Received $73K donation from the Chicago Teachers Union,
failed to attend community forum March 6
Shantel Franklin, the political newcomer who received a $73,000 campaign donation and was grilled about her relationship with big union donors during a community forum presented by Black newspapers, did not appear at the second forum last week.
Franklin is running to replace State Representative La Shawn Ford in the Illinois House 8th District race.
Since the Chicago Crusader’s last story, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on March 3 gave Franklin an additional $25,000 campaign donation, bringing his total contributions to $55,000, according to filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
The hefty donation pushed Franklin’s total campaign fund to $223,579.90. She has the highest campaign fundraising total among her three opponents, Pastor John Harrell, Latonya Mitts and Jill Bush.
Franklin, along with Mitts and Bush, did not attend a community forum held March 6 by Black newspapers The Austin Voice, the Austin Weekly News, The Culture, Chicago News Weekly and North Lawndale News.
Harrell was the only candidate who attended the forum at the LaFollette Field House in North Austin.
Raised on Chicago’s West Side, Franklin earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University.
For the past six years, she has worked as a legislative liaison in community outreach in Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office. She describes herself as a “policy-trained leader” who attended eight different public schools while growing up on the West Side.
Franklin’s opponents and critics say she is not fit to represent the district because she is too politically connected and too close to the large unions that have endorsed her.
In addition to Raoul, State Representatives Justin Slaughter, Maurice West, Nick Smith and Will Davis have endorsed Franklin. Mayors and village presidents from La Grange, La Grange Park and Hodgkins have also endorsed Franklin.
As a political candidate who has never held public office, Franklin has critics and opponents concerned about her campaign donations from large unions.
A Chicago Crusader analysis of election funding shows Franklin received $72,500 in campaign donations from the Chicago Teachers Union and $30,000 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, according to her campaign filings.
Campaign records also show Franklin received a $10,000 donation from the Realtors Political Action Committee. She also received $5,000 from a local union and numerous private donations, including one from Cook County Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr.
Chicago Teachers Union donations to political candidates in local and state offices have been a concern in recent years.
During an earlier community political forum, when asked about the large CTU donation, Franklin said the union has an endorsement process that includes a questionnaire and interview.
“They ask you about policy, they ask you about your experiences, they ask you about your plan of winning.
“And that’s why some of these organizations exist…is to help elect quality candidates. I went through the endorsement process just like everyone else in my race, and I was able to win the endorsement.”
Harrell told the Crusader he declined the CTU’s interview offer.
Harrell has been endorsed by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, State Senator Willie Preston, State Representatives Kimberly Lightford, Monica Gordon and La Keisha Collins; Cook County Commissioners Michael Scott Jr., Bill Lowry and Frank Aguilar; and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Last week, the Chicago Crusader endorsed Harrell.
Six aldermen have endorsed Harrell. They include Pat Dowell (3rd), William Hall (6th), Stephanie Coleman (16th), David Moore (17th), Derrick Curtis (18th) and Monique Scott (24th).
According to the Austin Weekly News, during the forum on March 6, Harrell noted the forum’s scheduling conflict but said he attended Reverend Jesse Jackson’s public memorial at the House of Hope earlier that day.
Harrell said he will push for legislation that would allow homeowners aged 75 and older who have paid real estate taxes for 20 years to no longer be subject to property taxes.