Ald. Sandi Jackson considering Lt. Gov. bid

You have got to be kidding me! Over two years ago Ald. Jackson (7th Ward - South Shore/South Chicago), the wife of US Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr & daughter in law to Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., beat Darcel Beavers. Darcel Beavers, just so happened to the be the daughter of her predecessor Alderman, Bill Beavers. Bill Beavers left the Chicago City Council for a seat on the Cook County Board in 2006.

That makes Ald. Jackson a freshman alderman who when she was inaugurated onto the city council with other freshman who would have heralded a new found independence for the city's legislative branch. Of course there are those who are still wanting of that independence, but that is neither here nor there at this point. But this is a surprise if she is ready to bail on Chicago's City Council for a statewide bid.

Here's more from Clout Street:

Barely halfway into her first term as a Chicago City Council member, the wife of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) is considering a campaign for statewide office.

The congressman told the Tribune today that his wife, 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, “is not going to discourage” supporters who want to collect signatures to put her on the February primary ballot for lieutenant governor.

“She hasn’t made a judgment,” said Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the civil rights leader and former presidential candidate. “I know she is very committed to the people of the 7th Ward. She has 1,500 volunteers in her organization who are primed to circulate [nominating] petitions. A number of people have asked her about [running for lieutenant governor]. She is considering it.”

Reached at the couple’s South Side home, Jesse Jackson Jr. said his wife did not wish to comment on the possibility of a statewide campaign.
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An “e-newsletter” sent out today by her political organization asks in its subject line: “Sandi Jackson for Lieutenant Governor?” The e-mail does not make any further mention of the topic but does note that Sandi Jackson’s chief of staff will be filling in for the alderman at the next two “ward nights,” where constituents are asked to bring their concerns.

The field of potential Democratic lieutenant governor candidates is too numerous to list, but Jackson would bring some family name ID in Chicago, where much of the Democratic primary vote takes place.

If she goes for the Lt. Governorship of Illinois, then is she bailing out on her 7th Ward constituents. I wonder if there is a political reason for this other than she could move up to a higher office. Who might replace her on the city council should she move up?

In other items. IL Channel has a tentative list of contenders for Lt. Governor. Also after the big rollout in announcing his candidacy for state attorney general, Joe Birkett drops out of that race. This was probably expected since Lisa Madigan dropped a bombshell and chose to run for re-election to Attorney General instead of running for either Governor or US Senate.