When state Sen. Toi Hutchinson formally began her campaign this week for a seat in Congress in next year’s special election, among her supporters was a fellow state legislator who had been considering his own electoral bid for the post.
State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, who also serves as 3rd Ward alderman of his hometown City Council, was among a collection of legislative, municipal and county officials who say they back the bid of Hutchinson to replace Jesse Jackson Jr., in Congress.
Jones never formally announced a campaign for the Illinois 2nd Congressional District seat, but he was among a half-dozen officials who contacted Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman Frank Zuccarelli when Jackson resigned last month to express interest in making a bid, Zuccarelli spokesman Bob Storman has said.
Jones' legislative office at 1910 Sibley Blvd. in Calumet City still contains giant posters on its front windows urging people to vote for Jackson in the March primary election. He ultimately decided to support Hutchinson whose state Senate district includes Ford Heights, where Jones grew up.
Vlad Gutman, a spokesman for Hutchinson, said of Jones, “He’s a strong supporter of ours. He is helping us a lot organizationally.”
Also supporting Hutchinson when she began her campaign with an appearance at the Prairie Manor and Rehabilitation Center, 345 Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights, was state Reps. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, Lisa Dugan, D-Bradley, and state Rep. Al Riley, D-Olympia Fields, according to a news release from Hutchinson's campaign.
She also got support from Flossmoor Village President Paul Braun, and Rich Township Highway Commissioner Calvin Jordan.
Hutchinson, whose legislative district includes the same Kankakee County territory that her desired congressional district would have, also had support Monday from Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein and City Council members Carl Brown and Steve Hunter, along with Kankakee County Democratic Chairman John Willard and County Auditor Deb Woodruff, the release states.
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