Commissioner Sims backs Gordon for her soon to be vacated Cook County Board Seat
By Tia Carol Jones
The Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims has represented the 5th District for 27 years. She announced that she would not seek re-election when her current term is up in 2022. Sims has made it clear that she wants her seat to be filled by a Black woman. She has chosen Monica Gordon.
“At some time in your life, you feel like OK, I’ve done all that I can do. It’s time to pass the torch to somebody else, I’m 67,” Sims said.
Gordon is on the Prairie State College Board and is the Director of Government and Community Relations at Chicago State University. She ran for the Illinois State Senatorial seat and while she didn’t win, she learned a lot about campaigning and running for office.
Commissioner Sims first took office in 1994 and has been a commissioner while the late John Stroger, Todd Stroger and Toni Preckwinkle were Cook County Presidents. Her district covers parts of the South side of Chicago, Posen, Hazel Crest, Olympia Fields, Glenwood, Riverdale, Harvey, Chicago Heights, Blue Island, Robbins, Midlothian, Dolton, Phoenix, Ford Heights and Markham. The district has more than 300,000 constituents.
Sims, along with another commissioner in DuPage County, started the Illinois Association of County Officials. She is the president of the National Association of Black County Officials. She also oversaw the building of the Domestic Violence Court.
Gordon, a community advocate, wants to keep the momentum Sims has created going. She is part of Sisters of the Southland and is co-host of Colored Girls of Cook County Podcast.
“Community is my passion, people are my passion,” Gordon said. “Everything I’m doing is fulfilling my purpose.”
Sims sees Gordon’s edge and her lack of fear for trying new things. She likes Gordon’s passion and her drive to win. Sims wants the campaign to be supported by Black men and want them to show their support of Gordon.
The election for the Cook County Commissioner is different than Gordon’s other races. The General Election has been moved from March 2022 to June 2022 and the petition season is from January to March. Gordon said she is up for the challenge. She wants to galvanize support during that time and aggressively fundraise. Gordon also is passionate about equitable access to healthcare and advocacy. She has been doing the work.
“I’m very passionate about the people. I will work hard for the people. I’m driven, my work ethic, I don’t mind working all day. That’s what I do. Because when you have purpose in your work you work, you don’t stop working,” Gordon said. “I’m really just passionate about the people and helping people and doing what I can to make a difference.” Bringing resources to the community is Gordon’s superpower and she is a networker.
“She’s worth putting in the effort, she’s worth putting in the fight, she has the compassion, she has the drive and she’s got the tenacity,” Sims said.
Gordon will leverage her network and expand the network. She believes the table should be inclusive and wants to bring everybody to the fight, because there are things that need to be done in the Southland and the South side of Chicago.
“When you bring them all in a fight and everybody has a role, that’s how everybody is excited to work. That’s how you motivate everybody to do this together,” Gordon said.
Gordon was grateful to Sims for choosing her, she felt privileged to learn from her and promised not to let Sims down.
