-spend mentality contributing to the exodus of families leaving the state. COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY DEMOCRAT FOXX, KIM (I) REPUBLICANS O'BRIEN, PATRICK 'PAT' LIBERTARIAN DENNEHY, BRIAN DUPAGE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY REPUBLICAN BERLIN, ROBERT "BOB" (I) KANE. He knows Baltimore judges and juries. Read the full editorial here. Vasquez-Lasso was in one of two pairs of responding officers who engaged with Montano, who allegedly ran away from the officers. She has the integrity and ability to serve the people of Cook County well as their states attorney.. James A. Haynes. What we need is a prosecutor someone who will focus on building strong cases and securing convictions. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsementgetting married in tanzania. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 72. Read part three of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois Senate here. Yet she hasn't adequately explained why she didn't charge the officer who shot McDonald until 13 months after the killing even though she says she had decided some time earlier to accuse him of first-degree murder. Read the full editorial here. 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. She has to try to unseat Tammy Duckworth, a heroic American who was awarded the Purple Heart after she lost her right leg and much of her left leg during her military service in Iraq in 2004, when the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a grenade. 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. "We are proud to present this diverse, accomplished slate of candidates as we ramp up for campaign season as a strong, united party organization," said Cook County Democratic Party Chairwoman Toni Preckwinkle. The CBA Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) invites you to view its evaluations of candidates running to fill vacancies on the Appellate and Circuit Courts in the upcoming general election to be held on November 8, 2022. Read the full editorial here. In the end, it was Pfannkuche who persuaded us to endorse Foxx. She should have pledged that next time, she'd wrap up the state investigation as fast as possible and, if appropriate, promptly file charges. Of all the Republicans on the Illinois ballot in the 2022 election cycle, Kathy Salvi, an attorney from Mundelein, surely has the hardest job. I personally went over last night to the 8th District, he told the Tribune. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Here are the Chicago Tribune endorsements in the Illinois primary Tuesday. Sources told . He didnt. Assistant State's Attorneys and support staff vigorously prosecute crimes committed in the County and provide extensive services to victims and witnesses. 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 shot and killed Wednesday. "The state's attorney should be the voice of the community," he said in their debate. We must work together to find solutions that promote peace and safety for all.. The candidates also discuss whether police misconductis systemic or the result of a few bad apples. 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." 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. Sophia King's whose constituency consists of both portions of downtown and struggling neighborhoods, "giving her experience on both sides of one of Chicagos most vexing and self-defeating battlefronts.". COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT- CALLAHAN, JR. Unlike Mayor Rahm Emanuel, she hasn't come to understand that it's not in the public interest to endlessly withhold information about deadly force incidents. The question he asks repeatedly do you feel safer than you did three years ago? At this time in this county, Foxx is best suited to be that voice. But not his teammates. 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. Both final mayoral candidates touched on the death of Vasquez-Lasso on the first full day of campaigning ahead of the April 4 matchup, with Paul Vallas, who ran on a tough-on-crime platform, criticizing Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx for dismissing misdemeanor charges against the suspect, Montano, in November. [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. It is tempting to view the race for Cook County state's attorney as a choice . 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. Read candidate questionnaires and see other endorsements atchicagotribune.com/candidates. That is not the entirety of this job. A slate of incumbents will retain their seats on the Township High School District 214 board following the April 6 election. Mosser, who is a Democrat, will formally announce her candidacy during an. And more. But 2016 isn't a normal time here. Foxx, a Chicago native, served as an assistant Cook County states attorney for 12 years and has emerged as a viable replacement for embattled incumbent Anita Alvarez. That will mean building connections and trust between people in law enforcement and the impoverished communities where criminals prey on innocents. His departure, which was first revealed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland during an unrelated news conference in Washington in January, will officially kick off a search for a replacement that will be led by Illinois two Democratic senators, Dick Dubin and Tammy Duckworth. We support the rights of unions to represent their members and to bargain collectively for the best deal they can secure. Baltimores states attorney also must be held accountable, and we believe it is time for a change in that office. An active and mostly-GOP push is underway to unseat him by asking voters to say "No" to his retention. This is yet another example of why we need to make sure that we are dealing with the immediate challenge of violence in the city of Chicago, which my plan speaks to that, while also getting at the root causes. Mary Jane Theis Infonotes YES NO 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. In 2021, Raoul responded to the rise in organized retail crime by creating a statewide task force that improved dialogue among law enforcement, retailers, online marketplaces and states attorneys to help crack down on organized retail theft rings. Lauschs five-plus years on the high-octane job exceeds the terms of many of his predecessors, including Fardon, who served as U.S. attorney for about 3 years beginning in 2013 before leaving for a private Chicago law firm. Read the full editorial here. 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. It is crucial to Pritzkers case for a second term. Vasquez-Lasso, 32, lived in the Marquette Park neighborhood, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Running against Raoul are Schaumburg lawyer Daniel Robin, a Libertarian, and downstate lawyer Thomas DeVore, who defeated Deerfield attorney Steve Kim and former Cook County prosecutor David Shestokas in the Republican primary in June. In this important race, he is clearly the best qualified candidate. 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. Thursdays statement from Foxxs office said prosecutors offered community service as an alternative to traditional prosecution due to the facts of the case. Shiva Mohsenzadeh was leading her opponent Jill Brickman by about 90 votes Friday morning. The clear and present dangers of intrusion from county pols run from patronage to policy to principle. When we wrote about this case before the March primary, we said that if we could choose one of the three Democrats in that race to prosecute a murder case, we'd choose Alvarez for her courtroom experience. annabel henley don henley's daughter, scott william winters,