Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (7/8)

Public Health

• Illinois Coronavirus Updates: 26 Counties Across The State Remain at ‘High’ Community Levels, NBC 5 reports 

Illinois

Judge Lisa Holder White becomes first Black female justice sworn in to Illinois Supreme Court 

Justice Lisa Holder White became the first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court after being sworn in at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield on Thursday morning, an event that drew a full theater and nearly 200 viewers online.

Holder White was appointed to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman, the state’s longest serving judge, who called it a “historic day for the Land of Lincoln.”

Justice Holder White received a B.A. in political science from Lewis University in 1990 and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1993. After working in private practice for several years, she was appointed to an associate judge position in Illinois’ 6th Judicial Circuit. Prior to her appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court, Holder White served as Fourth District Appellate Court Justice.

In her speech, Holder White thanked those who had supported her throughout her career and remarked on this historic achievement, saying “my heritage is a heritage that once involved minds and bodies that were shackled, and doors that were so long closed.”

Around the State

• Bailey calls for better enforcement of ‘red flag’ laws — but not more restrictive gun measures: “Bailey argues the state’s Firearms Restraining Order Act, sometimes referred to as its “red flag” law, would have stopped 21-year-old Bobby Crimo from unloading 80 rounds on parade-goers Monday if it was better enforced,” by The Daily Line.
• Bailey apologizes for comments after Highland Park parade shooting but struggles to move past controversy: “The Downstate Republican conflated state gun control laws, misidentified a neighborhood in Chicago where violence occurred over the weekend and even misquoted a Bible verse,” by the Chicago Tribune.
• Illinois AFL-CIO launches Workers Rights Amendment drive: “If approved, the measure would be one of four such guarantees enshrined in the 50 state constitutions. To win, it needs either 60% of the votes on the initiative itself, or an absolute majority–50% + 1–of all votes cast in the election.” From People’s World.

Chicago

Lightfoot ends second quarter with $2.5M in campaign fund after raising $1.25M

Mayor Lightfoot reported raising $1.25M and a total of $2.5M in cash on hand during the second quarter, putting her fundraising well ahead of most other declared candidates (except millionaire businessman Willie Wilson) but well below the $7.5M cash on hand that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel reported in the second quarter of 2019 before announcing he wouldn’t seek a third term. The mayor faces a challenging re-election campaign as she seeks to combat low approval ratings and a number of challenges facing Chicago. Top campaign issues will likely include addressing rising crime rates and police reform, Chicago’s economic future, and education.

Chicago’s mayoral election is slated for February 2023, and the race is expected to be fierce and costly. Mayor Lightfoot faces competition from a growing list of declared contenders, including former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, Ald. Ray Lopez, Ald. Roderick Sawyer, local businessman Willie Wilson, veteran cop Frederick Collins, and state Rep. Kam Buckner. Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and current Chicago Ald. Brian Hopkins are also reportedly polling for potential mayoral runs.

More From City Hall

• Chicago City Council Hall of Shame: Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson 37th council member convicted in less than half a century: “Thompson is the first since former Ald. Ricardo Muñoz pleaded guilty last September and the 37th since Fred Hubbard in 1973,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Cook County to launch $300M loan fund to ‘bridge’ revenue gaps from late property taxes: “‘one-time…short-term operational cash flow’ loans to taxing bodies most hurt by the late bills,” by the Daily Line.
• Lightfoot revs up speed camera talk ahead of next vote: “Lightfoot is revving up talking points in hopes aldermen will hit the brakes on rolling back $35 speed camera tickets for driving between 6 mph and 10 mph over the speed limit,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
• Union Station could receive $418 million facelift if federal grant approved, by the Chicago Sun-Times.
• City landmarks panel backs review of State Street buildings that feds say are security risk: “Potential showdown with the federal government over security concerns for the nearby Dirksen Federal Courthouse,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Federal

• Biden Delivers Remarks on Order Protecting Abortion Access: The White House said Biden will speak Friday morning “on protecting access to reproductive health care services.” The actions he was expected to outline are intended to try to mitigate some potential penalties women seeking abortion may face after the ruling but are limited in their ability to safeguard access to abortion nationwide.
• Trump White House Counsel Pat Cipollone Expected to Testify Before Jan. 6 Committee: Pat Cipollone, Trump’s former White House counsel, is expected to meet with the committee behind closed doors for a transcribed interview, according to NBC News and other media outlets. Cipollone was subpoenaed last week by the panel, which said it has obtained evidence that he “repeatedly raised legal and other concerns about President Trump’s activities on January 6th and in the days that preceded.”

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