* Northwest Indiana Times…

[A Calumet City] alderman has asked the Illinois attorney general and Cook County state’s attorney to remove recently installed mayor Thaddeus Jones, citing a city ordinance prohibiting city elected officials from holding another elected office. […]

They cite a municipal referendum passed on Nov. 3, 2020 that bars anyone seeking office in Calumet City in 2021 and beyond who also holds another elected office at the time they file nominating petitions. The measure passed by a 9,485-4,385 margin.

Jones filed petitions to run for mayor on Nov. 16, eight days before the referendum results were certified on Nov. 24. On Dec. 21, a city elections board removed Jones from the Feb. 23 Democratic primary ballot, citing the referendum result. […]

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the Appellate Court ruling, and Jones defeated 18-year incumbent Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush 1,699-1,417 in the Democratic primary. He then defeated write-in candidate Tony Quiroz 2,057-128 in the April 6 general election to become the first black mayor in Calumet City’s 128-year history, taking office on May 1.

* The governor recently signed the omnibus elections bill, SB825, into law. From that Public Act…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a unit of local government may not adopt an ordinance, referendum, or resolution that requires a member of the General Assembly to resign his or her office in order to be eligible to seek elected office in the unit of local government. Any ordinance, referendum, or resolution that contains such a provision is void.

A home rule unit may not regulate the eligibility requirements for those seeking elected office in the unit of local government in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

This Section applies to ordinances, referenda, or resolutions adopted on or after November 8, 2016.

* From Rep./Mayor Jones…

Thaddeus M. Jones- Mayor of Calumet City- is expressing his gratification concerning Governor Pritzker’s signage of SB 825, which will allow Mayor Jones to continue to serve as the Mayor of Calumet City and the Illinois State Representative of the 29th Legislative District.

Senate Bill 825 declares that the referendum that the city of Calumet City filed against the mayor is void and not enforceable.

“The signage of SB 825 officially puts an end to a long history of divisive politics within the government of Calumet City. As the first African American Alderman elected to the Calumet City Council nearly twenty years ago, my family and I have been victimized by every form of harassment and intimidation by the previous administration. The move to prevent me from taking office as the first African American Mayor was baseless and without merit.” says Mayor Jones.

On February 23, Mayor Jones defeated long time former Mayor Michelle Qualkinbush in a hotly contested battle that allowed him to become the Democratic nominee and essentially win the April 6th, General Election.

Give it up, already.

* Related…

* New campaign finance law allows child care expenses to be paid from political funds