North Cook News

SCHAUMBURG — House Bill (H.B.) 4356, which would allow Chicago voters to recall Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is important statewide because it involves the political power structure, Jillian Rose Bernas, GOP candidate for the 56th District State House seat, told North Cook News today.

Bernas said the mayor and the city’s political power structure currently are doing anything they can to hold on to power, but that families and legislators in the Chicago community are looking for processes and a mechanism to hold elected officials accountable.

“This is non-partisan legislation that has the support of west-side Democrats and suburban Republican legislators and candidates from across the state,” Bernas said. “People have seen a problem, and they are standing together to fix it.

“So I am standing with those families and candidates and legislators from both parties and from across the state,” Bernas, a Schaumburg Township Library Board trustee, said.

H.B. 4356 was introduced by State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Dist. 8), and the legislation has garnered support from six State Senate candidates and 10 State House GOP candidates. Meanwhile, Emanuel has dismissed any calls for his resignation.

Based on “the outcry of families and legislators in Chicago” and “individuals protesting” in the streets, Bernas thinks it would be “correct for legislators to allow the people of Chicago to self-govern.”

Bernas also said she finds it unfortunate that some legislators are absolving themselves of responsibility for the legislation.

“A lot of people say, ‘Well, this doesn’t involve my district, so why should I support it?’ But the fact is that this legislation makes a change to the City and Village Act, which can only be done by state legislators.,” Bernas said. 

"(It's) a little bit of a cop-out for legislators to say they won’t vote on it or even bring it up to a vote because it doesn’t affect their district,” she said. “I think this is exactly the reason why they are in Springfield: to vote on changes to current state acts and to evolve policy.

“I don’t think we have the luxury of just taking a pass on this issue,” Bernas said.

At the same time, the GOP candidate took a swipe at 56th District incumbent Rep. Michelle Mussman (D).

“If you look at Mussman’s website, it says she is in favor of real legislation, so I hope she is in favor of recall legislation when this is Democrat Rahm Emanuel,” Bernas said.

Bernas said she doesn’t really know what aspects of the recall bill Mussman agrees with, but said she “would be happy to discuss these points” with the representative.

Mussman did not return requests for comment at press time.

“The voters have no idea where (Mussman) stands on this issue, and quite frankly, I think they really don’t have an idea of where she stands on many controversial issues,” Bernas said.

“I think it would be nice for us to hear from our district leadership,” Bernas said.