Ald. Brookins Challenges Rush for Congressional Seat

Norman Parish | As of Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins (right) is challenging U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (left) for his first district congressional seat.
Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins (right) is challenging U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (left) for his first district congressional seat.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush is being challenged for his Illinois first district seat by veteran Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins Jr.

Last week, Brookins officially filed as a congressional candidate in the Democratic primary. Activist Tio Hardiman recently pulled out of the race to challenge Cook County Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown for her seat.

“I’m running for Congress because our community needs a fighter in Washington to represent our needs and find solutions to our problems,” said Brookins, who has represented the city’s 21st Ward since 2003.

Brookins, 52, said he plans to focus on three areas if elected to Congress: criminal justice, education and infrastructure.

“From my experience as a public defender and criminal defense lawyer, there should be more accountability from the government and police department,” Brookins said. “I’ll work along with constituents to foster a better working relationship between the community and the police.”

On infrastructure problems, Brookins said: “Our roads and bridges are crumbling, especially in the first district. If our current Congressman isn’t going to speak up for the basic needs of our community, I will by championing for infrastructure projects that make our neighborhoods stronger.”

Brookins criticized Rush, who has represented the district since 1993, on his attendance in Congress.

“He just doesn’t show up,” Brookins said. “My opponent has missed the most votes out of any member in the House. It’s a tragedy that our communities and neighborhoods are not represented fairly and effectively when their voices are not heard in Congress. I promise to be the voice that our communities deserve and have been missing for too many years.”

Govtrack.us says that from Jan. 1993 to Dec. 2015, Rush missed 2,368 roll call votes or 15.5 percent of votes. The median lifetime record for Congressmen is 2.2 percent.

Debra Johnson, a Rush spokeswoman, said about 20 percent of Congress has the “exact same voting record.”

“So, it is not unique,” Johnson said.

Rush, 69, has battled cancer and also has missed votes because of his wife’s illness.

“My accomplishments have been outstanding,” Rush said. “I would put my record against any opponent and any member of Congress who is running.”

Rush, the former state Black Panther leader and Chicago alderman, has been one of the publicly outspoken critics of the shooting of Laquan McDonald, the black teen fatally shot by a white Chicago Police officer. The officer has been charged with murder.

Rush was among hundreds who marched on Black Friday on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago to protest the shooting.

Last week, Rush called for a special prosecutor to try the case, saying Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez dragged her feet in issuing a murder charge in spite of “irrefutable videotape evidence.”

He added that Alvarez has demonstrated a disregard for justice that makes her unfit for Jason Van Dyke’s trial.

Brookins said of the shooting: “I grieve for the McDonald family and for all the families who cannot place their trust in the Chicago Police Department.”

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