Illinois Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) announced Thursday that she will run for the 2nd Congressional District seat recently vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr.
Hutchinson, who was appointed a state senator in 2009 after Debbie Halvorson was elected to Congress, was re-elected to the 40th district seat in November, winning over Tuck Marshall (R-Frankfort). The 40th district expanded this year to include the southern parts of New Lenox and Frankfort, and also represents Chicago Heights, Flossmoor and Homewood.
"Families in the South Suburbs and the southside deserve a representative who understands their concerns and who will work alongside President Obama to create new jobs, rebuild our roads and schools, and protect the gains we’ve made on equal pay, health care and civil rights," Hutchinson said in a blog post on Patch.
Hutchinson said in the blog post that she would "focus on creating jobs and long-term economic development, protecting Social Security and Medicare from Republican efforts to privatize them" if elected to Congress.
"That's why today I've decided to run for Congress," she said. "I'm going to work hard every day to help the people of the Southland and I'm looking forward to earning your support over the coming months."
Hutchinson’s south suburban Senate district covers the majority of the 2nd Congressional district. Prior to her state Senate appointment, she served two terms as village clerk for the Village of Olympia Fields, and was chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson.
According to CBS/Channel 2 in Chicago, former state representative Robin Kelly also plans to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat, as does former NFL running back Napolean Harris. CBS reports a number of other people considering a campaign.
Former congressman Mel Reynolds has also announced a run. He lost his seat in 1995, after he was convicted of criminal sexual assault and solicitation of child pornography and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state prison.
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Jobs - reduce regulations and taxes on business/industry. Government doesn't create jobs, companies do. Get rid of the minimum wage law (see below). Roads - begin to privatize them. See examples in CA and IN. Schools - engage parents in the funding process. Support a true market in education by providing more choice. Equal pay - let the market dictate what compensation is afforded someone. If you want to tackle a pay issue, get rid of the minimum wage law. See "Report on minimum wage study commission" or "The State Against Blacks". Now before all you party line followers start taking shots at these researched and proven ideas, ask yourself this question. Given the history of elected officials in D2, and the state of Illinois, do you think the status quo will produce different outcomes? If you say yes, you probably voted for MIA Jackson.
And drop the pro-life stance from a political perspective (your personal beliefs are your own).
yer Tparty examples like prvzg roads and gave two horrible ex Ind and Calif which any independent search would tell u are being neglected on a massive scale, equal pay and min wage sounds like a TWIT ROBME Red China warehouse, if companies created jobs why after 8 years of BUSHENOMICS did we fall into a depression! What is new choice in education mean besides no teachers union? shared personal responsibility and freedom and elimination of worthless do gooder govt policies and programs like enterprise zones and lower taxes for the job creators in RED CHINA has been a raging success get rid of them, u know what creates jobs cut the 6th-7th and ARABIAN SEA fleets, by cutting back on the EMPIRE fewer bases in ASIA and KUWAIT, Dubai and Central Africa will bring more companies back to the USA than all the tax cuts and deregulation's of guberment, why do u think TWIT wanted a 600 ship navy/ The only thing he told us was " he wanted 100,000 more cannon fodder" But did not say how he was going to pay for it except cut his taxes!! , WE HAVE MORE BASES OVERSEES NOW THAN WHEN OBAMA TOOK OFFICE ! Despite the fact he ended the combat role in IRAQ and sent half of them home in AFGHAN problem is they did not all come home they were sent to new bases to protect the job creators. Obama's doctrine of a new ASIAN presence to protect TWIT and the TPARTY'S interests in RED CHINA, keep drinking the KOOL AID!
The Tea Party doesn't interest me. Neither does any of your posts.
There will be no new movement here in D2 with the MIA Jackson special election. Racism and partly lines run too deep. But I have my plan. Continue to agitate while I'm around and then move out within 2 years. And I'll move to a place where personal freedom is honored and progressive thinking is the norm.
The gubernment that has his-her panties in a twirl can be smart assed if u have never ventured beyond the KANKAKEE RIVER! It is what the DUBYA the former POTUS would use when addressing the MURKAN TPARTY faithful, the PRIVATIZATION concept is from the GOP manual which Conan the GOV of CALIF and new pres of Purdue U FORMER DUYA official and Gov Indiana did to their states and screwed up.the TOLL and Highways. GOP slave wage in the era of protests against WAL MART and McDonald. These hamburger flipper jobs where exec make 25,000 a hr began with Reagan's tax cuts, the workers get about the same pay then and now, what this clown calls forward thinking ideas began 32 years ago under a guy with ALZHEIMERS. What is INCOMPREHENSIBLE for me to understand is how a modern researcher who never heard of the FORMOSA straights or ARABIAN SEA FLEET evolves forward while the COMMITMENT to the TRANS PACIFIC Asian PARTNERSHIP is about to change all current law on copyrights and downloading on the Webb etc I it must be another false flag of some Rovian misinfo ! It is our duty to comment on anything that resembles drinking the KOOL AID aka GOP POST, with due respect broaden yer horizons beyond NEWSMAX the TRIB and the BAIN clear channel FOX and friends.
( Mankind is confined by his words, to that "I" can truly attest, so is what "I" say here what you hear there, or, can "I" only do your best?) by James Taylor Sr. 1972
I like what you are writing James but for the pro-life stuff. There is no place in politics for that and until the republicans realize they can not control a woman's choice they will not get the female vote. It is not the bible thumping south here. Just look at the recent election results. I do have to face the facts though. Whoever gets the nod from the Berrios gang will be the one in jjj's seat. Not enough thinking voters in these parts to change that. Sad.....
FYI ~ I too, just an ordinary citizen elected to two positions in which I serve in the Village of East Hazel Crest, IL also announced my interest to represent the 2nd Congressional District. My interest is for the People! But, it seems it's becoming a Circus! People are interested in the "Position and Title" and not serving the "People"! I have NO Money! I'm Not For Sale! Just an ordinary citizen with an interest for the People and District. Not a Perfect Servant, But a Public Servant! Stay Tuned...I'm pretty sure you will hear more about and from Maureen Forte'
And I believe change is not imminent in D2 for all the reasons I've posted before plus this observation. 100,000 D2 voters (think on this number carefully) can be bought by a face, a speech, or a name. Shameful. And until they wake-up, embrace the truth about government and it's leaders, we will experience the same outcomes.
The 9th ward clown who is running because he brought a WAL MART to his ward should get the Walton family vote which is the same kind of vision Dinkum what his -her name is which comes out of the ALEC and REAGAN SUPPLY SIDE economics play book, the enterprise zone of bare min wages. Debbie is the logical choice a former member of congress who was redistricted out and has no scandal or dirt baggage who if she is elected will not require a special election AGAIN! I voted and supporter HARRIS for Il Senate not for Congress are we going to have special elections every month to satisfy these ego's in the meantime we have been screwed for 17 years and now we will have another vacancy with a HARRIS or Hutchinson victory for that matter,obviously DEBBIE is QUALIFIED AND HAS BEEN HEAVILY ENDORSED except by the TRIB who has a habit of tilting right on their endorsements the other candidate MEL if he told the truth which he has shown no ability of doing when he was held the OFFICE could turn the whole circus upside down.but do not expect it to happen he wants to collect his old age pension or SSA if he still has one.
I will support a candidate that is Honest with Integrity and Truth for ALL!! Moving Me Forward! Maureen "Moe" Forte'
In my town at this time we are also fortunate to have elected and appointed officials that are in it for the good of the commons so far-(knock) Another sleaze bag just bit the dust the former cop-alderman and CC Rep Big Bill Beavers joined the illustrious gang of robbers and wannabe looters of the citizens of Illinois facing jail for illegal use of campaign funds these guys all think citizens united are paying their bills as if they are TPARTY guys! Why are we closing all these prisons we should have one for local officials-alderman, a second for county officials another for fed elected officials they should all would be full and when we have weeded them all out consolidate them and close them when Illinois corruption is eliminated ha! That will be our POWER BALL!
If Debbie was such a tireless worker and cared about our district why hasn't she spoken out on any of the issues affecting us from the time she lost the seat? This goes for the rest of the contenders. I support Anthony W. Williams who does work tirelessly unlike those currently in office, the newly elected and others running. When have they personally advocated for us on any issue? Did they advocate for Rocky when his school insurance capped and the state was about to yank benefits from him: the state stealing from retirees' pensions, closing mental health clinics, hospitals? Yet silence among those who say they will see that we receive justice. I guess not one issue was important enough to anyone except Anthony W. Williams resulting in Clark keeping insurance status, 40k coming forward and retirees receiving refunds. Williams was blocking projects in Englewood, etc. before Gardner. Think how much more he would do once elected! Don't vote for people just because "they have been there, they are there or they say what they will do when they get there. Go by what they have and are doing. Give votes to those who have EARNED them.