Our endorsement goes to Gerard C. Moorer, who has built a credible record of public service as an aide for 15 years to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.
We also like that he’s nobody’s favored stepson.
Moorer says his priorities in this wildly gerrymandered district, which includes both affluent and impoverished areas on the West and Northwest sides, would be mental health awareness, early childhood education and crime prevention. Moorer says that this last priority — working to bring down crime rates — has been a passion for him since his father was murdered when he, Moorer, was 11.
As for Moorer’s biggest opponent, we’re reluctant to endorse a candidate who was appointed to this seat last May in the Chicago way by the powers that be. State Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, who was handed the seat when Melissa Conyears-Ervin resigned to become city treasurer, is the stepson of Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), whose ward overlaps part of the district.
Also running is Gina Zuccaro, an ally of Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), who is the husband of Conyears-Ervin. (We know. The family and organizational ties in this race are all over the place.) In the past, Zuccaro has worked elections for Conyears-Ervin and Ervin, filing petition challenges against their opponents. This time around, she’s operating a virtually invisible campaign.
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For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois primary voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
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