Dems pick another inexperienced hack to run for States Attorney of crime-ridden Cook County

Preckwinkle’s pick slated by Cook County Democratic Party to replace Kim Foxx
Clayton Harris III, a former prosecutor and political aide, joins former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke in the March 2024 primary run for state’s attorney.
By Mitchell Armentrout




Clayton Harris III is a University of Chicago lecturer. He also worked as an assistant to former Mayor Richard M. Daley, a chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Transportation and a one-time top aide to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s pick to replace outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx received a key seal of approval Tuesday as the Cook County Democratic Party voted to slate Clayton Harris III in next year’s primary election.

The formal party backing promises to power Harris’ campaign with money and political foot soldiers in the scramble to replace Foxx, another Preckwinkle protege who announced in April that she wouldn’t seek a third term.

“I’ve been energized by the opportunity to travel across the county, hearing people’s concerns, and listening to their ideas on how to make our communities safer,” Harris said in a statement. “I’m committed to doing the work to ensure our office focuses on holding violent offenders accountable, and continues to push forward on the urgent work of reform.”

Harris, a University of Chicago lecturer, has a lengthy resume that includes stints as an assistant to former Mayor Richard M. Daley, a chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Transportation — and a one-time top aide to disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO?

I'm bothered by this part of the story as reported by the Sun Times.

Harris, a Washington Park resident, was a prosecutor under former Cook County State’s Attorney Dick Devine; an intergovernmental affairs assistant to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; and lead counsel for the Chicago Department of Transportation. 

Harris went on to the Illinois Transportation Department and eventually became the final chief of staff to Blagojevich late in the tenure of the governor who was later convicted on corruption charges. 

Clayton Harris III, pictured at the Port of Chicago in 2017.

Neil Steinberg/Sun-Times (file)

In a 2012 letter to a federal judge, Harris — who was never accused of wrongdoing — described “chaos” in Blagojevich’s office, including “an episode where I was directed to fire the entire legal department because they lacked the professionalism that the governor believed should have been exhibited.” He also said Blagojevich ordered him to hire an unemployed lawyer “he met in line at Starbucks to be chief legal counsel of the state of Illinois!”

Harris didn’t follow up on either request, but he “did allow [Blagojevich] to believe” that he would do so because that was the best way to refocus the governor’s attention on more important matters, Harris wrote.


He sent a letter to a judge describing the chaos that he, as Chief of Staff to Blago, was presiding over? I would say that an attorney is ethically obligated to remove himself from such a situation, immediately. Instead, Mr. Harris choose to stay put and continue drawing a fat paycheck while at the same time pulling a hoax on the then sitting Governor. As inept as Blago was, Harris owned Blago a duty of loyalty and fidelity. The fact that Harris sees nothing wrong with this fact pattern is cause for concern.

I view this episode as a failure of character and leadership. He is not fit to be the Cook County States Attorney.