Lightfoot makes first endorsement for Illinois House - Crain's Chicago Business

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is formally endorsing for the first time a candidate for the Illinois Legislature in a contested Democratic primary.

Lightfoot's political chief confirmed that the mayor later today will issue a statement backing real estate agency owner and gay activist Yoni Pizer for state representative in the 12th District on the North Side. The seat now is held by veteran lawmaker Sara Feigenholtz, but she is expected to move to the Senate when Sen. John Cullerton's resignation takes effect this weekend.

"Yoni and the mayor have known each other for a long time," Lightfoot political director Dave Mellet told me in a phone call. "He’s been an advocate in (the LGBTQ) community for three decades."

Added Mellet, "He supported the mayor early in her campaign. He saw things that other people didn’t."

Said Pizer in a statement, "I look to Mayor Lightfoot as a prime example of what our elected officials should be: honest, principled, and effective. I share the mayor's understanding of the urgent need to reform our government to ensure that our elected officials are putting the interests of their constituents first. I look forward to following in the path of what Mayor Lightfoot has done in City Hall and ushering in a new type of state government in Springfield—where ethics, integrity, and honesty are at its core."

Despite that statement, Pizer declined to take a position on whether House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has been under ethical fire and is believed to be the subject of a federal probe, should retain that job. Pizer told me he backs term limits for legislative leaders, but wants to see who else is running for speaker before making up his mind.

One of the other candidates in the race, Jimmy Garfield, has pledged not to vote to re-elect Madigan speaker, according to a spokesman.

Mellet said Lightfoot has made only one other endorsement this cycle, urging voters to retain State's Attorney Kim Foxx. But Pizer will not be the last legislative candidate the mayor backs, with as many as 10 other endorsements on the way, Mellet said.

Also running in the 12th District are Marty Malone, Margaret Croke, Kim Walz, Ryan Podges and, for the moment, Feigenholtz. But Feigenholtz is expected to resign from the House and be appointed by Democratic ward committeeman to succeed Cullerton when his resignation takes effect.

Democratic ward chiefs then could appoint someone to fill the remainder of Feigenholtz’s House term. But that may not happen until after the March primary, when they presumably would ratify the voters’ choice.

Insiders give Republicans almost no chance of electing someone in the overwhelming Democratic area.

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Lightfoot makes first endorsement for Illinois House - Crain's Chicago Business
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