Retired Illinois Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke is expected to succeed Kim Foxx as the state’s attorney for Cook County, Ill. after Foxx chose not to seek re-election after two terms. A victory for Justice O’Neill Burke was widely seen as a shift away from Foxx’s progressive and reform-oriented approach, reports the New York Times. In the general election in November, Justice O’Neill Burke will face Republican Bob Fioretti, a former alderman. Cook County, which includes Chicago, is heavily Democratic, and the winner of the Democratic primary is widely favored.
Crime is a potent political issue for voters in Chicago and other cities, where shootings and homicides spiked during the pandemic but have seen declines in the past two years. Burke said she would be tougher on offenders who are convicted of low level crimes. She has vowed to reverse a policy instituted by Foxx to only prosecute retail theft as a felony if the value of the stolen goods exceeds $1,000. Burke attracted support and donors from the business community, including six-figure donations from executives in the finance and restaurant industries. Burke said she supported the state’s decision to end cash bail and promised to continue restorative justice measures that Foxx championed.
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