Good Morning,
Giving honor to God who makes all things possible.
For the past 11 years as your State Representative, I have taken the struggles, successes, and core values of women to Springfield and fought to sustain and enhance the accomplishments that have propelled women to higher roles in government and business. But I have also added to my mission to protect the rights of women by ensuring that our society protects a woman’s right to choose.
We are now experiencing an assault on freedom that most Americans thought was secure. That is why I have been on the frontline of such fights including the passage of the Reproductive Healthcare Act that solidifies a woman’s right to “self-determination” in making her own healthcare decisions.
But I want to make it very clear that I am reenergized, primed, and ready as ever to fight to protect the rights of women throughout the 29th legislative district and throughout Illinois.
Upon being elected in 2011, I committed to providing employment opportunities for all Illinoisans, making our streets safer, providing opportunities for our children to receive a world-class education, and fighting to ensure that underserved communities do not get left behind.
I stand here 11 years later and can proudly say that we have shown our commitment to education by ensuring that our schools receive more funding. We have worked to change the way we fund education to ensure that our children are treated equally and fairly. We have fought to protect teachers, and we have worked closely with our local community colleges to improve educational opportunities and programs.
A legislator’s commitment can be defined by his or her ability to bring back dollars that enhance the quality of life for you the residents. I am thrilled to say that throughout the 29th legislative district, we have delivered the necessary dollars to sustain, enhance and support the creation of innovative programs for our various local governments, schools, and social services. Some of which include:
For South Suburban College we provided…
- $3.1 million Capital bond refinancing project
- $225,000 IL Community College Board grant award (2011)
- $225,000 IL Community College Board grant award (2013)
- $437,000 reapportionment of funds
- $58 Million for a new Allied health center
- $1.5 million for a new diversity program
In Thornton Township we have delivered:
- $2.1 million Capital bond refinancing project
- $2 Million Dollars for the STEM program
- $500,000 for the Food Pantry expansion
- $2 Million for afterschool funding
For Prairie State and Governor’s State
- $3.1 million Capital bond refinancing project
- $225,000 IL Community College Board grant award (2011)
- $225,000 IL Community College Board grant award (2013)
- $437,000 reapportionment of funds
- $58 Million for the new Allied health center
- $1.5 million for new diversity program
Social Service Agencies
- $500,000 to the Support Group
- $500,000 to Aids Foundation of Chicago
- $500,000 to Chicago Homeless coalition
- $7.1 million to TCA Health
We have worked to pass legislation that provides property tax relief for our senior citizens.
We have introduced nearly 300 bills in the General Assembly in which over 100 of those bills were signed into law. Some of these includes:
- The telehealth law that dealt with the pandemic
- The passage of the major crime-free housing measure
- The passage mandating that Black History be taught in schools and universities
- The crime expansion bill
- And the expressway camera act has now led to 99 new license plate readers installed along the Bishop Ford Expressway as well as I-57 South.
In addition, we have brought back over 20 million dollars to our local municipalities for their various needs including infrastructure, police and fire, libraries, and parks. These dollars speak volumes about our municipal leader’s ability to keep our towns safe and thriving.
We have witnessed so many signs of progress and accomplishments from Michigan Avenue in Roseland to Lincoln Highway in my beloved childhood town of Ford Heights.
However, it would have been impossible for me to achieve so much without the support of the countless volunteers and supporters who believe in our mission of serving everyone without limitations. I also want to thank two very important women in my life, my mother and my wife for their hard work and support.
And we have lost some dear friends who have contributed much to our region. The late Frank Zucarelli served as the Thornton Township Supervisor and Committeemen. It was his mentorship and guidance that played a significant role in my elevation within the political arena and government.
Frank taught me that total inclusion… and no exclusion…should be an elected leader’s daily goal and mission. Frank’s absence from our midst has left a void of sorts within our political arena. That void is now being felt more than ever given that his vacant Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman’s seat is now up for election. While the seat is an unpaid political seat and detached from government; it is a seat that led to the powerful election victories of former President Barack Obama, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and has influenced so many groundbreaking elections of the past.
So, after careful prayer and consultation with my wife and children, today I am announcing my candidacy for re-election as your Illinois State Representative of the 29th Legislative District. While I am pleased with our progress and accomplishments, there remains so much more to do.
But also, in the spirit of my mentor and friend, Frank Zucarelli, I am also announcing my candidacy for this non-paid Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman seat as well. I want to continue the rich legacy of our Township by electing well-qualified candidates who will remember the voters of Thornton Township in the daily duties of their elected offices.
So again, I am grateful, honored, and blessed to have received your support over these past 11 years. And I am humbly asking that you consider me again for another 2-year term as your State Representative, and I am also requesting your vote and support for Thornton Township Democratic Committeemen.
Let’s continue the work of the past all while we continue to create groundbreaking progress for the future.
Thank you and may God continue to bless the people of the 29th Legislative District.
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