chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement

[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. (Chicago Tribune), A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Baltimores states attorney also must be held accountable, and we believe it is time for a change in that office. 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. Courthouse in Chicago after verdicts were reached in the trial of singer R. Kelly . When were looking at the drivers of violence, weve seen a lot of it relate to turf and social media and retaliation upon retaliation. -Duckworth has received endorsements from the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald. The editorial board makes these recommendations based on the evaluations of major bar associations, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers, interviews with judges and attorneys who know the work of the candidates, and information provided by the candidates to the board. Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune GOP Harris County judge candidate contesting her loss after Election Day problems at polling sites by Patrick Svitek and Pooja Salhotra Updated: Jan. 6, 2023. The incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, has made a strong defense of her record, and we believe that it has merit in some important. Of the Houses 118 seats, 78 feature contested races. 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. Here are our choices for contested races in the court's 15 subcircuits. But 2016 isn't a normal time here. But not his teammates. 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." She has been endorsed by her former boss, Preckwinkle, and the county Democratic organization, the endorsement reads. Beyond a polite hello in the elevator, prosecutors should be fiercely independent of politicians, especially those who sign off on their budget. 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. Ask anyone who's ever worked near the top of the state's attorney's office. 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. Endorsement: For state Senate, support incumbents Polsky and Berman. Read the full editorial here. (Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune). And it's fair for her to ride waves of public animus toward law enforcement in some communities. (The Baltimore Sun video). Job One for the state's attorney again, the people's attorney is to stand up for those dead victims, their devastated families, and the rule of criminal law in Cook County. We need to remember that. He also sued Pritzker after the governor, responding to a question at a news conference about DeVores legal challenges to his pandemic mandates, called DeVore a grifter. DeVore dropped the lawsuit in March, as he mounted his primary campaign for attorney general. The killing happened hours after Brown announced he was resigning from the department and one day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot failed to garner enough votes to make the runoff election for her job. DeVore has chosen to not take part in the Tribunes endorsement process, but that doesnt really matter. 79th District - Lindsay Parkhurst (R) 81st District - David Olsen (R) 82nd District - Jim Durkin (R) 84th District - Stephanie Kifowit (D) 86th District - no endorsement. 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. An early voting location at the Loop Super Site on June 23, 2022. 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. 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. The FOP announced the decision in a post on the . Also noteworthy is former State Representative John Cabello's . First, she has been endorsed by her former boss, Preckwinkle, and the county Democratic organization. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun). Mary Jane Theis Infonotes YES NO That means the top two vote-getters advance to an April 4 runoff. Should the amendment pass, we anticipate serious negative consequences for the taxpayers of Illinois. 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. Sept. 13, 2016. iowa total care number chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement. We must work together to find solutions that promote peace and safety for all.. 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. 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. 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. He knows the system. 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. Read the full editorial here. 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. One of Lisa Madigans biggest shortcomings when she served as Illinois attorney general from 2003 to 2019 was her unwillingness to pursue public corruption cases, principally because of the conflict posed by her father, Michael Madigan, who wielded enormous clout as House speaker and chief of the Illinois Democratic Party. Lausch was sworn in as U.S. attorney on Nov. 22, 2017, two weeks after being confirmed by unanimous voice vote in the Senate. In Election, Support for Abortion Rights Was About Much More Support for abortion rights did drive women to the polls in Tuesday's elections. Dig deeper into the stories and issues animating this year's election from the newsrooms at the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. 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. 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). Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Singling out Vallas' expertise in city financing, policing and education, the Tribune Board felt he was both the most experienced and best positioned to handle the task of leading Chicago. J.B. Pritzkers pandemic-related executive orders. Chicago Tribune; The Baltimore Sun; The Morning Call of Pa. Daily Press of Va. She was also endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood. 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. I want to thank John for his tremendous stewardship of the office, and I wish him well in his future endeavors., Joseph Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in Chicago, has previously said Lauschs exit had been in the works since last year, and that he will be taking some time off before considering career options.. When Democrat Kwame Raoul took over as state attorney general in January 2019, we hoped he would chart a different course and assume a larger role in going after corruption. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsementgetting married in tanzania. Kim, who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2010 and then as gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford's lieutenant governor running mate in their losing primary race in 2014 . All rights reserved, Indiana State Trooper Struck and Killed by Suspect During Police Chase, Chicago FOP Lodge Reelects John Catanzara as President, 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. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. 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 . 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. Foxx got where she is with strong help from Preckwinkle and the county Democratic organization. The incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, has made a strong defense of her record, and we believe that it has merit in some important respects. 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. We don't regret those endorsements. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In the Illinois Supreme Courts Third District, which picks up Will and Kankakee counties, Democrat Justice Thomas Kilbride is on the ballot for retention to a 10-year term. Another key task on the shoulders of the state attorney general involves ensuring the Chicago Police Departments compliance with the consent decree, the 2019 court order that lays out steps the city must take to reform the department in the wake of the 2014 murder of Black teenager Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer. 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. Read part two of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois House here. What else should Illinoisans know about DeVore? Brown was moving members of Boiks staff to patrol duty, and Boik told Brown the move would set back officer training mandated by the consent decree. Both incumbent judges, Aurelia Marie Pucinski and Mary Katherine Rochford, are recommended YES for retention. Any incumbent's re-election ought never be an entitlement. The November election comes four months after the June 28 primary the quickest turnaround since at least the Great Depression. 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. Chicago's mayoral candidates want to fix the unreliable, unsafe and downright filthy CTA. If we could choose one of the three candidates in this race to prosecute a murder case in a courtroom tomorrow, we'd choose Alvarez for her depth of experience there. And Foxx would need a deputy who has the gritty experience with criminal law that she lacks. 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. Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner, Paige Fry, Rosemary Sobol, Deanease Williams-Harris and Shanzeh Ahmad contributed. Willie Wilson was criticized by the board for some of his controversial statements on the campaign trail, though he was praised for his philanthropy and personal success. That will mean building connections and trust between people in law enforcement and the impoverished communities where criminals prey on innocents. An early voting location at the Loop Super Site on June 23, 2022. Durbin vs. Curran, Black, Malouf and Wilson: 10 questions for the candidates for U.S. Senate. When he was elected governor of Illinois in 2018, J.B. Pritzker was blissfully unaware of the COVID-19 crisis that would dominate his first term. Paul Vallas touted his first endorsement Thursday since winning the initial round of voting in the Chicago mayoral election: that of longtime former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia now has the endorsements of both U.S. senators from Illinois. 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. This case also should have taught her the peril of binding together the state and federal investigations. The need to bridge that disconnect between Chicago communities and their police officers is one of several reasons we're hoping for a fresh start at state's attorney. Officers including Vasquez-Lasso encountered someone who was chasing a woman down the street with a gun, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said late Wednesday. Thursday night, a few hundred people, mostly Chicago police officers, gathered at Hale Park on the Southwest Side during a vigil for the slain officer. She has experience in helping to administer a $4 billion government. 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. This is not an easy choice for Baltimore voters, but Mr. Bates gives Baltimore its best chance to break the cycle of violence. Today, the Cook County Democratic Party presented its recommendations for statewide, countywide and judicial races in the 2022 primary. Rod Blagojevich was convicted by a jury 12 years ago. [Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? Elections are opportunities to evaluate the needs of the times and of the citizens who write their public servants' paychecks. The task force is starting to yield results, including an investigation that led to the discovery of more than $1 million in stolen retail merchandise hidden in storage units, Raoul told us. 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. Pfannkuche would need a No. White . Organized theft is estimated to cost retailers across the country as much as $45 billion in annual sales, and entails both the smash-and-grab thefts seen at high-end stores along Michigan Avenue in recent years, as well as sophisticated operations that target merchandise in trucks and railroad cars. (Yes, its legal.). And those misgivings? Jun 16 2022. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement TAKE THIS WITH YOU to the voting booth. Read the full editorial here. During the past three years, Baltimore has suffered its worst period of violence on record with more than 1,100 people killed. 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. Alvarez, who has worked in the office for nearly three decades, was previously endorsed by the Tribune in 2008 and 2012. ], [[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]. Paul Vallas, 69, the former head of Chicago Public Schools, secured 34% of the vote, followed by Brandon Johnson, 46, who serves . (Chicago Tribune). In 2008 and again in 2012, we endorsed Anita Alvarez for Cook County state's attorney. The public has demanded urgency and new approaches from everyone involved in trying to stop the killings. 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. According to a high-ranking Tribune executive . In this month's Democratic primary, we endorse attorney Ivan Bates. 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. 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. 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 . Vasquez-Lassos widow was on hand and a few representatives from churches said prayers and spoke during the brief ceremony. "The state's attorney should be the voice of the community," he said in their debate. Chicago police officers were investigating after a man was shot in the leg on July 28, 2022, in the 2600 block of West 23rd Place in the Little Village neighborhood. We endorse a no vote. 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. That is our belief today. We trust that she could connect with people in those violence-ravaged communities. 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. Police eventually curbed the car, and the suspect and two others ran away, the report alleged. Retired from the US Department of Labor as Appellate Administrative Judge. Read candidate questionnaires and see other endorsements atchicagotribune.com/candidates. But not his teammates. Read the full editorial here. 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. 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. Preceding him are four former Senate Democratic colleagues, Thomas Cullerton, Terry Link, Annazette Collins and Martin Sandoval (who died in 2020); a former GOP state senator, Sam McCann; former House Speaker and Democratic kingmaker Michael Madigan; and onetime Democratic state Reps. Luis Arroyo and Eddie Acevedo. 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. 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. 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. 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. Paul Vallas, 69, the former head of Chicago Public Schools, secured 34% of the vote, followed by Brandon Johnson, 46, who serves . Since then, he has managed this office skillfully, making sound investments for the states portfolio that have earned taxpayers more than $1 billion. We like the commitment to consent decree implementation that Raouls office has shown. Kim Foxx is challenging Anita Alvarez in the March primary race for Cook County state's attorney. 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. He said he came because he has quite a few police officer friends and wanted to share in their grief. The board touched on a recent Harris poll that noted many Chicagoans are pessimistic about the state of the city following an election season, highlighting the fears many have regarding public safety, as homicides reached the highest level in decades in 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune). The clear and present dangers of intrusion from county pols run from patronage to policy to principle. Our second concern has been whether Foxx wants to be a crime-buster or public defender (actually an appointed post). In that primary race we endorsed Democrat Kim Foxx, who had spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Weve got to be more aggressive about working with the U.S. attorneys office to bypass the states attorneys office when the states attorney whoever the states attorney is is refusing to charge, Vallas said. The Tribune advocates for personal liberty, opportunity and enterprise, for free markets, free will and freedom of expression. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. June 30, 2022 . It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the U.S. attorneys office in Chicago, Lausch said in a written statement. "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 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. When Chicago police Superintendent David Brown fired Robert Boik, CPDs executive director of constitutional policing and reform, we told Chicagoans that Browns decision marked a big step backward. For now, reports Crain's Greg Hinz Endorsement: . Heres the full list of those answers. 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. Today we acknowledge Alvarez's 29-year career in this office. (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). She was elected twice to be the people's lawyer the prosecutor tasked to convict criminals and, when appropriate, put them away. Illinois is staring down many important issues, including the states support for abortion, the ongoing instability of state pensions, a looming recession, the lingering impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the perennial issue of violent crime, an especially potent concern in the larger cities but with statewide impact. Our editorials seek to help readers make sound decisions. Following Mass, the Rev. Vasquez-Lasso, 32, lived in the Marquette Park neighborhood, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The question he asks repeatedly do you feel safer than you did three years ago? It will take a change in state law to make that happen, but Raoul says his team has made recommendations to the General Assemblys Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to broaden the AGs authority over corruption cases, as well as to ramp up the powers of the Legislative Inspector Generals Office. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Find a downloadable, printable list of Chicago Tribune election endorsements and candidates responses to our questionnaires here. To our eyes . We endorse Foxx while admitting two concerns. He died while protecting Chicago and its people. CHICAGO Four years ago, Paul Vallas finished toward the bottom of the pack in a crowded race for Chicago mayor. The 2023 Chicago municipal elections will be held on Feb. 28. In the post, DeVore wrote, Lord help us with the window lickers, I mean special children. After the post was widely shared, DeVore filed a libel suit in 2017 against three people, alleging they had falsely accused him of ridiculing children with special needs. 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. In the interim, Lauschs deputy, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Morris Sonny Pasqual, will serve as acting U.S. attorney, believed to be the first Black person to ever have that role. Preceding him are four former Senate Democratic colleagues, Thomas Cullerton, Terry Link, Annazette Collins and Martin Sandoval (who died in 2020); a former GOP state senator, Sam McCann; former House Speaker and Democratic kingmaker Michael Madigan; and onetime Democratic state Reps. Luis Arroyo and Eddie Acevedo. Foxx talks eagerly and easily about police misconduct cases and whether too many people are in prison. 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. Republican. 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. "It's not a political endorsement. The Chicago Tribune endorsed former State Sen. Paul Schimpf in the race. Its a tall mountain to climb. 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.