Jackson, Jr Endorses Suffredin

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jan 7, 2008 5:30PM

Congressman and mayoral wannabe Jesse Jackson Jr made some strange bedfellows this weekend when he announced that he's endorsing Larry Suffredin for Cook County state's attorney.

But the endorsement should come as no surprise to 21st Ward Alderman Howard Brookins, who is also running for the post. Brookins drew the ire of organized labor when he backed Wal-Mart's attempts to open a store in his ward, and now that Bill Beavers and Todd Stroger are backing him, Jackson has all the reasons he needs not to endorse his long-time ally; 8th Ward Alderman (and wife of Jr) Sandi Jackson running for Ward Committeeman in a bid to cripple Beavers's machine. Endorsing Suffredin also gives Jr an "in" with lakeside liberals and independent Democrats--credibility that he can use if he ever grows a pair and runs for mayor.

Larry Suffredin doesn't come without his own political baggage. When asked about Suffredin's long career as a corporate lobbyist, Jackson told the Tribune “I’m not suggesting in any way, shape or form that anyone in the process is pure. But I am suggesting that Mr. Suffredin, from my perspective, is the purest.”