* US Rep. Underwood turned 36 a couple of months ago. Here’s Lynn Sweet…

Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., poised to start a third term after a big November win, was elected to a spot in House Democratic leadership Thursday, the first Black female to win an elected position on the team since Rep. Shirley Chisholm, D-N.Y., back in the 1970s.

Underwood snared one of three co-chair positions on the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, known as the DPCC. Other winners in the field of seven who sought the posts were Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas., and Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.

Underwood is now on a path paved by Chisholm, who in 1969 became the first Black woman in Congress, embracing a motto that became famous — “unbought and unbossed.” Underwood often cites Chisholm, who ran for president in 1972, as a role model. From 1977 to 1981, Chisholm was secretary of the Democratic Caucus — and that’s the last time, Underwood noted, that a Black woman was in an elected position — not appointed — at the House leadership table.

More from Lynn’s story…

The centrist New Democrat Coalition in the House on Thursday elected Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., of Highland Park, to be a vice chair and freshman Rep.-elect Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., from Springfield, to be the representative of the freshmen members who joined the group.

* Bummer…

The office lottery drawing didn’t go so well, okay it went terrible but in the words of a future colleague the most important office is the elected office my district send me to represent… looking at the bigger picture lol 🙄

— Delia Ramirez (@DeliaCRamirez) December 2, 2022

She did better than Rep. Jackson, though…

There are 74 members of this year’s freshman class, but Rep.-elect Jonathan Jackson of Illinois was a no-show, meaning he defaulted to the last pick. (Members could send aides in their stead, but no one piped up for Jackson during the roll call.) The real work began later Friday morning, with each member-elect choosing an office space from whatever options were left. That happened during designated 5-minute slots, like a slower, less exciting version of the NBA draft being held immediately after the draft pick lottery.

* News…

So proud to pass the baton to @RepLCollins to lead the Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus forward. pic.twitter.com/eH8W89kKZf

— Rep.Kam Buckner ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@RepKamBuckner) December 1, 2022

* Fran Spielman…

United Working Families is launching a fundraising campaign to prevent what it calls “Chicago’s corporate donor class” from becoming an outsized influence in next year’s aldermanic elections.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this week that Mike Ruemmler, who managed former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2015 reelection campaign, is chairing an independent expenditure committee bankrolled by business leaders to elect alderpersons who want to “be part of the solution and not lob bombs from the sideline.”

Ruemmler said he hopes to raise “into the seven figures” — enough money to “play in … somewhere between 17 and 23” wards. Former Sun-Times investor Michael Sacks, CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management, has agreed to be one of the donors. During Emanuel’s eight years in office, Sacks was his chief fundraiser and all-purpose adviser.

* Tim Novak and Frank Main…

More than a decade ago, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued an executive order that prohibited him and future mayors from taking any campaign money from lobbyists.

This year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has accepted more than $53,000 in 39 individual campaign contributions from 14 companies owned by Carmen A. Rossi, a registered city lobbyist.

Rossi — who is also a city contractor and restaurateur and nightclub owner and who holds the liquor license for the Lollapalooza music festival — didn’t make any of the contributions to Lightfoot in his own name.

It isn’t clear whether Lightfoot’s taking the contributions from his companies would violate the ban Emanuel imposed on mayors taking political money from lobbyists.

…Adding… From Gary LaPaille’s widow…

Hello friends. Gary passed away today from complications due to ALS. He was at peace and surrounded by his family. I want everyone who took the time to post a note to him to know that he really enjoyed hearing from all of you. We read every message to him, some of them multiple times. We were astounded by the heartfelt voices from his past; so many of you wanted to reach out to share your memories of him from years ago. We tend to get caught up in the day-to-day of our lives and forget that we are shaped from the people, places and experiences of our past. I know Gary treasured his time in Illinois politics and government. Your names were not unfamiliar to my kids, who heard the stories many times over the years.

Gary was the ultimate people person. His friends in Maryland and DC who visited with him these past few days said things about him that will sound very familiar to those of you who knew him back in another life: He was the most generous guy I ever met; he was the life of the party; he took care of everyone on the block; I owe my career to him. That is the Gary we all knew. I am blessed beyond measure that through him I also experienced the joy of knowing all of you.

On behalf of Joe, Sam and Grace and my daughters-in-law Ally and Irina, thank you for sharing your remembrances of your time with Gary. Thank you for your prayers. We are forever grateful.

Love,

Chris LaPaille

LaPaille was Speaker Madigan’s chief of staff, chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois and a state Senator.

* Isabel’s roundup…

* My Journal Courier | Legislative tool has its place, experts say: The Illinois Freedom Caucus said it wants to do away with the consent calendar that allows bills to be bundled and voted on in a single roll call. However, a longtime observer of Illinois politics thinks the consent calendar has a place in the General Assembly and that doing away with it would make the legislative process more cumbersome.

* St Louis Public Radio | Rural America is getting older, with a fifth of the population now over the age of 65: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Rural America at a Glance report shows more than 20% of rural residents are over age 65 compared to 16% in urban areas. “The aging of the baby-boom generation will continue to contribute to the loss of working-age adults through the end of this decade,” the report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service stated.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois Secretary of State-elect Alexi Giannoulias brings opponent Dan Brady onto transition team: Brady: “I was pleasantly surprised. I thank the Secretary-elect, and I look forward to helping him in every way I can. People say: ‘Wow – that’s a great idea! That’s novel!’ We went as Illinoisans – we have people who are going to try and find a common ground. We know there are issues we disagree on – but how about the common things that we can come together on; the things that we can help improve in office, and efficiency?”

* Patch | Outgoing State Rep Denyse Stoneback Introduces ‘Truth In Politics Act’: “The voters have the ultimate authority to hold politicians accountable for what they say and do, exactly as it should be. Free and open elections are the foundation of our democracy,” said Plummer, the assistant Senate GOP leader.

* NBC Chicago | At Over $500 Per Ticket, Some Are Questioning This Chicago ‘Foodie’ Tour — Which Includes a Donut and Hot Dog: According to the tour description, the event includes five food items — a Portillo’s hot dog, a small Garrett’s popcorn, a six-inch Al’s Italian beef sandwich, a slice of deep dish pizza and a Do-Rite Donut — along with bottle of water, and an Uber ride.

* Block Club Chicago | 242 Cars Towed On First Night Of Winter Parking Ban, Highest Number Since 2019: Violators face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and a storage fee of $25 per day their car remains at the auto pound, according to city officials. That means the unlucky car owners will spend at least $56,870 in penalties and fees to retrieve their cars. Many Chicagoans call the practice “predatory” as the mistake can set people back over $200, but city officials have continuously argued the ban ensures plows can quickly respond to unexpected snow on major roads.

* Patch | 5 Illinois Local Heroes Show Bravery, Selflessness, Compassion: When times are tough or there’s a community in need, we see them emerge: Compassionate local heroes who go above and beyond to help, serve and give back. Here at Patch, we’ve launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. And we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding people.

* Illini Inquirer | Will they stay or will they go?: Several Illini face NFL Draft decisions : Several Illinois players are valued by the NFL and have big decisions to make of whether to make the leap to their professional dreams now or to return for another season at Illinois.

* Sun-Times | Chicagoan Brenda McKinney to see the world after retiring from the Illinois Urban Fishing Program: Brenda McKinney went fishing once before she was hired for the Illinois Urban Fishing Program. “Idlewild, Michigan,” McKinney said. “Gentleman named Pops, back then, took me. I caught nothing. I never had a problem with fish or worms, I wasn’t that kind of young lady.”

* Sun-Times | Proposed IHSA rule would attempt to crack down on transfers: Schools around the state are set to vote on a new Illinois High School Association rule involving transfers and the hiring of high school coaches.