Lake County Gazette

GURNEE -- Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mike Amrozowicz currently has his hands full concentrating on issues in the 31st Senate District, where he’s running as the GOP candidate.

But that doesn’t mean Amrozowicz isn’t sympathetic to the cause that’s gone statewide calling for the ouster of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is a Democrat.

“We have enough issues here in our district that I want to take the lead on, and that is not something I am wanting to do on this matter,” Amrozowicz told the Lake County Gazette recently.

Amrozowicz is among more than a dozen legislative candidates who have signed a statement from the Chicago-based Illinois Opportunity Project (IOP) in support of pending House Bill (H.B.) 4356, which would establish a procedure for a recall election for Emanuel.

The IOP statement calls on the General Assembly and each candidate’s opponent “to protect the families and children of Chicago, and empower them with the ability to recall” Emanuel.

Introduced by State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Dist. 8), H.B. 4356 would require 88,610 signatures, including the collection of 50 from each ward in the city, to force the Board of Elections to host a special recall election. If Emanuel were recalled in that election, then a separate election would be held for prospective candidates, and Vice Mayor Ray Suarez would become interim mayor until a replacement is elected and sworn into office.

“The big thing is Chicago has its issues, and if they were to choose and wanted to have an option to have a recall, they should be able to make that choice,” Amrozowicz said.  “That is about as much as I have looked into it.”

Amrozowicz said he was simply asked for his opinion and whether he would support the recall option for Chicagoans. “I said yes,” Amrozowicz said.

At the same time, Amrozowicz said Cook County and Chicago Democrats are aligned with Democrats all over the state against the Emanuel recall bill.

“That is pretty much why I am not really excited about it” having a chance of being passed, Amrozowicz said.

Amrozowicz is running against incumbent District 31 State Sen. Melinda Bush (D), who could not be reached for comment.