FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, January 7, 2012

Today marked the start of the political endorsement season for candidates seeking election in the March 20 primary. The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization kicked off with interviews of candidates running county-wide for Metropolitan water Reclamation District, Illinois Supreme Court, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Appellate Court and Board of Review.

In a decisive vote IVI-IPO members endorsed Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown for re-election. As one of Brown’s supporters told the audience at the Chicago Temple, 22 W. Washington St., the incumbent did not receive one endorsement from the Cook County Democratic Party when she ran in 2000. “You can’t get more independent than Dorothy Brown,” stated Betty Magness. “The reason the party is supporting her for re-election is because of her previous victories.”

Both Brown and her opponent had equal time to make their respective cases before IVI-IPO, and take questions. Apparently, the body was not persuaded by her opponent’s accusation the clerk’s office is antiquated and stuck in the ’80s.

The final vote to endorse Brown was 97to 21.

“IVI-IPO’s endorsement questionnaire is one of the most extensive of the campaign process,” said Brown. “I appreciate the members endorsing my re-election. It’s a referendum on the job they believe I am doing in the clerk’s office.”

IVI-IPO was the only political organization to endorse Brown when she ran for clerk in 2000. Members have continued to endorse her for each subsequent re-election campaign.

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