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Berrios reveals Burke daughter may run for AG

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Illinois

Could the daughter of one Democratic political powerhouse replace another as Illinois attorney general?

It’ll happen if the City Council’s elder statesman has his way.

Cook County Democratic Chairman Joe Berrios said he got a courtesy call over the weekend from Ald. Edward Burke (14th) to let him know that Burke’s daughter, Jennifer, was would be circulating nominating petitions to run for attorney general.

Neither Jennifer Burke nor her father could be reached for comment. They work together at the law firm of Klafter & Burke.

The firm specializes in property tax appeals and has three dozen clients that do business with the city — even though that creates a conflict that requires Burke, chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, to recuse himself from countless City Council votes.

Man, that’s some serious public relations savvy right there. One of the most unpopular connected insiders in all of Illinois leaks the news on the record that a property tax appeals lawyer and daughter of yet another connected Chicago insider may be running for attorney general.

Gonna be tough to top that roll-out.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:18 pm

Comments

Daughter of an Alderman & Supreme Court justice, niece of a state rep, herself got a sweet patronage gig from Quinn on the Pollution Control Board - exactly what voters are looking for in 2017.

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:21 pm
Illinois candidates have to set the standard for hubris
Is she running as an outsider or reformer?

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Not the hero we deserve, and also not the hero we need right now. Or, you know, ever.

Comment by PJ Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Would her mother retire if she got elected? She’s got 20 years of judicial time, so she’s at max pension.

Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Also, if Tom Dart runs for AG, does Ed Burke Jr run for Sheriff?

Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:27 pm
Kind of the everything that the GOP rails against in one nice package.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:29 pm
If Alderman Burke’s daughter is running, Alderman Burke gets a free pass out of taking sides. He doesn’t have to invest much beyond getting petitions.

A lot of people are going to be wondering if it is better off annoying Kwame, Williams, Nekritz, Franks, or others.

Is Burke that smart?

Comment by Gooner Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Is the BTIA(tm) now advising the Burkes?

Comment by Whatever Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:32 pm
I always wondered what Ed Burke was gonna do with the 2 mil in his campaign account. While I’m sure a good sized amount of that is grandfathered in so he can take it if he ever retires, I wonder how much he’d shell out for something like this. Assuming someone breaks the cap that is.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:33 pm
That would be one of the greatest brazen vintage Chicago Machine political achievements of all time if the daughter of Ed Burke wins the office of Illinois Attorney General.

Comment by JB13 Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:33 pm
Blame Madigan?
What chutzpah. And in a multi-candidate field, there’s a frightening possibility it could work.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:37 pm
wrong Burke running. Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke should be the Burke running. And no, no relation to Ald. Burke. incredible chutzpah Alderman.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:40 pm
If Illinois can accept Mike Madigan as Speaker with Lisa Madigan as AG: why can’t Illinois accept Jennifer Burke as AG with her mom on the Supreme Court????

Comment by Steve Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:40 pm
The best part of the story is that Ed Burke is making courtesy calls - which makes clear this is being totally engineered by dad.

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:45 pm
This could get really weird if you actually get a large number of candidates on the ballot. A multi-fractured vote could result in a very small winning plurality.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:47 pm
Political dynasties are sooo Illinois. LOL

Comment by Responsa Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:54 pm
Daughters not sons. Just shows how “progressive” the powerful families have become.
/s

Comment by walker Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:00 pm
this is just too imperfect for words. but you’ve got to the love in-your-face embrace of traditional chicago/illinois politics.

Comment by jim Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:02 pm
How do they decide which Burke daughter gets the nod? Coin flip? Chicago history trivia contest? Irish song piano playing judging?

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:07 pm
Berrios’ lack of self awareness reminds me so much of Blago.

Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:07 pm
I know I was clamoring for more nepotism right about now… /s

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:12 pm
So when does a Berrios family member announce?

Comment by Terry Salad Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:13 pm
Chicago insider + property tax appeals = are you kidding me?
Are property tax appeals considered public service?
Has she been to lincoln county?
Since when is AG considered entry level?
Chgo pols normally come to spfld to be trained, or punished.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:14 pm
Well, Rep. Williams said she wanted more women to run…

Comment by Century Club Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Justice Burke is up for retention on the Supreme Court in November (where she has to get 60% to be retained). On the same ballot, her daughter would be in a race for AG. Interesting.

Comment by orzo Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:18 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_RrHdcJ5BlI

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:38 pm
==Is she running as an outsider or reformer?==

Probably outside of reform.

Comment by City Zen Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:51 pm
over a quick bite with non political friend who was texting with others, these folks think this is super piggish.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:59 pm
What happens if Justice Burke resigns/retires before the retention vote is taken … can AG Lisa Madigan be appointed to her position and if so for how long until she has to stand for election ?

Comment by Brookfield Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:20 pm
Brookfield…..interestin!

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:39 pm
Wow, if the dem candidates for governor know what’s good for them, they will come out and show their disdain for such a prospect. Ed Burke’s daughter for AG? the whole thing reeks of sleaze.

Comment by Red fish blue fish Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:40 pm
If the democratic candidates for governor know what’s good for them, they will come out and denounce the prospect.

To a political outsider, this reeks of sleaze.

Comment by Red fish blue fish Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:42 pm
Sometimes I wonder why we even bother with elections here in Illinois. Maybe what we need is the political equivalent to the inheritance tax for politicians kids who run for office. Instead of a tax we could have a mandatory “cooling off” period of 10 years before a child could run for office in a state where the parent held political office.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 3:05 pm
NPC, that’s remarkably undemocratic. You’re mistaking democratic elections to open offices with resign/appointment schemes.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 3:20 pm
People can criticize political families. However, if Illinois voters want these people : that’s the way things are. You might not like Justice Burke , but you can’t say she hasn’t done as good of a job as anyone on the Illinois Supreme Court. You might not like Jennifer Burke but you can’t say she isn’t qualified. She does have private sector and public sector experience. It’s all up to the voters.

Comment by Steve Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 4:08 pm
Steve…

Is that you Ed?

Comment by Gimme a break Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 5:18 pm
Wrong Burke daughter running. Sarah is the most savvy, political one. Former big firm trial lawyer and lobbyist for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Comment by Southside Markie Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:47 pm