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Lori Lightfoot

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Lori Lightfoot
Personal details
Born (1962-08-04) August 4, 1962 (age 62)
Massillon, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAmy Eshleman
Children1
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)
University of Chicago (JD)

Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American politician who has held various government positions in the city of Chicago, including as President of the Chicago Police Board from 2015 through 2018. She has also worked in private legal practice as a partner at Mayer Brown.[1] Lightfoot is a candidate for mayor of Chicago in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election.[2] Lightfoot was the top vote-getter in the first round of the election, advancing to a runoff election against Toni Preckwinkle on April 2, 2019.[3][4]

Early life

Lightfoot was born in Massillon, Ohio, the daughter of a healthcare aide and school board member mother and a factory worker and janitor father. She is a graduate of Washington High School in Massillon, where she was class president. Her high school alumni association named her a "Distinguished Citizen" in 2013.[5][6][7]

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from University of Michigan, working seven jobs to afford her education.[6][8] Lightfoot took jobs working for Congress members Ralph Regula and Barbara Mikulski before matriculating at University of Chicago Law School, where she was awarded a full scholarship. She first gained notoriety as a law student at UChicago when she, as president of the student body, led a successful movement to ban a law firm from campus after the firm sent a recruiter who made racist and sexist remarks towards a student. Lightfoot also served as a clerk for Justice Charles Levin of the Michigan Supreme Court. She graduated from law school in 1989. [9][10]

Career

Assistant U.S. Attorney

After graduating law school, Lightfoot became a practicing attorney at Mayer Brown. Lightfoot first entered the public sector as Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She cites several reasons for entering public service, including a desire to represent the African-American community, a sense of injustice based on the murder of a family member by a Ku Klux Klan member in the 1920s, and her older brother's struggles with the law.

While working as a federal prosecutor, Lightfoot assisted with Operation Silver Shovel, an FBI investigation into Chicago corruption. She helped to convict alderman Virgil Jones.[5] Lightfoot was issued a warning for misconduct by judge Richard Posner in a case [11] in which she was found by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to have misled a United States Circuit Judge regarding a suspect's whereabouts, making it impossible for the judge to stay the suspect's extradition to Norway. Lightfoot and the Justice Department at the time disputed this characterization of her actions. [12]

Chicago Police Department Office of Professional Standards

In 2002, Lightfoot was appointed chief administrator of the Chicago Police Department Office of Professional Standards, a now-defunct governmental police oversight group, by Mayor Richard M. Daley. She held the position for two years. In the position, she was charged with investigating possible cases of police misconduct, including police shootings of civilians. However, a Chicago Tribune report found that the Office of Professional Standards' investigations often lacked thoroughness. Lightfoot says her recommendations for disciplinary action were often rejected by the police department.[5]

In one notable case, Lightfoot went against Police Department orthodoxy by recommending the firing of officer Alvin Weems, who shot and killed an unarmed man, Michael Pleasance. Weems was initially believed to have accidentally shot Pleasance, but after video evidence contradicting the initial claims was revealed, even Weems himself expressed feeling that the shooting was unjustified. Weems was not fired by the Chicago Police Department, but the city was eventually forced to pay a settlement to the Pleasance family. Weems later committed suicide.[12]

In another controversial case where officer Phyllis Clinkscales shot and killed unarmed 17-year-old Robert Washington, the Chicago Tribune reported that Lightfoot determined that the shooting was justified. In doing so, the Tribune said she reversed the order of her predecessor, who had called for Clinkscales' firing. Clinkscales' account of the events of the shooting had been found to contain untrue statements in an investigation.[12] Lightfoot disputes this account of Clinkscales' case, saying that the police superintendent at the time was responsible for declining Lightfoot's predecessor's finding that the shooting was unjustified.[13] Lightfoot said her action on the case was to push for a 30-day suspension for Clinkscales, which she implied was the most that was possible given the circumstances.[14]

Other roles in Chicago city government

Lightfoot later worked with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. She then moved on to work as deputy chief of the Chicago Department of Procurement Services, where she and her boss, Mary Dempsey, investigated Chicago corruption, drawing Mayor Daley's ire in the process. Lightfoot and Dempsey's investigations included probes of then-Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich's associate Tony Rezko and prominent Daley donor Elzie Higginbottom. Lightfoot worked at the Department of Procurement Services for a few months, subsequently returning to Mayer Brown.[5]

Private practice

As an attorney at Mayer Brown, Lightfoot represented Republicans in two cases protesting Democratic gerrymandering.[10] At Mayer Brown, she also defended Chicago police officer Paul Powers against charges of physical assault. In 2019, after facing criticism over defending Powers, Lightfoot cited video evidence in favor of her former client's innocence.[14]

Lightfoot was briefly hired by the city of Chicago to defend the city against charges brought by the family of a mentally ill woman, Christina Eilman, who was brought into custody by Chicago police after suffering a mental breakdown at Midway Airport. Eilman suffered sexual assault and a seven-story fall after being released by police into Englewood. Eilman's family reached a $22.5 million settlement with the city.[15][16]

Lightfoot has also served on the boards of the Illinois chapters of NARAL and the ACLU.[9] In 2013, Lightfoot was a finalist for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, but the job went to Zachary T. Fardon.[17]

Chicago Police Board and Police Accountability Task Force

Lightfoot speaking at the release of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force's report in 2016

Lightfoot returned to the public sector in 2015, when Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed her to replace 19-year incumbent Demitrius Carney as President of the Chicago Police Board. The board's main responsibility is to make recommendations for or against disciplinary action on certain disputed cases of police misconduct.[17] Under Lightfoot's leadership, the board became more punitive, firing officers in 72% of its cases. In the wake of the controversy over the murder of Laquan McDonald, Emanuel also appointed Lightfoot as Chair of a special Police Accountability Task Force.[18] In 2016, the Task Force, led by Lightfoot, filed a report critical of the Chicago Police Department's practices.[5] She specifically criticized the police union's "code of silence.[19] The anti-police brutality activist organization Black Youth Project 100's Chicago chapter released a statement denouncing Lightfoot and the Board and Task Force for a "lack of accountability".[20]

In 2017, Emanuel re-appointed Lightfoot to a second term as president of the Police Board. The decision came after Lightfoot and Emanuel had publicly come into conflict, particularly over Emanuel's attempts to reach a police reform deal with Trump Administration Justice Department officials that would avoid a consent decree and oversight from a federal judge. Lightfoot called Emanuel's approach "fundamentally flawed". At the time, there was already speculation that Lightfoot was planning a run for mayor of Chicago in 2019, though she denied the rumors.[21] Lightfoot resigned from the Police Board in May 2018, just before announcing her mayoral campaign.[6]

2019 Chicago mayoral candidacy

Lightfoot's 2019 mayoral campaign logo
See also: 2019 Chicago mayoral election

On May 10, 2018, Lightfoot announced her candidacy for Mayor of Chicago in the 2019 elections, her first-ever run for public office.[22][23][24] She is the first LGBTQ mayor and first black female mayor of Chicago.[25] Lightfoot is the first openly lesbian candidate in the history of Chicago mayoral elections.[26]

By the summer of 2018, Lightfoot had the highest-funded campaign of any individual challenging the two-term incumbent Emanuel.[27][28] However, in the fall, Emanuel dropped out of the race, and high-profile candidates like Gery Chico, Bill Daley, Susana Mendoza and Toni Preckwinkle subsequently entered.[29]

Animosity between the Preckwinkle and Lightfoot campaigns was reported as early as October 2018, when Preckwinkle denied rumors that she had pressured Lightfoot to drop out of the race.[30] In December, after Lightfoot submitted the petitions necessary to secure a place on the ballot, Preckwinkle's campaign filed a challenge claiming that many of Lightfoot's petitions were fraudulent. The Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners found Lightfoot had enough valid petitions to remain on the ballot, and Preckwinkle's campaign withdrew its challenge.[31]

In January the race was upended by a major corruption scandal involving Chicago alderman Ed Burke.[32] Lightfoot ran a television advertisement criticizing Chico, Daley, Mendoza and Preckwinkle as the "Burke Four" for their connections to the disgraced alderman.[33]

Lightfoot picked up several endorsements, including nods from LGBTQ groups and local politicians.[34][34][35] In February, Lightfoot won the endorsement of the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board.[10] As close to the election as late January, Lightfoot's support ranged between 2% and 5%.[36][37][38][39] She surged in polls later in the race, consistently polling at or near double-digits in surveys released in the weeks leading up to the election.[40][41][42][43][44]

Shortly before the election, Preckwinkle's campaign manager, Scott Cisek, came under fire after comparing Lightfoot to a Nazi in a Facebook post. Preckwinkle fired Cisek and publicly apologized for his post.[45]

Lightfoot finished first in the February election, in what was considered to be an upset.[35][46] She and Preckwinkle advanced to a runoff election, which is scheduled to be held on April 2, 2019.[4]

In the runoff, both the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune endorsed Lightfoot.[47][48] Several former candidates, including Mendoza, Chico, Paul Vallas, and fourth-place finisher Willie Wilson also endorsed Lightfoot in the runoff.[49][50] Lightfoot has held a substantial lead over Preckwinkle in polls conducted during the runoff campaign.[51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]

During the runoff, Lightfoot faced criticism from criminal justice activists over her record in police accountability and as a prosecutor.[14][59] Chicago-based musician and activist Chancelor Bennett, also known as Chance the Rapper, voiced similar concerns in his runoff endorsement of Preckwinkle. Bennett, a former Amara Enyia supporter and son of Preckwinkle's campaign co-chair, said Lightfoot's record as a prosecutor and Chicago Police Department employee has worked against the interests of the black community in Chicago.[60] U.S. Representative Bobby Rush, who endorsed Preckwinkle in the runoff after supporting Daley in the general election, made similar criticisms of Lightfoot centered around criminal justice issues.[61][62] Lightfoot defended herself against Bennett's criticisms at a mayoral debate, citing her personal experiences with racial discrimination as evidence she would take the concerns of the black community into account.[63] Lightfoot also faced activist criticism over comments at a University of Chicago forum, where she suggested turning some shuttered schools in the city into police academies.[59][64] Lightfoot later disavowed this suggestion via Twitter.[65]

Personal life

Lightfoot resides in the Logan Square neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.[66] She is married to Amy Eshleman, with whom she has one daughter.[23]

Public positions held

  • Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (1996–2002)
  • Chief Administrator of the Chicago Police Department Office of Professional Standards (July 2002 – July 2004)
  • Chief of Staff and General Counsel of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (July 2004 – February 2005)
  • Acting First Deputy Procurement Officer of the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services (February 2005 – October 2005)
  • President of the Chicago Police Board (2015–2018)

References

  1. ^ "Mayer Brown partner Lori Lightfoot recognized by Chicago business and legal groups". www.mayerbrown.com. June 7, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  2. ^ Dardick, Hal. "Lightfoot on Emanuel challenge: She'll be progressive candidate who makes City Hall serve everyone". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "Live updates: Bill Daley concedes in Chicago mayoral race, as Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle emerge from crowded field". The Chicago Tribune. February 26, 2019. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b "The Latest: 2 black women advance in Chicago mayor race". AP NEWS. February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Black, Curtis (January 17, 2019). "Is Lori Lightfoot really the progressive candidate?". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Spielman, Fran (May 8, 2018). "Does Lori Lightfoot have a path to victory in crowded race for mayor?". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Lori E. Lightfoot". Massillon Washington High School Alumni Association.
  8. ^ Preston, Charles (June 6, 2018). "Lori Lightfoot looks to tackle obstacles to become mayor". The Chicago Defender. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Ring, Trudy (February 20, 2019). "The Progressive Black Lesbian Who Could Be Chicago's Mayor". www.advocate.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Sun-Times Editorial Board (February 8, 2019). "Why the Sun-Times endorses Lori Lightfoot to be Chicago's next mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  11. ^ https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1014145.html
  12. ^ a b c "Behind Lori Lightfoot's image as police reformer, her past reveals complicated picture". chicagotribune.com. February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Wall, Craig (March 19, 2019). "Lori Lightfoot responds to accusations she covered up police-involved shooting in 2000". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c Black, Curtis (March 21, 2019). "Lightfoot's long, complicated record on policing easy to distort". Chicago Reporter. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  15. ^ Byrne, John (February 27, 2019). "Lightfoot resigns from Police Board, clearing path for possible mayoral run". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  16. ^ staff, Chicago Tribune (May 7, 2016). "10 years ago: Christina Eilman falls from a Chicago high-rise". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Former federal prosecutor picked to run Chicago Police Board". Chicago Sun-Times. May 31, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Police Accountability Task Force". chicagopatf.org. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  19. ^ Warren, James (February 28, 2019). "Opinion | Chicago will be run by a black woman. But is it ready for reform?". Washington Post. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Official Statement from BYP100 Chicago Chapter on Lori Lightfoot and the Mayor Appointed Police Task Force » BYP100". BYP100. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  21. ^ Ruthhart, Bill; Byrne, John (August 3, 2017). "Emanuel to reappoint Lightfoot as president of Chicago's police discipline board". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  22. ^ "Lori Lightfoot running for Chicago mayor". ABC7 Chicago. May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  23. ^ a b Chicago Tribune staff (January 26, 2019). "Who is Lori Lightfoot?". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  24. ^ "In Chicago mayor's race, Rahm Emanuel's exit makes room for powerful women of color". motherjones.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  25. ^ "Lori Lightfoot Is Running Against Her Old Boss, Rahm Emanuel, for Mayor of Chicago". marieclaire.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  26. ^ Staff, GoPride com News. "Lightfoot to become first openly lesbian candidate for Chicago mayor". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  27. ^ https://abc7chicago.com/politics/emanuel-campaign-fundraising-far-outpaces-competition/3699337/
  28. ^ https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/09/04/mayor-rahm-emanuel-more-campaign-money-than-political-opponents-combined/
  29. ^ Slevin, Peter (February 22, 2019). "In Chicago's Mayoral Race, the Establishment Leads the Outsiders". Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  30. ^ https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/preckwinkle-denies-bullying-lightfoot-mayors-race/
  31. ^ Esposito, Stefano (December 24, 2018). "Lightfoot stays on mayoral ballot; Preckwinkle campaign drops petition challenge". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  32. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/01/23/chicago-federal-political-corruption-scandal-mayor-election-alderman-ed-burke/2581411002/
  33. ^ Spielman, Fran (February 6, 2019). "Lightfoot TV ad shines light on 'Burke Four' she says are 'like cockroaches'". Chicago Sun-Times.
  34. ^ a b http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/February-2019/How-Lori-Lightfoot-Won-Chicago-Mayor-Race/
  35. ^ a b https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/lori-lightfoot-hangs-tough-amazing-turnaround/
  36. ^ https://twitter.com/DrWillieWilson/status/1091397471559999489
  37. ^ "Poll jam: Preckwinkle, Daley inch ahead as all 14 struggle to crack 13 percent". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  38. ^ "Sun Times Chicago Mayoral Jan 2019 Draft | Opinion Poll | Margin Of Error". Scribd. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  39. ^ David Binder Research (January 22, 2019). "RE: Preckwinkle's Support Declines by Near Double Digits". Politico.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  40. ^ Wilson, Dr Willie (February 16, 2019). "No bias. All the polls are "singing the same song" - Victory, Ogden & Fry, We Ask America and now Tulchin Research. And now that you know? You know what to do... punch 22 for Willie Wilson For Mayor! Everyone else is saying so! Click, read, like & share!pic.twitter.com/9CfzbfCoho". Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "5-Person Dash to Finish of Chicago Mayoral Race, Poll Shows". NBC Chicago. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  42. ^ https://twitter.com/MaryAnnAhernNBC/status/1098336790224748545
  43. ^ "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  44. ^ Loria, Jane (February 24, 2019). "Three-Way Tie on the Eve of Chicago's Mayoral Election". Retrieved February 25, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  45. ^ Wall, Craig (February 22, 2019). "Preckwinkle fires campaign manager over controversial Facebook post". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  46. ^ https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Spurred-on-By-Upset-Win-Lightfoot-Gains-Momentum-Ahead-of-Runoff-506722251.html
  47. ^ Editorial Board (March 15, 2019). "Tribune Editorial Board endorsement for mayor of Chicago: Lori Lightfoot". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  48. ^ Sun-Times Editorial Board (March 19, 2019). "EDITORIAL: Finish the job, Chicago, and elect Lori Lightfoot for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  49. ^ Spielman, Fran; Esposito, Stefano; Closson, Troy (March 8, 2019). "Wilson endorsement caps good week for Lightfoot's mayoral campaign". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  50. ^ staff, Chicago Tribune (March 25, 2019). "Who are losing mayoral candidates backing in the runoff election? Hint: not Toni Preckwinkle". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  51. ^ "Mayoral Runoff Election Poll".
  52. ^ Vinicky, Amanda (March 25, 2019). "New Poll Suggests Lightfoot Poised to Clinch Mayor's Race". WTTW.
  53. ^ Hinz, Greg (March 25, 2019). "A new mayoral poll reveals a big Lightfoot lead—and a warning". Crain's Chicago Business.
  54. ^ Spielman, Fran (March 4, 2019). "Poll shows Lightfoot trouncing Preckwinkle; CTU dismisses it as 'trash'". Chicago Sun-Times.
  55. ^ Kapos, Shia (March 4, 2019). "FIRST POLL: Lori trouncing Toni — CHUY's campaign chief heads Lori's team — BERNIE hits Chi". Politico.
  56. ^ Stand for Children Illinois (March 4, 2019). "Stand for Children IL PAC Poll: Lightfoot 58%, Preckwinkle 30%". www.politico.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  57. ^ Conboy, Benjamin (March 4, 2019). "Poll: Lightfoot Stretches Lead Over Preckwinkle". WMAQ-TV.
  58. ^ Spielman, Fran (March 7, 2019). "Lightfoot goes negative to defend reformer image; lands firefighter endorsement". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  59. ^ a b Editorial Board (March 19, 2019). "Lori Lightfoot and the police academy kerfuffle: Bold ideas aren't necessarily bad ideas". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  60. ^ Johnson, Marty (March 21, 2019). "Chance the Rapper made a second mayoral endorsement, and this time it's Toni Preckwinkle". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  61. ^ https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Rush-Doubles-Down-on-Controversial-Lightfoot-Remarks-507637751.html
  62. ^ Bradley, Tahman (February 2, 2019). "U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush endorses Bill Daley for Chicago mayor". WGN-TV. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  63. ^ Pratt, Gregory; Perez Jr., Juan (March 21, 2019). "Lori Lightfoot counters Chance the Rapper's criticism during Chicago mayor debate". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  64. ^ Khwaja, Maria (March 19, 2019). "Op-Ed: Lori Lightfoot's Dark Promises". South Side Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  65. ^ Lightfoot, Lori (March 21, 2019). "A comment I made last week has been misinterpreted. 
Let me be clear: I am not proposing creating any additional police training facilities. Mayor Emanuel's proposal has passed the City Council and the academy will be located on the West Side". @LightfootForChi. Retrieved March 26, 2019. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 52 (help)
  66. ^ "Lori Lightfoot: A Potential Mayor Out of a Logan Square Resident". LoganSquarist. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
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