He died while protecting Chicago and its people. Christopher Pfannkuche will run unopposed on the Republican ticket. We want a state's attorney who'll focus on police misconduct, fairness to defendants and incarceration rates of the guilty. 2 who could emphasize the hurt in poor neighborhoods. And if that piece of Duckworths remarkable biography was not daunting enough, she was the first woman with a disability to be elected to Congress, and then became the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office, following the birth of her second daughter, Maile, in 2018. 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. The paper also expounds on the need for the next states attorney to serve as a bridge between crime-riddled communities and law enforcement. 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." 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. 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. An early voting location at the Loop Super Site on June 23, 2022. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Foxx served as Preckwinkles chief-of-staff. Why Mr. Tong? Weve seen the gangs change and shift, Lausch told the Tribune in an interview in 2021. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Boardand onFacebook. Democratic Cook County state's attorney candidate Kim Foxxmeets with the Tribune Editorial Board on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. These are Democratic primary elections, except for a Republican race in the 13th subcircuit. Raouls goal isnt to usurp the work of federal prosecutors, who have ably gone after a vast array of public officials on corruption charges, most notably Michael Madigan. 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. 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. For this reason, its absurd to see the office of secretary of state through a partisan lens. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The clear and present dangers of intrusion from county pols run from patronage to policy to principle. 72. She isnt responsible for the corruption in the Gun Trace Task Force or the death of homicide Det. 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. That includes the office of Illinois attorney general. It's an endorsement to move forward and finally get the city and the state, most importantly, moving forward," he said. The Rev. Read part three of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois Senate here. (Chicago Tribune). Ms. Mosbys other opponent, Thiru Vignarajah, is also a strong candidate who has well-articulated plans for the office, but we believe Mr. Bates experience and focus give him the edge. 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. 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. 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. 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. [[Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? Amendment One We endorse a no vote. Kim Foxx, left, and Patrick O'Brien, right, are candidates for Cook county State's Attorney in the 2020 election. In the end, it was Pfannkuche who persuaded us to endorse Foxx. 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. She sounds to us as if, presented with the same facts, she might make the same judgments again. 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. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. About | 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. DeVore dropped the lawsuit in 2020. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Nevertheless, the Tribune claimed Foxx, given her resume, would be the right candidate to restore the publics trust in the office in the wake of the McDonald scandal. But not his teammates. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune). Nearly 70% of voters approved an additional .025% increase in property taxes, which would bring in $40 million dollars in new revenue annually to the preserves. Our second concern has been whether Foxx wants to be a crime-buster or public defender (actually an appointed post). Brandon Johnson was rejected an endorsement due to proposals to raise taxes that the board says would cause more people to leave Chicago. She didn't whitewash this case; when her office learned details of McDonald's death, she recruited U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon to investigate. (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). A similar move in Portland, Oregon, had led to widespread denouncement after unidentified federal agents wearing camouflage uniforms were recorded making arrests. Eight years ago we wrote that while the state's attorney's office had done a good job in many respects, it needed a fresh start. In 2008 and again in 2012, we endorsed Anita Alvarez for Cook County state's attorney. He said he came because he has quite a few police officer friends and wanted to share in their grief. 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. A rosary is among the items filling a memorial for slain Chicago police Officer Andrs Mauricio Vsquez Lasso along the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue, March 3, 2023. For now, reports Crain's Greg Hinz Endorsement: . 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. 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. 88th District . 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. Late Thursday, authorities charged Steven Montano, 18, of 2500 block of South Lawndale, with first-degree murder, weapons charges and interfering with a domestic violence report. 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. DeVore, who has the words freedom and liberty tattooed to his forearms, is best known for pursuing a series of challenges to Gov. He knows how to operate in it, he said. But, year after year, hundreds of young people are slaughtered in those communities by stone-cold killers who should be ostracized and punished. James A. Haynes. 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. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) 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. We agree that her announcement of charges against the six officers involved in Freddie Grays death staved off violence. 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. Whenever an act of violence occurs in the neighborhood, he said, he tries to visit the location with churchgoers. 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. 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. For years, we have argued candidates running for state attorney general should carve out a bigger role in tackling corruption in Illinois politics. Today, the Cook County Democratic Party presented its recommendations for statewide, countywide and judicial races in the 2022 primary. The State's Attorney Office works to uphold public safety through the fair and efficient administration of justice. 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. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. During the past three years, Baltimore has suffered its worst period of violence on record with more than 1,100 people killed. Lausch, however, took over in a hyperpartisan era and had to navigate a number of thorny issues, many of which arose from Trumps constant trolling of Chicago on Twitter over issues such as gun violence and immigration. 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. Ahead of her confirmation hearing scheduled Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by U.S. Sen. And it's fair for her to ride waves of public animus toward law enforcement in some communities. It is tempting to view the race for Cook County state's attorney as a choice . Later in the day, lawmakers in Springfield paused for a moment of silence. How rigorously oversight boards pursue accusations of officer misconduct. Alvarez should have been agitating to fix the things that we all now know desperately need fixing. But not his teammates. Vasquez-Lasso, 32, lived in the Marquette Park neighborhood, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. 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. 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. Today we acknowledge Alvarez's 29-year career in this office. COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT- CALLAHAN, JR. Mr. Bates has worked in Baltimore courtrooms for decades, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. To what extent will candidates stances on pivotal national issues such as abortion, gun control and inflation hold sway in these races? 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. 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. Foxx suggested to us that she does understand the crime-fighting demands of the job, the endorsement reads. "This is a slate that represents the values . Today, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Governor Rauner, highlighting how critical this election is to the future of Illinois. Publicado en junio 16, 2022 por junio 16, 2022 por In Election, Support for Abortion Rights Was About Much More Support for abortion rights did drive women to the polls in Tuesday's elections. 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. 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. 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. The candidates also discuss whether police misconductis systemic or the result of a few bad apples. 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. Read the full editorial here. Endorsements are made only in contested races. Any incumbent's re-election ought never be an entitlement. 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. Endorsements, In The News / October 5, 2018. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Montano, who was injured in an exchange of gunfire with Vasquez-Lasso, was expected to appear in bond court Friday, according to Chicago police. 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. Roderick Sawyer's positions are "reasoned and thoughtful," though he is not expected to gain much traction in the race. Judge O'Malley began her legal career as an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore County, spending a decade in the criminal courts, prosecuting cases involving drug conspiracy, murders,. Sept. 13, 2016. Her critics may try to blame her for that instability, but she didnt fire the police commissioners. Since Lausch took over, his office has charged more than 80 reputed gang members under the federal racketeering statute, which brings hefty mandatory minimum sentences and in some cases can carry the death penalty. 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? . "It's not a political endorsement. 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.. [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, A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. "Kim Foxx is a strong voice for reform and justice for all, Governor Quinn said in a statement provided by Foxx's campaign. 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. The McDonald case gave Alvarez an opportunity to display sound judgment. 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 . 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 . Foxx suggested to us that she does understand the crime-fighting demands of the job. 79th District - Lindsay Parkhurst (R) 81st District - David Olsen (R) 82nd District - Jim Durkin (R) 84th District - Stephanie Kifowit (D) 86th District - no endorsement. 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. Foxx, Alvarez and former state and federal prosecutor Donna More face off in the March 15 Democratic primary. Now, however, he tells us he is working to expand the attorney generals jurisdiction over public corruption cases. 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. The office also represents the County in civil proceedings. Shiva Mohsenzadeh was leading her opponent Jill Brickman by about 90 votes Friday morning. October 12, 2022. . Mosser, who is a Democrat, will formally announce her candidacy during an. iowa total care number chicago tribune state's attorney endorsement. Here are the Chicago Tribune endorsements in the Illinois primary Tuesday. 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. 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. A Foxx spokesperson released a statement that said Montano did not have a criminal record, nor did prosecutors have evidence to support a gun charge. Beyond a polite hello in the elevator, prosecutors should be fiercely independent of politicians, especially those who sign off on their budget. He knows the system. 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. U.S. Attorney John Lausch, center, prepares to speak to reporters on Sept. 14, 2022, at the Dirksen U.S. 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. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. In this month's Democratic primary, we endorse attorney Ivan Bates. Former Kane County prosecutor Jamie Mosser has decided to run for Kane County state's attorney in the 2020 election. Disclaimer | Pfannkuche would need a No. Read the full editorial here. He didnt. His depth of experience does qualify him to charge and prosecute outlaws, to put the guilty behind bars. 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. According to the board, Ald. We endorse him. He has our endorsement. Here are our choices for contested races in the court's 15 subcircuits. 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. Elections are opportunities to evaluate the needs of the times and of the citizens who write their public servants' paychecks, the editorial board wrote. Dig deeper into the stories and issues animating this year's election from the newsrooms at the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Rod Blagojevich was convicted by a jury 12 years ago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune), 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. 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. Its a tall mountain to climb. She didnt tell Darryl De Sousa not to file his taxes. Courthouse in Chicago after verdicts were reached in the trial of singer R. Kelly. Here are the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board 's 2022 endorsements for the Nov. 8 elections. So financial acumen is a must, and both candidates bring strong money oversight credentials to the race. And she had worked as chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, helping administer a $4 billion budget. 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. Elections are opportunities to evaluate the needs of the times and of the citizens who write their public servants' paychecks. But that doesn't mean Alvarez has handled her subsequent role in the case well. Brown told reporters Wednesday outside Mount Sinai Hospital that the officer was shot multiple times.. Thursdays statement from Foxxs office said prosecutors offered community service as an alternative to traditional prosecution due to the facts of the case. 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. Read the full editorial here. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. Officers were responding to a domestic-related call of a man with a gun in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. We think Foxx, by contrast, in time would rebuild the public's trust. We support the rights of unions to represent their members and to bargain collectively for the best deal they can secure. 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. We trust that she could connect with people in those violence-ravaged communities. Read part two of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois House here. 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. Sean Suiter. An active and mostly-GOP push is underway to unseat him by asking voters to say "No" to his retention.