Mayor, board president jump into West Side commissioner race


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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle threw their support behind attorney Blake Sercye, one of five candidates running for 1st District commissioner.

The unusual show of support in the Democratic primary underscores the mayor and board president’s unhappiness over another candidate in the race, convicted felon and former Ald. Ike Carothers.

“I believe in second chances,” Preckwinkle said at today’s press conference. “I believe those who are convicted of crimes can have second acts in life. I very much hope that is true for former Ald. Ike Carothers. I also believe that abusing trust, the public trust, taking bribes and misusing tax dollars should disqualify you from holding elected office again. This is the law for the city of Chicago, and it should be the law for Cook County as well.

“The good news is that residents of the diverse communities comprising the 1st District — including Austin, Oak Park, Maywood Bellwood and Broadview — have a wonderful alternative in Blake Sercye to vote for on March 18,” Preckwinkle added.

To read more about the press conference, read the Chicago Tribune’s story.

Tuesday’s endorsement comes just days after our partners at the Oak Park Wednesday Journal and Austin Weekly News reported that another candidate in the race – lawyer Richard Boykin – had wrongly claimed the homestead property tax credit on three different properties.

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