CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Senate President Don Harmon — who happens to be the Oak Park Township Committeeman — said residents of Cook County's First District have until May 31 to apply for the County Board seat Brandon Johnson vacated when he became Chicago's mayor.
Cook County Democratic Party Executive Director Jacob Kaplan said Harmon and the other local Democratic officials serving on the 10-person committee members will make the selection. As the biggest vote-generator in the last election, Harmon will chair the committee
“Whoever’s appointed will only serve through [2024] because there’s a county ordinance and there will be a special election as part of the March primary and November general election next year, for the remaining two years of Commissioner Johnson’s term.”
Kaplan said after potential candidates are screened and interviewed, it will be a so-called weighted vote, according to the number of votes Johnson received when he last ran.
“The weighted vote is based on the number of votes that Commissioner Johnson got in the last general election, so in November of [2022],” Kaplan said “For instance, in Oak Park Township, Commissioner Johnson received 20,488 votes, so that’s how many votes President Harmon will cast as Oak Park Township Democratic Committeeperson.”
That gives Harmon the largest number of votes on the committee. County Clerk Karen Yarborough, the Proviso Township Committeewoman, has the next highest number of votes. They will have the biggest sway in the decision.
Harmon said the application process closes May 31.
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