Yesterday afternoon, local Democratic Party leaders in the 14th State Senate District met at the 34th Ward Regular Democratic Organization office, on 111th Street. They formally picked Emil Jones, III to replace his father on the ballot, who announced this week that he will retire. State Rep. Monique Davis, who has had a tenuous relationship with the Senate President, backed community activist Dozier Thomas over Jones the Third. While the elder Jones defended his choice, Mayor Daley told Chicago Public Radio that he would stay out of the fray. "That would be up to people in the Senate, that would be up to them to make the judgment what is good for the democratic party. They've had a lot of challenges over the years. I think they have to all come together in regards to a lot of issues," the mayor said. Threemil will face Ray Wardington Wardingley, who's hobby is running for office. more ›

Emil Jones, defending his decision to bequeath his office to his son, Emil Jones, III, told the media yesterday that keeping it in the family is a political tradition. "'I recall John F. Kennedy, president of the United States, when he became president, he recommended his brother. Right? And his brother was elected,' Jones said, in an apparent reference to Sen. Ted Kennedy, who followed his brother as a senator from Massachusetts." Then he confused which Daley came first. more ›