Chicago lawmaker picked to run Democratic Party of Illinois

State Rep. Christian Mitchell of Chicago Tuesday was named interim executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, replacing Timothy Mapes after his ouster in a harassment scandal.

Mitchell has a background in campaigns and community organizing, and he becomes the first African-American to hold the post of running the state party’s day-to-day operations. He has been a member of the legislature since 2013 and lives in Bronzeville.

He fills the vacancy created when House Speaker Michael Madigan in early June dropped Mapes, who served as his chief of staff since 1992 and executive director of the state Democratic Party since 1998. Mapes’ departure came after House staffer Sherri Garrett accused him of harassment and bullying.

Mitchell was selected by a panel made up of the party’s 18 state committeewomen and chaired by state Rep. Juliana Stratton, the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor on the ticket with governor candidate J.B. Pritzker.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-michael-madigan-democratic-party-director-20180710-story.html