West Cook News

Former Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti on Wednesday announced he will run as a Republican for Cook County State's Attorney. Fioretti, a perennial candidate who has made unsuccessful runs for Chicago mayor, Cook County president, and state senate, adds a familiar name to the ballot in a wide-open race to replace State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who is not seeking re-election.

"I am running because enough is enough. Our lives are becoming a script of a bad movie as the punks and thugs act out their video game fantasies in our streets while the leadership of Cook County tries to balance their budget," Fioretti said.

With the backing of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Clayton Harris III, a professor of public policy at the University of Chicago, is running as a Democrat, according to reports.

Harris is known as a Democratic Party insider having worked as a prosecutor under former Cook County State’s Attorney Dick Devine. His impressive portfolio includes being an assistant in Mayor Richard M. Daley's intergovernmental affairs operation and serving stints as a lawyer for the Chicago and state transportation departments. He was also former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's last chief of staff before the governor was sent to prison on federal corruption charges.

In another development within the Democratic Party, Harris won its endorsement over former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke. Despite this setback, O’Neill Burke declared her intent to add her name to the primary ballot.