Suburban Democrats are viewing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly’s narrow election over Chicago Alderwoman Michelle Harris to lead the Democratic Party of Illinois as a win for the suburbs and for the future of the organization.

Kelly, who represents the 2nd Congressional District and lives in Matteson, was selected Wednesday to replace former Illinois House Speaker and Party Chair Michael Madigan. Another suburban contender, state Sen. Christina Castro of Elgin, dropped out of the running shortly before the vote and backed Kelly.

Suburban lawmakers are ecstatic over the result.

"I was very happy to see congresswoman Kelly in there," said Rep. Kathleen Willis, a Democrat from Addison. She said she and Kelly "do a lot of anti-gun violence issues together. I know her from that platform. I am very excited to see her there."

Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego said she also was "very excited" to see Kelly win the election. Kifowit has been a very vocal opponent of Madigan in the last year and was the first to challenge him for the role of speaker in October. She said Kelly’s selection means the Democratic Party is "turning a corner."

"Congresswoman Kelly has the skills and knowledge of the state and the ability to lead the party into the future," Kifowit said. "I am really excited about her collaborative spirit. We are a big tent as a party and we are bigger than just one person, so her willingness to work together and be collaborative, I think, is very refreshing."

State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates, had supported Castro and initially worried that Kelly might be too D.C.-focused and Harris would be too Chicago-centric. However, after Castro withdrew, Crespo said Kelly was the right choice.

"I appreciate the fact she understands the suburban experience, unlike Alderwoman Harris," Crespo said. "I think very highly of (Kelly)."

Crespo still harbors concerns that Kelly might not be grounded enough in Illinois, given her responsibilities in Washington, but said he hopes she will "surround herself with the right people" to maintain a strong presence in the state.

Kifowit and Willis, however, believe Kelly’s Illinois district represents a diverse section of the state.

"She does have urban, suburban and rural areas and I think we definitely need to embrace and support every inch of the state of Illinois and she has that knowledge base," Kifowit said.

"The more we can move the central point (of the party) out of the city of Chicago, the more inclusive we can be to bring everybody to the table and not just the city of Chicago folks," Willis said.

Stuart: Create a sense of belonging in the classroom

State Rep. Katie Stuart Guest Columnist

Updated

7:06 pm CST, Thursday, February 25, 2021

No matter how old you are, I bet you can think back to your days as a student and likely remember moments when you either felt affirmed and valued by your teachers, or perhaps misunderstood or disregarded. We all know that teachers and the school culture can have a profound and lasting effect on us. Good teachers understand the massive and sustained impact — positive or negative — they can have on students’ lives. They know the importance of being cognizant of the inherent biases that exist in our culture. They understand that those biases have shaped their own worldview, and they work to counteract the negative effects such could bring to their teaching. Good teachers understand that a student’s background and lived experiences will influence how they experience the school setting. However, in order to have this across the board, we must provide all educators with the tools they need to form true connections with students whose backgrounds and experiences may be very different from their own.

This brings me to the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, which were developed by a diverse group of educators from across the state and unanimously approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

As a former teacher and university instructor, I was involved in training teachers during their student teaching experience. These standards will ensure we equip all our future educators with the best practices that veteran educators already use every day. They will put valuable tools at the forefront of the coursework and field experience of our teacher preparation programs.

These standards are consistent with those set long ago by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, focusing on reflection, interacting with communities, and student learning. Many teachers across the country, and across Illinois, pursue National Board Certification to develop their craft. Administrators recognize National Board Certified teachers as not only having met rigorous standards but also for their dedication to the continual improvement of their teaching practice. For all these reasons, National Board Certified teachers are regarded as leaders and mentors in their buildings.

Yet, critics will have you believe that Illinois is pushing a new idea and using divisive rhetoric to detract from what they are – preparation for the reality of what they will see in the classroom, beginning on day one. Our student population is increasingly diverse, and it is important that teachers in all corners of the state are able to create classroom and school environments that give every student a sense of belonging. These standards encourage the embracing of multiple viewpoints, experiences, and perspectives; promote inclusiveness; and encourage critical thinking. This will ultimately foster classroom and school environments that are more, not less, inclusive of all students, regardless of one’s upbringings, religious background or any other aspect of who you are.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Rep. Maurice West will serve as a commissioner of the Legislative Ethics Commission for the Illinois 102nd General Assembly.

West was appointed to the commission by Speaker of the House, Emmanuel Chris Welch, according to an announcement Tuesday.

“I am excited to be a member of this commission,” West said. “A major priority of the General Assembly is to restore the trust between Illinois residents and their State government. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move in that direction.”

The Legislative Ethics Commission is a bipartisan board comprised of eight commissioners. The LEC is charged with conducting administrative hearings and ruling on matters (brought forth by the Legislative Inspector General) concerning violations of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act by current or previous members or employees of the General Assembly.

The commission has the authority to make rulings, issue administrative recommendations, and impose fines in connection with the implementation and interpretation of the act. The commission meets monthly, or more frequently as necessary.

Copyright 2021 WIFR. All rights reserved.