West Side, south suburbs pols divided on Obama successor

Local politicians from differing sides of the Chicagoland area put their muscle behind who they prefer to see succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Flanked by more than a dozen supporters, most from the West Side and west suburbs, U.S.

Local politicians from differing sides of the Chicagoland area put their muscle behind who they prefer to see succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Flanked by more than a dozen supporters, most from the West Side and west suburbs, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-7th) made it official that he wants Obama’s senate seat.

He made the announcement Sunday, the same day Obama resigned from the U.S. Senate.

At a news conference in suburban Country Club Hills the previous day, many south suburban mayors put their support behind U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd), who also expressed interest in Obama’s former post.

Newspapers, organizations and other groups have come out for one candidate or another, creating buzz from here to Washington.

But Davis said all of the backing for one politician over another doesn’t hurt the process.

This is not a split-the-vote type situation, Davis told the Defender, explaining that Gov. Rod Blagojevich knows there is more than one qualified candidate for the seat. He said the governor is “smart enough” to make a sound decision.

Under state law, Gov. Rod Blagojevich must choose someone to serve as Obama’s replacement through the next federal election in 2010.

At Davis’West Side congressional office, Alderman Emma Mitts (34th) said Davis is the “best choice to serve the interests of all the people in the state of Illinois.”

Mitts, the chairperson of West Side Black Elected Officials, along with other local elected officials including state Reps. Deborah Graham (D-78th) and Karen Yarbrough (D-7th), and Aldermen Walter Burnett (27th), Isaac Carothers (29th) and Ed Smith (28th), emphasized that Davis is an advocate for the people, he champions for exoffenders’ rights and education reform, among other issues.

“He is a seasoned legislator who understands and embraces change, has a solid record of achievement and consistently displays a unique ability to advance policies critical to the future growth of Illinois –– from the middle class and the disadvantaged, to minority and immigrant communities, labor and the struggling corporate business sector,” Mitts said.

Davis, who called himself the “perfect replacement,” said he is “pleased and gratified” at the West Side groups’ and leaders’ push for him to take the Senate seat, and would “relish the opportunity to move it up a notch” in regard to being a U.S. Senator.

He was elected to Congress in 1996. Prior to his service in congress, Davis was a Chicago Public School teacher, a West Side alderman and a Cook County commissioner.

In Country Club Hills, the support for Jackson was clearly stated. “We declare our support for Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama,” said Dwight Welch, mayor of Country Club Hills.

Welch, along with about 20 mayors from various south suburbs, said Jackson is the right person for the appointment because he has earmarked money needed for economic development and for various infrastructure projects, health care and housing programs.

Jackson, who was elected to Congress in 1995, said he would be “honored and humbled” to succeed Obama.

“The decision rests with Gov. Blagojevich, and I’m confident that he’ll make an appointment in the best interest of the state as well as the nation,” Jackson said in a statement.

Prior to Jackson’s service as a legislator, he was the National Field Director for the National Rainbow Coalition.

Other names that have been floated around as a possible replacement for Obama’s seat include U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) and Luis Gutierrez (D-4th), retiring state Senate President Emil Jones and Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

Blagojevich is expected to make his decision next month.