Kwame Raoul: Difference between revisions
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'''Kwame Raoul''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|ɑː|m|eɪ|_|r|ɑː|ˈ|uː|l}}, born September 30, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Illinois Senate]]. He has represented the 13th district since 2004—he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by [[Barack Obama]], upon Obama's election to the [[U.S. Senate]]. He is the chair of the Illinois Senate |
'''Kwame Raoul''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|ɑː|m|eɪ|_|r|ɑː|ˈ|uː|l}}, born September 30, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Illinois Senate]]. He has represented the 13th district since 2004—he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by [[Barack Obama]], upon Obama's election to the [[U.S. Senate]]. He is the chair of the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee.<ref name="Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board about his budget April 6, 2015. (Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune)">{{cite news|last1=Raoul|first1=Kwame|title=Chicago Tribune; Rauner, business groups push for Illinois workers' compensation changes|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-workers-compensation-rauner-met-20150504-story.html#page=1|accessdate=May 4, 2015|agency=Chicago Tribune Editorial Board|issue=chicagotribune.com|publisher=By Monique Garcia Chicago Tribune}}</ref> |
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Raoul is the Democratic Party's nominee for [[Illinois Attorney General|Attorney General of Illinois]] in the [[Illinois Attorney General election, 2018|2018 election]]. |
Raoul is the Democratic Party's nominee for [[Illinois Attorney General|Attorney General of Illinois]] in the [[Illinois Attorney General election, 2018|2018 election]]. |
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Raoul was appointed on November 6, 2004 to fill the state Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who had just been elected to the [[United States Senate]]. |
Raoul was appointed on November 6, 2004 to fill the state Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who had just been elected to the [[United States Senate]]. |
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Since his arrival in Springfield, Raoul has successfully advanced legislation promoting |
Since his arrival in Springfield, Raoul has successfully advanced legislation promoting healthcare access, criminal justice reform, domestic violence prevention and tougher penalties for sexual predators who target children. Raoul's work has led to the passage of some of the strongest voting rights protections in the country, an expansion of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and a crackdown on the [[Payday loan|Pay Day loan]] industry. |
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Raoul has sponsored a bill that would require grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to be used to improve and expand the quality of services. He has also backed legislation aimed at easing the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. His legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or [[GED]]s, as well as inmates who participate in [[substance abuse]] programs. |
Raoul has sponsored a bill that would require grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to be used to improve and expand the quality of services. He has also backed legislation aimed at easing the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. His legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or [[GED]]s, as well as inmates who participate in [[substance abuse]] programs, and helps non-violent offenders get jobs and reintegrate into society. |
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Raoul has championed legislation on criminal justice reform including |
Raoul has championed legislation on criminal justice reform including historic legislation abolishing the death penalty and creating the Torture Inquiry Commission. He also championed legislation aimed at breaking the code of silence by deterring intimidation of those who cooperate with [[law enforcement officer]]s and sponsored groundbreaking law enforcement reform to enhance police training and prevent misconduct and the use of excessive force. |
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Raoul has supported efforts to create and retain jobs in the State of Illinois including convention center reforms and a multibillion dollars capital bill. He has been the chief sponsor of legislation to extend the Economic Development for a [[Economic growth|Growing Economy]] (EDGE) tax credit to companies in order to retain and create jobs in our state. He |
Raoul has supported efforts to create and retain jobs in the State of Illinois including convention center reforms and a multibillion dollars capital bill. He has been the chief sponsor of legislation to extend the Economic Development for a [[Economic growth|Growing Economy]] (EDGE) tax credit to companies in order to retain and create jobs in our state. He championed the effort to pass comprehensive workers compensation reform that will save Illinois employers in excess of half a billion dollars. |
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As |
As chair of the Senate's Pension and Investment Committee, Sen. Raoul passed pension ethics reforms and led efforts to expand opportunities for minority and women-owned financial service firms. Sen. Raoul introduced legislation that created the Illinois Voting Rights Act to protect racial and language minorities in the legislative redistricting process. In addition, Raoul serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee and Vice Chair of the Criminal Law Committee and is a member of the Executive Gaming, Insurance and Public Health Committees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=100&MemberID=2340|title=Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography|website=ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> |
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Raoul was among the candidates [[Illinois Governor]] [[Rod Blagojevich]] considered to fill Obama's Senate seat upon Obama's victory in the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 presidential election]]. Raoul withdrew his name from consideration, wary of entering into a [[quid pro quo]] with the governor, who later became embroiled in a [[Rod Blagojevich corruption charges|corruption scandal]] over his attempt to sell the appointment.<ref>{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Saulny |author2=Monica Davey |title=Obama to Detail Any Staff Talks on Senate Seat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/us/politics/12illinois.html |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=December 12, 2008 |accessdate=December 12, 2008 }}</ref> |
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== Outside the Senate == |
== Outside the Senate == |
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[[File:Kwame Raoul (2009).jpg||thumb|Raoul in 2009]] |
[[File:Kwame Raoul (2009).jpg||thumb|Raoul in 2009]] |
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Raoul serves as a partner of the law firm of [[Quarles & Brady]] with a practice concentrating on |
Raoul serves as a partner of the law firm of [[Quarles & Brady]] with a practice concentrating on health law. Raoul is a former [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] prosecutor and previously worked as senior counsel for the [[City Colleges of Chicago]]. He has also directed volunteer legal aid clinics in his district. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Cook County Bar Association and the North Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He has coached Hyde Park Biddy Basketball and has been an AYSO soccer volunteer. He has participated in voter registration campaigns with [[Rainbow/PUSH]] and has served as a volunteer Election Day lawyer. |
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== Campaign for Attorney General of Illinois == |
== Campaign for Attorney General of Illinois == |
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In September 2017, Raoul launched his campaign for Attorney General of Illinois |
In September 2017, Raoul launched his campaign for Attorney General of Illinois. In the primary, he prevailed in a crowded field of eight Democratic candidates,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html|title=Morning Spin: A look at who's raised the most in race to replace Lisa Madigan|last=staff|first=Chicago Tribune|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>. |
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As of January 2018, Raoul had the largest war chest among the field of Democratic candidates.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html|title=Morning Spin: A look at who's raised the most in race to replace Lisa Madigan|last=staff|first=Chicago Tribune|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> At the end of 2017, Raoul received a $100,000 donation from tobacco mogul Don Levin. The donations were made in $10,000 increments from ten of Levin's companies. Raoul's opponents insist that accepting the money amounts to a conflict of interest. The current attorney general's office has been at odds with one of Levin's companies, Top Tobacco, several times, and an arbitration remains pending with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Raoul's spokesperson said that the $100,000 donation is not a conflict of interest since "Raoul is not attorney general."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/BLOGS02/171219876/tobacco-mogul-stokes-raouls-bid-for-illinois-ag|title=Tobacco mogul stokes Raoul's bid for Illinois AG|work=Crain's Chicago Business|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> |
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Raoul's campaign finance chair is Neil Bluhm, a billionaire casino magnate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/33482/kwame-raoul|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> As a state senator, Raoul has consistently voted in favor of the gambling and gaming industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/33482/kwame-raoul?categoryId=73&type=V,S,R,E,F,P|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> |
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Among Raoul's campaign priorities, according to his campaign website <ref>www.kwameraoul.com</ref>, are healthcare access, keeping children safe from sexual predators, defending a woman's right to choose, the environment, voting rights and workers' rights. Raoul supports the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and co-sponsored the Equal Wage Act in Illinois, which was later vetoed by Governor Rauner. He believes that abortion should be safe, legal, and accessible. He supports commonsense gun restrictions and reforming the criminal justice system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kwameraoul.com/ontheissues/|title=On the Issues - Kwame Raoul|work=Kwame Raoul|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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He won the Democratic primary election on March 20, 2018 winning 30% of the vote in an eight way primary contest that included, among others, former governor [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]]. He faces [[Erika Harold]], a former Miss America and Champaign/Urbana, Illinois attorney who won her two way contest with 59% of the vote. |
He won the Democratic primary election on March 20, 2018 winning 30% of the vote in an eight way primary contest that included, among others, former governor [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]]. He faces [[Erika Harold]], a former Miss America and Champaign/Urbana, Illinois attorney who won her two way contest with 59% of the vote. |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
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Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area |
Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area and has two children, Che and Mizan.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |
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| title=Biography |
| title=Biography |
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| url=http://www.kwameraoul.com/kwame_bio.html |
| url=http://www.kwameraoul.com/kwame_bio.html |
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Revision as of 16:24, 6 November 2018
Kwame Raoul | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district | |
| Assumed office November 6, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Barack Obama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 30, 1964 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | DePaul University (BA) Illinois Institute of Technology (JD) |
Kwame Raoul (/ˈkwɑːmeɪ rɑːˈuːl/, born September 30, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate. He has represented the 13th district since 2004—he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama, upon Obama's election to the U.S. Senate. He is the chair of the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee.[1]
Raoul is the Democratic Party's nominee for Attorney General of Illinois in the 2018 election.
Early life
Raoul was born in Chicago to Haitian immigrant parents Dr. Janin and Marie Therese Raoul. Raoul earned his bachelor's degree in political science from DePaul University and went on to receive his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Senate career
Raoul was appointed on November 6, 2004 to fill the state Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who had just been elected to the United States Senate.
Since his arrival in Springfield, Raoul has successfully advanced legislation promoting healthcare access, criminal justice reform, domestic violence prevention and tougher penalties for sexual predators who target children. Raoul's work has led to the passage of some of the strongest voting rights protections in the country, an expansion of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and a crackdown on the Pay Day loan industry.
Raoul has sponsored a bill that would require grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to be used to improve and expand the quality of services. He has also backed legislation aimed at easing the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. His legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, as well as inmates who participate in substance abuse programs, and helps non-violent offenders get jobs and reintegrate into society.
Raoul has championed legislation on criminal justice reform including historic legislation abolishing the death penalty and creating the Torture Inquiry Commission. He also championed legislation aimed at breaking the code of silence by deterring intimidation of those who cooperate with law enforcement officers and sponsored groundbreaking law enforcement reform to enhance police training and prevent misconduct and the use of excessive force.
Raoul has supported efforts to create and retain jobs in the State of Illinois including convention center reforms and a multibillion dollars capital bill. He has been the chief sponsor of legislation to extend the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit to companies in order to retain and create jobs in our state. He championed the effort to pass comprehensive workers compensation reform that will save Illinois employers in excess of half a billion dollars.
As chair of the Senate's Pension and Investment Committee, Sen. Raoul passed pension ethics reforms and led efforts to expand opportunities for minority and women-owned financial service firms. Sen. Raoul introduced legislation that created the Illinois Voting Rights Act to protect racial and language minorities in the legislative redistricting process. In addition, Raoul serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee and Vice Chair of the Criminal Law Committee and is a member of the Executive Gaming, Insurance and Public Health Committees.[2]
Outside the Senate
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Raoul serves as a partner of the law firm of Quarles & Brady with a practice concentrating on health law. Raoul is a former Cook County prosecutor and previously worked as senior counsel for the City Colleges of Chicago. He has also directed volunteer legal aid clinics in his district. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Cook County Bar Association and the North Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He has coached Hyde Park Biddy Basketball and has been an AYSO soccer volunteer. He has participated in voter registration campaigns with Rainbow/PUSH and has served as a volunteer Election Day lawyer.
Campaign for Attorney General of Illinois
In September 2017, Raoul launched his campaign for Attorney General of Illinois. In the primary, he prevailed in a crowded field of eight Democratic candidates,[3].
Among Raoul's campaign priorities, according to his campaign website [4], are healthcare access, keeping children safe from sexual predators, defending a woman's right to choose, the environment, voting rights and workers' rights. Raoul supports the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and co-sponsored the Equal Wage Act in Illinois, which was later vetoed by Governor Rauner. He believes that abortion should be safe, legal, and accessible. He supports commonsense gun restrictions and reforming the criminal justice system.[5]
He won the Democratic primary election on March 20, 2018 winning 30% of the vote in an eight way primary contest that included, among others, former governor Pat Quinn. He faces Erika Harold, a former Miss America and Champaign/Urbana, Illinois attorney who won her two way contest with 59% of the vote.
Personal life
Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area and has two children, Che and Mizan.[6] He is also a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (Theta Zeta chapter) and a member of the Chicago Chapter of 100 Black Men. Raoul is a prostate cancer survivor.[7]
References
- ^ Raoul, Kwame. "Chicago Tribune; Rauner, business groups push for Illinois workers' compensation changes". No. chicagotribune.com. By Monique Garcia Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ staff, Chicago Tribune. "Morning Spin: A look at who's raised the most in race to replace Lisa Madigan". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ www.kwameraoul.com
- ^ "On the Issues - Kwame Raoul". Kwame Raoul. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "Biography". kwameraoul.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ https://wgntv.com/2018/10/26/the-race-to-replace-lisa-madigan-meet-the-attorney-general-candidates/
External links
- Biography, bills and committees at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
- Kwame Raoul for State Senator
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Senator Kwame Raoul at Illinois Senate Democrats