Copyright Chicago Sun-Times
The race for an obscure but influential West Side political post will pit several powerful Chicago Democrats against each other, but it won’t include a head-to-head matchup between the Illinois General Assembly’s top legislative leaders. After collecting petition signatures over the summer for the 7th Congressional District state central committeeperson seat, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon didn’t file by Monday’s deadline for a spot on the ballot against his Capitol counterpart, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “The Senate is combating grave dangers in our nation,” Harmon said through a spokesman. “I’m comfortable that the slate of central committee candidates across the state can handle the politics, and confident that [Illinois Democratic Party Chair] Lisa Hernandez will continue to lead a vibrant statewide Democratic Party.” That leaves Welch to fend with longtime West Side Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), state Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago; and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. Oak Park Township Supervisor Tim Thomas and former Maywood liquor commissioner Mary “May” Larry also filed for spots on the March 17 ballot, which is not finalized. Petitions can be challenged for the next week. Welch and Mitts formally joined the race as soon as the candidate filing period opened last week, with Collins jumping in a little more than an hour before the Monday deadline and Conyears-Ervin at the last minute. They’re all after the state central committee post that’ll open up for the first time in well over a decade when U.S. Rep. Danny Davis retires at the end of his term. Conyears-Ervin is running for Davis’ congressional seat, too. Thirty-four committeepeople govern the state Democratic Party, two from each of the Illinois’ 17 congressional districts. They’re responsible for driving voter registration and turnout, as well as recruiting candidates. Democratic heavyweights including Davis and Hernandez have endorsed Welch, who along with Harmon is one of the party’s most prolific campaign fundraisers. Welch entered October with $101,000 in his committeeperson campaign fund, state election board records show. Collins, with the backing of powerful labor groups, had more than $240,000 in her state campaign fund, while Mitts had more than $23,000. Conyears-Ervin had about $7,300 in a state fund but more than $225,000 in her federal campaign fund.
