U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is sitting this one out, it seems.
Quigley, the former North Side county commissioner who went to Washington after winning Rahm Emanunel’s vacated seat, says he has decided not to back any of the Democrats running in the primary for Cook County Board President.
“The bottom line is it’s a seat near and dear to me. At this point, I just elected not to make a choice,” he said yesterday.
He added, however, “That could change.”
But the likelihood of Quigley making an announcement before Tuesday’s primary election seems low. His staff says he has been focused on making a difference in Washington.
He has, however, backed state Rep. John Fritchey. In September, Quigley and Commissioner Forrest Claypool publicly endorsed Fritchey when he announced he would run for Claypool’s soon-to-be vacated 12th District seat.
He is the only member of Chicago's Congressional delegation to not endorse anyone. Rep. Bobby Rush has backed President Todd Stroger. Rep. Danny Davis endorsed Clerk of Court Dorothy Brown. Rep. Dan Lipinski is backing Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien, and Reps. Luis Gutierrez, Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson Jr. sided with Alderman Toni Preckwinkle.
Quigley’s comments came at an Skate for Haiti, an benefit his staff organized at the Wrigley Field ice rink to help victims of the earthquake.
Quigley said he was “putting on the foil” for Haiti, a reference to the 1977 Paul Newman hockey comedy “Slap Shot.”
Gubernatorial candidate Dan Hynes made an appearance, though he didn’t address reports that his office was aware of the scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery as early as 2003.
“As cold as it is here, warm hearts for Haiti,” Quigley said to Hynes.