POLITICS
The Race for the 1st District As Rep. Bobby Rush retires, more than a dozen vie to take his place.
TOP ROW, FROM THE LEFT: JACQUELINE COLLINS, TERRE LAYNG ROSNER, PAT DOWELL, CHRIS BUTLER BOTTOM ROW, FROM THE LEFT: JAHMAL COLE, JONATHAN JACKSON, JONATHAN SWAIN, MARCUS LEWIS. ILLUSTRATIONS: BRIDGET KILLIAN.
BY JACQUELINE SERRATO AND ADAM PRZYBYL
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arlier this year, Congressman Bobby Rush, who has served Illinois’ 1st District since 1993, announced that he would be retiring. More than a dozen people have announced their candidacies for the Democratic primary, from alderpersons and state senators to pastors and business owners. The Weekly reached out to each Democratic candidate with a short questionnaire, aimed at helping inform readers ahead of the primary. The answers of those candidates who responded are included below, edited for length and clarity. A longer version of candidates’ answers will be available online, along 4 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY
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with answers from 3rd Ward Alderperson Pat Dowell, whose answers came in past our print deadline. The Candidates •Chris Butler is the pastor at Chicago Embassy Church Network. •Jahmal Cole is a community activist and founded My Block My Hood My City. •Jacqueline Collins has served as state senator in the 16th District since 2003 and is the Deputy Majority Chair. •Jonathan Jackson is a business professor, national spokesperson for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and son of
Rev. Jesse Jackson. •Marcus Lewis is a retired postal worker and minister. •Terre Layng Rosner is a professor and union negotiator. •Jonathan Swain is the owner of Kimbark Beverage Shoppe in Hyde Park and is the founder of the Hyde Park Summer Fest. What are three things that define you as a Chicagoan or Illinoisian? Butler: I was born and raised in Illinois. I attended Whitney Young High School and Northeastern Illinois University. I
met and married my wife here in Chicago. I’m raising my family here. I love this state and my city. Cole: First and foremost, I’m a volunteer. That’s who I am, who I have always been, and that’s because I care so much about my city and the people in my community. I also love exploration. There is so much to this city and I always say you can travel the world without setting foot outside the city. Finally, I would say food. I love food so much, and that’s one of the things I love about this city and even this district. When I got to go to the different communities, part of that was trying new