Cook County Democratic Party endorses Gov. Quinn and full slate of candidates for March Primary

CHICAGO, IL  – The Cook County Democratic Party Friday endorsed Gov. Patrick Quinn for re-election and a full slate of candidates for the March Primary.

In addition to Gov. Quinn, the County Democratic Party endorsed U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, Secretary of State Jesse White and Attorney General Lisa Madigan for re-election. The Party also endorsed Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon for Comptroller and State Sen. Mike Frerichs.

For county-wide offices the party endorsed President of the Cook County Board Toni Preckwinkle, Sheriff Thomas Dart, Assessor Joseph Berrios, Treasurer Maria Pappas and Clerk David Orr for re-election.

“This is an open process we’ve set up,” said Berrios, chairman of the Cook County Democratic

Party. “The committeemen have done a great job choosing who they’ll support. The party will

continue to be strong and we’ll stick together with the endorsed Democratic ticket.”

For commissioner to the Metropolitan Water and Reclamation District the party endorsed Frank

Avila, Tim Bradford and Josina Morita, the first Asian-American slated for Cook County-wide. Board of Review 3  District Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr. was endorsed for re-election.

For the Appellate Court, the party slated David Ellis, Freddrenna Lyle and John Simon.  Alternates were John Kirby, Sheldon Harris, Raul Vega and William Boyd.

At the Circuit Court level the party slated Andrea Buford, Cynthia Cobbs, Dan Kubasiak, Maritza

Martinez, Kate Moreland, Bill Raines, Kristal Rivers, Diana Rosario, Patricia O’Brien Sheahan

and Al Swanson. The alternates were Thomas Carroll, Alfred Maldonado, Travis Richardson

and Sean Chaudhuri.

Cook County committeemen also endorsed the Freedom to Marry plank from the DNC

and Illinois Party Platform which supports “the right of all families to have equal respect,

responsibilities and protections under the law.”

The Democratic Primary is March 18, 2014. The Cook County Democratic Party is made up of

50 Chicago Ward and 30 Township Committeemen.