* Politico…
ALD. WALTER BURNETT, who heads the 27th Ward Committee, is taking applications and preparing to interview candidates to replace state Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin. She’ll be sworn in May 20 as Chicago’s new city treasurer. Among those applying for her statehouse job: Burnett’s eldest son, Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, who has worked as a plumber for the city’s Water Department.
Another applicant: MAZE JACKSON, the lobbyist and WVON radio commentator who has consulted for former governors Bruce Rauner, Pat Quinn and Rod Blagojevich. “We’re getting a lot of applicants,” Burnett told Playbook.
Replacing Conyears-Ervin quickly is important to Democrats since so many big-ticket revenue bills will be up for consideration by May 31.
Burnett says he’s working to have a replacement named by May 18. On that day, the committee will have a so-called slate-making session “where we’ll allow folks to present their credentials.” During an executive session after that, committee members will decide on the new state representative.
* Daily Line…
Burnett said he will back his stepson Jawaharial “Omar” Williams to replace Conyears-Ervin over the more than a dozen other interested candidates.
Williams has been working precincts since he was a teenager alongside the alderman, who has been a member of Secretary of State Jesse White’s political organization for decades along with Ervin and Conyears-Ervin.
“I don’t know of any family business that don’t — I shouldn’t say family business — but if your kids work hard… that’s what I work for, to promote my kids, help my kids if they do well,” Burnett said. “If they’re not deserving of it, they’re not deserving of it. So we’ll see how all the other members look at it and we’ll take it from there. It’s no different than Jason pushing his wife for the state rep spot and pushing her for treasurer.” […]
WVON radio morning show host Maze Jackson told The Daily Line in an emailed statement he is also interested in replacing Conyears-Ervin and would strive “to bring economic resources back to the district, and to be an uncompromised vociferous advocate for self-interests of the Black community. I want to get an answer to ‘What’s in it for the Black People?’ in the state of Illinois.”
In addition to Williams and Jackson, Chavonne Carter, an assistant in White’s office; Dwight Lee, an executive in White’s office; Gerard Moorer in U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ office; and former state Rep. Eddie Winters are also interested in replacing Conyears-Ervin, Burnett said. […]
Conyears-Ervin replaced former state Rep. Pamela Reaves-Harris, who served one two-year term. Before her, former state Rep. Derrick Smith also served one term beginning in 2012. Smith was ousted by House colleagues after he was charged with accepting a bribe, and was convicted of bribery in June 2014.
Smith was replaced by Winters, a former Chicago Police officer.
* Let’s now move on to the replacement for former Rep. Jerry Costello…
Recently re-elected in the fall, the question locally now is how his replacement will be chosen. Randolph County Democratic Chair Kerry Johnson said with the likelihood of big votes coming this session, namely the governor’s tax plan and the legalizing recreational marijuana, he would like a replacement in before the session ends so the 116th has its say.
Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, pointed to state statute saying the county precinct committeemen have 30 days to name a successor.
“Each committeeperson of the appropriate legislative or representative committee shall be entitled to one vote for each vote that was received,” state statute says of the mechanism for replacing political appointees.
* BND…
Johnson said whoever is selected will need to be someone who could handle criticism, especially in today’s political environment.
“Today we need someone with a tough skin for sure,” Johnson said.
Johnson however would not comment on whether there would be an effort to find a replacement who would vote for the governor’s agenda.
“That would be up to the individual we select,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t tell someone how to vote.”
Johnson also said he hasn’t heard of any specific names of people who could fill the seat.
“I’m sure there will several people that will put their name in the hat,” Johnson said.
…Adding… Sun-Times…
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) will cast the third-highest weighted vote, at nearly 17.6 percent.
Waguespack said he has never met Williams, has no idea what qualifications he brings to the job and is troubled by the secretive nature of the process. […]
“The last time Walter [Burnett] chose somebody, we got Derrick Smith. That ended up pretty horribly,” Waguespack said.
Smith was expelled from the Illinois House after being indicted on bribery charges, but won re-election anyway. He was forced to step down from the Illinois House after his conviction.
Good point by Waguespack. Smith is a permanent stain on Ald. Burnett’s track record.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:50 am:
It would have been swell if the SI or BND could have provided a clue as to who the big hitters are in the weighted vote to name Costello’s replacement.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:52 am:
Appointing the Alderman’s relative will look REALLY BAD in that district and invites a primary challenge..
- A Jack - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:54 am:
Maze Jackson = Ken Dunkin part 2. There is too much to get done to put another Ken Dunkin in that position.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:54 am:
===Appointing the Alderman’s relative will look REALLY BAD in that district and invites a primary challenge..===
Meh.
No matter how it shakes out, there will be a primary challenge. Too many are going to want a chance.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:57 am:
–Johnson however would not comment on whether there would be an effort to find a replacement who would vote for the governor’s agenda….
Johnson also said he hasn’t heard of any specific names of people who could fill the seat.–
A rather incurious county party chairman. A show of hands of anyone who believes that nonsense?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:58 am:
===will look REALLY BAD in that district===
lol
Did you not see the history of that district?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:59 am:
All those surprised by Alderman Burnett please raise your hand high. Anyone? Anyone? Sorry, I forgot this is Chicago, what else matters when you’re in charge and you have a child. Pathetic but predictable.
- ILPundit - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:02 am:
Predicting Nick Reitz to replace Costello
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:07 am:
Do we really think that even Costello could have kept that seat in 2020? Get someone who will vote for the Governor’s agenda.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:13 am:
“I shouldn’t say family business”
Yet you did.
- illini - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Trust me when I say that a successor has already been decided upon. Let us not forget that this is still basically St. Clair County politics and they ( or the leaderships choices ) will prevail.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:30 am:
===Do we really think that even Costello could have kept that seat in 2020?===
Seems obvi that even he didn’t think that.
- lakeside - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:36 am:
Williams it is then, eh?
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:37 am:
Maze would be a refreshing and entertaining addition to the Dem caucus.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:39 am:
===Maze would be a refreshing and entertaining addition to the Dem caucus.===
Like “Ken Dunkin, but with… Panache“
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:43 am:
Any women in the running to replace M C-E?
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:50 am:
==Any women in the running to replace M C-E?==
I don’t believe the Alderman has any daughters.
- JP Altgeld - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:55 am:
MCE’s district is changing rapidly and could be one of the districts that changes the most in a remap. Walter will be putting his stepson in, that’s for sure.
Whether or not that’s enough for a primary… well, there have been essentially 2-3 primary ousters in Chicago GA seats in the last decade or so and one of those was a full-on assault to get Dunkin out and the other was Guzzardi needing (essentially) three chops at Berrios.
Successful GA primary challenges are almost never possible in Chicago.
- Anon Y - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 12:03 pm:
Please name your relative at least that way the public knows who to vote out. Just ask Mell, Gutierrez, etc..
- lakeside - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
==I don’t believe the Alderman has any daughters.==
+one million internet points for you, sir.
- Wondering Wendy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 12:25 pm:
Costello will be greatly missed. A decent man who actually represented his constituents…..not something we always see in southern Illinois. Thanks for a job well done Rep. Costello.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 12:41 pm:
Should Jawaharial Williams resolve his workers comp case with the City of Chicago before or after taking office? Does he want it resolved? Accident was reported three years ago.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/Documents/chgocall/jul-dec/maso0808.pdf
His name comes up repeatedly on Chicago’s Ethics Ordinance list as a “vendor” receiving payments from the city.
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/doit/general/contractor_reports/2019/03_March2019.pdf
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 12:46 pm:
ha, ha, just because some are generational feeders at the trough doesn’t mean we can’t question why women aren’t under consideration.
- Hamilton - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 1:08 pm:
Maze must answer for his relationship with Bruce Rauner and his role in selling out the caucus with Rep. Dunkin.
I can’t imagine a way to answer those questions that would be satisfactory.
You don’t get to be appointed to anything when you betray the party during a tough fight.
- {Sigh} - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
@ILPundit {Sigh} you might do better predicting an adjournment date. Are you sure Nick lives in the district? (🙄)
- Please - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
Lol, omg, please appoint Republican Maze Jackson. This would be so fun to watch.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:21 pm:
How come no one is mentioning that Maze Jackson is related to power?
His wife is Water Rec President Kari Steele.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:49 pm:
===Like “Ken Dunkin, but with… Panache“===
LOLOLOLOLOL
Oswego Willy wins.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:54 pm:
Thanks - Boone’s is Back -, and I’m sure in his own way Maze thanks you too.
:)
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:08 pm:
To be fair to Burnett, Jesse White was the committeeman when Smith was appointed. Smith had worked for him at the SOS office, and was part of his campaign operation. The deal then was between White and Ed Smith, who was Jason Ervin’s predecessor. White supported Smith’s choice of Rep. Annazette Collins to fill the Senate vacancy when Ricky Hendon resigned, and Smith agreed to support White’s person for the resulting Rep vacancy.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:08 pm:
Maze only thanks Maze.
- Shytown - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
Maze Jackson #forsale
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:15 pm:
@Fax Machine - and Kari Steele, in turn, is the daughter of former alderman and judge John Steele.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:17 pm:
===Maze only thanks Maze.===
LOL
I think you just topped me, bud.
- Someone you should know - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 7:09 pm:
Thanks Boone’s for the Mic Drop:)
- Just Me - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 7:33 pm:
===“I don’t know of any family business that don’t — I shouldn’t say family business — but if your kids work hard… that’s what I work for, to promote my kids, help my kids if they do well… It’s no different than Jason pushing his wife for the state rep spot and pushing her for treasurer.” ===
First, you’re not supposed to put your kids first. Second, there must be other people in the district that also “work hard.” Third, the other people mentioned in this quote were on the ballot; not appointed.
- KMA - Thursday, May 9, 19 @ 7:19 pm:
Richard J Daley definitely had ideas about helping his sons. Ig it was good enough for a Daley its good enough for Walter