State Sen. Toi Hutchinson of Olympia Fields waited all of three hours after Jesse Jackson Jr.’s resignation before announcing her plans to run for his seat. At 4:43 p.m. Wednesday, Hutchinson sent out this e-mail.
I want to thank Congressman Jackson for his past service.
As a long-time resident of the second Congressional District, where my husband and I have raised our three children, I believe we deserve a strong leader in Congress who will protect Social Security and Medicare and fight to bring new jobs.
Over the coming days, I’ll be speaking with my family, neighbors and community leaders, whom I’ve known and worked with for years, to explore a campaign for Congress.
In the State Senate, I’ve fought for our schools and to make our communities safer by preventing sexual assault. And in Springfield, I’ve always led by example, cutting my own pay and benefits.
I’ll have more to say in the coming days. I wish our families a happy Thanksgiving and pray for those who are fighting for our country abroad and can not celebrate at home.
Hutchinson was appointed to the senate in 2009 to finish the term of Debbie Halvorson, who had just been elected to Congress. The suburban legislator joins attorney Sam Adam Jr. and former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger as candidates who have publicly announced an interest in succeeding Jackson.
