The primary election is just around the corner — on Tuesday, March 15 — and early voting is well under way. Regardless of the primary in which you choose to participate, and regardless of the candidates you plan to support, I urge you to exercise your right to vote.
If you are voting in the Democratic Party primary, I hope you will consider the candidates supported by the Democratic Party of Oak Park. A complete list of the candidates we have endorsed is available at www.dpop.org, but let me highlight a few exceptional candidates:
Kim Foxx for Cook County State’s Attorney. At a time when our county is desperately in need of healing, and when we need to restore trust in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Kim Foxx is the one candidate who can do it. She brings experience and judgment to the office. A former assistant state’s attorney, she understands the power of the office but also has the life experience to know intuitively how and when to best exert those powers. As a key aid to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, she knows how to aggressively pursue good public policy while managing an enormous government operation. We need Kim Foxx in the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Judge Marc Martin and Judge Bill Sullivan. Marc and Bill were both recently appointed to the bench and are running as a team for the two spots in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit, which includes all of Oak Park. Both have deep ties to Oak Park. Marc Martin grew up here, went to St. Giles and to Fenwick, and much of his family still lives in the village. He is an exceptional lawyer and is off to a great start as a judge. Bill Sullivan is a lifelong Oak Parker and a graduate of OPRF High School. His law office was in town, and he is deeply ingrained in the Oak Park Arts community, among other ventures. He also served masterfully and selflessly as the last president of the Cicero Township Trustees of Schools, as we fought to eliminate the office and cede control to our local school districts. Most importantly, Marc Martin and Bill Sullivan are the only candidates running who were found to be qualified by the Chicago Bar Association, and Marc is the only candidate to be found “Highly Qualified.”
Josina Morita for MWRD. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is one of the most important and least understood governments in the state. It is tasked with managing our storm water and keeping our drinking water safe. Josina Morita is an exceptional candidate, an urban planner with a wealth of technical and environmental expertise and a long track record of social justice activism. To boot, she is the only suburban candidate seeking the office, and she will be a great advocate for Oak Park.
No matter whom you choose to support, please come out and vote. If you’d like more information, please call us at 708-386-0090 or email dpop@donharmon.org.
Don Harmon is state senator from the 39th District.