(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The longest-serving Black lawmaker in the Illinois Legislature has lost her bid for re-election.
When Mary Flowers was first elected to the Illinois House, Harold Washington was mayor of Chicago. After nearly 4 decades in Springfield, She lost the 31st District race to newcomer Michael Crawford, who had the support of Speaker Chris Welch.
He removed Flowers from democratic leadership last year after accusing the now-72y-year-old of abusive behavior towards a staffer.
Flowers told the Chicago Sun-Times it was democracy that lost, not her, and questions what could have been done for Auburn Greshman with the $1.7 million poured into the race.
Crawford said he hopes his win is seen as a step towards providing full funding for our public schools and addressing violence in the community.
In his victory speech, educator Michael Crawford said he hopes his election to the Illinois House won’t just be about beating a longtime incumbent. But, a supporter of Mary Flowers told the Sun-Times prior to the election that no one had heard of Crawford and questioned what the 41-year-old has done for the 31st district.
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