Advocate. Advocate. Advocate was the central message legislators gave to municipal leaders in response to statewide gridlock at the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association legislative breakfast Feb. 19 at the Olympia Fields Country Club. In other words, ask Gov. Bruce Rauner and lawmakers to support what you (mayors) do in your communities. With no clear path out of statewide gridlock, it is incumbent upon the councils of government like SSMMA to get together, dialogue, be active and vocal.
At the breakfast, Legislative Committee Chairman Richard Reinbold (mayor of Richton Park) presented an SSMMA major issue overview, property freeze impact statement and St. James Hospital closing/ and need for Level 1 trauma center hearing brief to state, federal and county legislators and elected officials, represented by a panel including Illinois Representatives Will Davis (30th District), Anthony DeLuca (80th District), Al Riley (38th District) and Margo McDermed (37th District); State Senators Michael Hastings ((19th District) and Donne Trotter (17th District). Representatives also provided briefings from Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Gov. Bruce Rauner, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Congressman Bobby Rush; U.S. Senators. Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk’s offices.
We gratefully acknowledge all who participated at the event, as well as AT&T for sponsoring it, the Legislative Committee, and all who helped shape the association’s 2016 legislative policy statement. More photos are here.
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