North Cook News

Former State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, a Democrat from Skokie, is suing her successor, State Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-Skokie). 

Stoneback claims that her "reputation as a well-known advocate and voice for gun violence prevention was severely damaged by statements in the 2022 primary election." She alleged that the statements intentionally described her records falsely and depicted her as "an enemy to gun violence prevention."  

“I have worked to reduce gun violence for the past decade,” Stoneback said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. “Since the Sandy Hook school shooting, I created a non-profit, a coalition, and a national working group to reduce gun violence. I also have passed gun safety legislation and stopped the largest gun shop and range in the Midwest from locating near schools in my community.” 

With the alleged harmful statements, the distress the situation caused her, and "the need to attempt to right a wrong and prevent it from occurring in the future" Stoneback said she was compelled to file a lawsuit, pursue remedies available to her, as well as set the record straight. 

“The truth matters," Stoneback said. "The public deserves reliable facts as they make critical decisions about who will represent them. Prohibiting false statements in political campaigns in some manner is law in 27 states, but not in Illinois. In the fall of 2022, I introduced a bill to prohibit false statements, libel, and defamation in political advertising in campaigns and ensure that candidates commit to our state’s Code of Fair Campaign Practices. I encourage state legislators to pass this legislation, and I encourage all candidates for elected office to sign on and commit to observing the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.” 

The former representative also said that many other candidates have faced situations similar to hers and by providing the correct information she hopes others will join her in calling for these changes. 

"Together we can take an important step towards improving the way we conduct political campaigns in Illinois,” Stoneback further said. “I will not allow the unfortunate occurrences of the 2022 election to get in the way of progress and the work that needs to be done. Despite what has happened, I remain committed to reducing gun violence, and hope to continue my work in this area.” 

Stoneback filed the defamation lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court. 

“The Defendants engaged in a concerted effort to destroy Ms. Stoneback’s reputation among citizens of the State of Illinois and, particularly, the 16th District by knowingly publishing false statements that portrayed Ms. Stoneback as an enemy to gun violence prevention despite Ms. Stoneback having been a well-known advocate and voice for gun violence prevention throughout the State of Illinois for nearly a decade,” the lawsuit reads.

Stoneback was defeated by Olickal in the June 2022 Democratic primary in the 16th District. Olickal garnered over 560 votes more than Stoneback out of the total 9,400 votes cast. The race, a rematch from two years prior, featured a divide among unions and local Democratic politicians, with gun control advocacy groups endorsing Olickal despite Stoneback being the founder of a gun violence prevention nonprofit, Patch reported. The campaign turned negative at times, with Stoneback's advertisement highlighting an unnamed contributor allegedly supporting "anti-choice pro-gun Republicans," while Olickal's supporters criticized Stoneback for not voting on House Bill 562, equating it with a lack of support for universal background checks on gun purchases. 

Olickal's campaign received significant contributions from LiUNA, Gun Violence Prevention PAC, and State Sen. Ram Villivalam, among others.

Olickal and State Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine) made history by becoming the first South Asian American members of the Illinois House of Representatives. Olickal was elected from District 16, while Syed secured her seat in District 51.