North Lawndale Pastors’ Alliance

Independent Black Media of Chicago

Candidates Forum

Featuring candidates for the offices of

Illinois State Representative, 9th Legislative District
Cook County Commissioner, 2nd District
January 27th 2010

Location:
North Lawndale College Preparatory Charter High School
1615 South Christiana
Chicago, IL 60623

Power Point presentation by

Valerie F. Leonard, Community Development Consultant
 Acknowledgments

REV. JOHN HARRELL, PASTOR

NEW EVERGREEN OUTREACH MINISTRIES

WANDA CARTER, PUBLISHER

THE CHICAGO COMMUNICATOR NEWSPAPER

ISAAC LEWIS, JR., EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,

NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

VALERIE F. LEONARD
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

MR. GARFIELD MAJORS

OWNER, A-1 GARFIELD EXTERMINATING
AND HOST OF THE GARFIELD MAJORS SHOW

NICOLE HOWARD, PRINCIPAL

NORTH LAWNDALE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

PRISCILLA JONES, OWNER, PRISCY’S PRODUCTIONS

SHARONE IVEY, PRISCY’S PRODUCTIONS
JEROME JONES, PRISY’S PRODUCTIONS
 Independent Black
Media of Chicago
Thomas Harris XNO
Nicholas Short North Lawndale Community News
Isaac Lewis North Lawndale Community News
J. Allen Johnson XNDI.com
Abu Baker Nurruddin North Lawndale Community News
Wanda Carter Chicago Communicator Newspaper
Jean E. Moore A New Beginning
Leon N. Loving CAN-TV/My Guest Ain’t Guessing
Cameron Laviticus Martin The Exodus Movement
Marcus Robinson
Robert Pairs McCoy Cyber Systems/I’ve Got Something to
Say (TV Show)
 Agenda
Welcome
Opening Remarks
9th Legislative District Panel
Journalists’ Questions and Answers
General Questions and Answers
2nd District Cook County Board Panel
Journalists’ Questions and Answers
General Questions and Answers
Closeout
Valerie F. Leonard, Consultant
Mistress of Ceremonies
Isaac Lewis, Editor and Publisher
North Lawndale Community News
Rev. John Harrell, Pastor
New Evergreen Outreach Ministries
Moderator: Mark S. Allen Founder,
Black Leadership Development Institute
Independent Black Media of Chicago
Audience
Moderator: Mark S. Allen
Independent Black Media of Chicago
Audience
9th Legislative District
 ROLL CALL
Candidates -9TH Legislative District
This candidates’ forum was pulled together within the span of about a week.
We did our best to reach out to every candidate who is on the ballot for the
upcoming Primary Election. We thank every candidate who was able to attend
on such short notice. The following candidates confirmed their participation
prior to the Candidates’ Forum:

•Bruce Jackson, Democrat

•Dorothy Walton, Democrat
•Keith Jackson, Democrat
•Jerry L. Patton, Democrat
 Illinois General Assembly

 The Illinois General Assembly is the legislative body

of the State of Illinois and comprises the Illinois
House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate.

 Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two

representatives and one senator from each
correspondent district.
 Qualifications

 In order to serve as a member in either chamber of

the General Assembly, a person must be
 a U.S. citizen,
 at least 21 years of age,
 and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a
resident of the district which they represent.
 Terms

 All members of the House of Representatives are

elected to a two-year term without term limits.

 Each member of the Senate serves a 4-year term.

The Senate's term cycle is staggered, with half of the
members being elected every 2 years.

 TERM BEGINS: Second Wednesday of January

(January 12, 2011) after their election.
[Illinois Constitution, Article IV, Section 5(a)]
 Officers

 Speaker of the House

 The House elects from its membership a Speaker and Speaker
pro tempore, typically drawn from the majority party in the
chamber.
 Senate President
 The members of the Senate elect a President from its own
membership
 Committees

Access to Federal Funding Elections & Campaign Reform

Adoption Reform Electric Generation & Commerce
Aging Electric Utility Oversight
Agriculture & Conservation Elementary & Secondary Education
Approp-Elementary & Secondary Educ - Charter Schools
- Approp. Elementary and Second Ed. - School Transportation
Appropriations-General Service Environment & Energy
Appropriations-Higher Education - Air Quality
Appropriations-Human Services - Solid Waste
Appropriations-Public Safety - Water
Bio-Technology Environmental Health
Business Occupational Licenses - O'Hare Airport Environmental Impact
- Business Regulation Executive
Cities & Villages Financial Institutions
Committee of the Whole Fire Protection
Computer Technology Health & Healthcare Disparities
Consumer Protection Health Care Availability Access
- Consumer Regulation Health Care Licenses
Counties & Townships - Affordable Alzheimer's Services
Disability Services Higher Education
 Committees

Homeland Security & Emergency Prepa Public Utilities

Human Services Railroad Industry
Infrastructure Renewable Energy
Insurance Revenue & Finance
International Trade & Commerce - Finance
Investigative Committee - Income Tax
Joint Comm. on Government Reform - Property Tax
Judiciary I - Civil Law - Sales and Other Taxes
Judiciary II - Criminal Law Rules *Reports
- Constitutionality and Redundancy State Government Administration
- Enhancement of Criminal Penalties - Minority Procurement
- Expansion of Sex Offenses and Sex Telecommunications Committee
Juvenile Justice Reform Tollway Oversight
Labor Tourism & Conventions
- Workers' Compensation Transportation & Motor Vehicles
Mass Transit Transportation, Regulation, Roads
Medicaid Reform, Family & Children - Trans. Regulation Accountability
Personnel & Pensions Vehicles & Safety
Prison Reform Veterans' Affairs
Public Policy & Accountability Youth and Family
 Veto Power

 The General Assembly power to override

gubernatorial vetoes through a three-fifths majority
vote in each chamber.
 Question 1

 The State Legislature has 61 standing committees. If

you had your choice, which 4 committees would you
join, and why?
 Question 2

 In 2008, only 2 of North Lawndale elementary schools

performed as well or better than City averages, with 53% of
its students meeting State Standards .The the average
Chicago Public School elementary school had 65% of its
students meeting or exceeding academic standards, as
compared to 79% for the State of Illinois. Illinois ranks 46
out of 50 states with respect to academic standards.
 If you were elected, what specific legislation would you
propose to improve the quality of education for the State,
and for underserved communities like North Lawndale?
 Question 3

 Illinois ranked 48th out of 50 states in job growth between 1997 and
2007, according to the 2009 Alec-Laffer State Economic
competitiveness Index.

 The State currently has an unemployment rate of 11%. North Lawndale

had an unemployment rate of 23% in 2005-- before the recession.

 How would you go about improving the economic climate for the State
as a whole, and encourage job growth in communities like North
Lawndale?
 Question 4

 The State has a budget of $29 billion, and currently

faces a cash shortfall of over $1.5 billion. Analysts
are projecting an overall deficit of over $12 billion,
unless drastic measures are taken, including raising
taxes and fees, laying off workers and cutting
services.
 What approach would you take to balancing the
budget? Be specific.
 Question 5

 The State Legislature passed the so-called "accelerated billing" law that
requires that the first installment of property taxes due March 2 be
computed based on 55 percent of the total taxes paid last year, instead
of the usual 50 percent. This law is only in effect in Cook County, and
could have a detrimental effect on communities like North Lawndale,
where the median family income is $24,000 and the majority of the
people pay more than 40% of their income for housing related
expenses.

 What strategies would you use to blunt the effects of this legislation?
Cook County Commssioner
2nd District
 ROLL CALL
Candidates -2nd District
This candidates’ forum was pulled together within the span of about a week.
We did our best to reach out to every candidate who is on the ballot for the
upcoming Primary Election. We thank every candidate who was able to attend
on such short notice. The following candidates confirmed their participation
prior to the Candidates’ Forum:

•Frank Bass, Democrat

•Desiree Grode, Democrat (regrets)
•Erold Elysee, Democrat
•Robert Steele, Democrat
 Cook County Board of Commissioners

 The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a

legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who
are elected by district for four year terms.

 Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is

the nation's second largest county with a population
of 5.2 million residents.

Sources: Wikipedia, Cook County website.

 Cook County Board of Commissioners

 The county board sets policy and laws for the county
regarding property, public health services, public
safety, and maintenance of county highways. It is
presided over by the County Board President

 The Cook County Board also has the authority to

 Approve certain county purchases
 Levy taxes
 Adopt the annual budget for the entire county government,
including the budgets of the other independently elected county
officials.

Sources: Wikipedia, Cook County website.

 Cook County Board of Commissioners

 For the unincorporated areas of the county the

County Board also passes and enforces all regulatory
ordinances on issues such as public health & safety
and building & zoning.

 The Board of Commissioners conducts its business at

regularly held bi-monthly Board meetings as well as
through its standing legislative committees and
subcommittee.
 Requirements

 In order to serve as a member of the Cook County

Board of Commissioners a person must be
 At least 18 years of age
 An elector (citizen with the right to vote) of the county and a
resident of the election district for at least 2 years before the
date of the election.
 In addition, the Commissioner shall hold no other lucrative
public office or public employment. (35 ILCS 200/5-5)
 Committees

 Audit  Law Enforcement

 Construction  Legislation,
 Contract Compliance Intergovernmental &
 Criminal Justice
Veterans Relations
 Roads & Bridges
 Environmental Control
Rules & Administration
 Finance
 Task Force on Hospital
 Health & Hospitals
Governance
 Human Relations Workforce, Job
 Information Technology & Development & Training
Automation Opportunities
 Zoning & Building
 Term

 TERM OF OFFICE: All districts 4- year terms.

 TERM BEGINS: First Monday in December

following his/her election. (December 6, 2010)
(35 ILCS 200/5-5)

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections Candidates’ Guide 2010

 Question 1

 The Cook County Board has 14 committees. If you

had your choice, what 3 committees would you join,
and why?
 Question 2

 The County Board recently voted to roll back half of

the 1 percentage point sales tax increase that took
effect in 2008. There is continuing pressure to roll
back the other half.

 Will you vote to roll back the other half? Why or why
not?
 Question 3

 Cook County government is complex, and has important

responsibilities and an annual budget of $3 billion. It is
responsible for operating our court system, jail,
maintaining 68,000 acres of forest preserves, and acting as
a healthcare safety net through the operation of four
hospitals and 30 clinics.
 Knowing that tough choices will need to be made regarding
the budget and essential services, prioritize the top 3
services, and rank the 3 services that you would cut or
eliminate.
 Question 4

 The Cook County Juvenile Detention Center has a

number of issues. Youth have complained of things
such as abuse from the guards, infestation of lice and
other bugs, lack of access to education, increased
violence, and even lack of access to clean underwear.
A significant number of the detainees are from North
Lawndale.
 What specific actions are you committed to take in
order to change these conditions?
 Question 5

 According to a Chicago Tribune article that ran last April,

there were 43,876 mortgage foreclosure cases pending in
the Cook County Chancery Division at the end of February.
At the time, it was estimated that there would be more than
53,000 mortgage foreclosure filings in the County at the
end of 2009. A significant number of the foreclosures are
from communities like North Lawndale.

 What specific policy and legislative actions would you take

to assist to address the foreclosure crisis?