North Cook News

Charles Hutchinson, a candidate for Illinois State House District 18, has emphasized the importance of safety in local neighborhoods. "People deserve to live, work, and go to school in safe neighborhoods," he stated. Hutchinson recently drew attention to an attempted robbery in the Village of Wilmette.

"Crime continues to increase," said Hutchinson, according to Facebook. "People deserve to live, work, and go to school in safe neighborhoods. We must put victims ahead of criminals. Step #1 is to repeal the SAFE-T Act."

In a Facebook post, Hutchinson shared a press release from the Village of Wilmette that detailed an armed robbery on May 4. The information was provided by Kyle Murphy, the village police chief.

Screenshot of Charles Hutchinson's May 4 Facebook post | Charles Hutchinson's campaign Facebook page

Murphy stated: "On May 4, 2024, at approximately 8:59 a.m., Wilmette Officers responded to the area of Beechwood Ave., and Hunter Ave., for a reported armed robbery. Preliminary investigation reveals that two male offenders in a vehicle approached a 44-year-old victim, who was jogging on the sidewalk. The offenders displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s phone. The offenders took the victim’s cell phone and fled in their vehicle."

According to the press release, the victim was unharmed. The suspects were described as "two males wearing bandanas over their faces" who drove away in a black sedan. The Wilmette Police Department continues its investigation into this incident and encourages anyone with relevant information to contact them.

Hutchinson proposed that one way to prioritize victims over criminals is to "repeal the SAFE-T Act," a contentious law enacted in 2022.

Hutchinson is not only a lawyer based in Wilmette but also holds various roles within his community. His contributions include serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, and as a Board member for the Wilmette Theatre. As outlined on his website, his campaign focuses on strengthening community ties and advocating for key issues such as parental rights, education, neighborhood safety, and tax reduction.

The 18th District includes north Cook County communities such as Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka and Glencoe. The current representative is Robyn Gabel (R-Evanston), who took office in 2010 and is nearing the end of her term, set to conclude on Jan. 8, 2025. As reported by Ballotpedia, Gabel is seeking re-election to continue representing the district in the Illinois House of Representatives.