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The public criteria quoted in The Hyde Park Herald/Lakefront Outlook's April 27th editions feature quotes from Cook County Board President and 4th Ward Committeemen Toni Preckwinkle regarding hercriteria for who should be appointed to fill the vacancy of 26th District State Representative replacing Will Burns, who is now 4th Ward Alderman. After reading her criteria, I believe that it should strongly favor candidate Ranoule Tatum, who recently had a press conference announcing a 5th run for this seat. Ranould Tatum has never stopped running for this seat, after many other candidates have come and gone after losing elections.

Preckwinkle was quoted "We have to find someone who could be elected on their own in the next cycle," and that she was not interested in a caretaker to mind the seat until the next election. Despite election losses, what other candidates than Ranoule Tatum never stopped continuing his organizing and visibility in the District, continuing to work on matters of public policy? No other candidate has continued to keep up with the issues of the district and building relationships with other local and state legislators? In the last close race that included Burns and local businessman Kenny Johnson, it was Ranoule Tatum who backed out and encouraged his supporters to provide the margin of victory for Burns to win as State Rep, and I think that too should be rewarded.

Ranoule Tatum has been no stranger to the local, state officials and the movers and shakers or the constituents of the district, and he has continued to build a strong organization as he has continued to work on public policy issues and those contacts would certainly be a sound foundation for fundraising and campaign. No one has worked harder to sustain himself as Ranoule Tatum and he should be the favorite in my judgement based on the criteria public released by Committeeman Preckwinkle who does have the strongest weighted vote in the Committeemen's who will be voting.

The only other strong contender that I have received calls about is local businessman and former candidate Kenny Johnson who I also know well and have worked with, but in all fairness after the election Johnson openly told me and others that he was going to focus some time on building his business ventures which he has, while Tatum has focused on maintaining his visibility as an organizer and public policy advocate in the district. It would be wrong to just elevate Kenny Johnson over Tatum when Tatum has worked harder to be prepared for this moment than Johnson has.  And I will not mention the Black political operative who mentioned to me that Johnson is the front runner because he has raised money for both Preckwinkle and Burns, but without that same level of consistent community service, one should not project Johnson as just buying support. "Service" is power and Ranoule Tatum should be appointed State Rep because he has continually served the people at the grassroots level. 

Ranoule Tatum provided the votes that made Will Burns the State Rep, and now Ranoule Tatum should receive the votes to now make him the new State Rep!