South Cook News

State House of Representatives candidate Calumet City Alderman Monet Forte’-Wilson is running for the 29th State House of Representatives seat.

“The civil rights movement during my mom's era faced many of the challenges that we do today. But just on a different level, there was still a piece of human decency that everyone was striving for,” Forte’-Wilson told South Cook News.

Forte’-Wilson comes from a family steeped in civil rights era politics. Her mother, Maureen Forte', serves as the president trustee of the East Hazel Crest Library District.

She is the first Black woman to be elected to the City Council in 124 years of its existence.

She is running for state representative as an advocate for good government.

“Now it seems like everything goes," Forte’-Wilson said. "Any deal may. Everyone is for sale, and it makes it difficult to do what's right. Yeah, so it's a scary honor. I am honored to keep up with the work that my family has done over the years here and in Ohio and other places."

Forte’-Wilson is running against a familiar face in State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) to represent the 29th House District.

Jones pulls double-duty as mayor of Calumet City, where he has built a growing list of critics, including Forte’-Wilson.

“He cannot have complete power," Forte’-Wilson said. "He doesn't know what to do with it. He's the state rep. He's the mayor and now he's running for committeeman at Thornton Township. And if you don't do what is right with what I gave you in the first place, I should never continue to give you anything more than that."

Jones has been accused of misusing campaign funds.

Jones has been known to wield his authority at even the smallest levels of government. 

He was slammed over his handling of a library embezzlement dispute in which he unilaterally shut down the municipality’s library, including rounding patrons and kicking them out after an audit found funds were missing from the library.

At the same time, he locked out a city clerk with whom he had a dispute and accused him of “bullying.”

Forte’-Wilson said Jones and others are wielding power inappropriately.

“People hold these seats, but they don't make the changes that the people need," Forte’-Wilson said. "We have crime that it just didn't start overnight and we see state legislators that go down to Springfield and they brokered deals for themselves and don't really think about the constituents throughout the district. We we had an opportunity, and we still have an opportunity, for serious crime reform, serious criminal reform. Serious opportunities to bring. Life sustainability to the people of the 29th district.

“I don't want to see someone just holding their seat and not doing anything with it. And I feel like some of these scenes have been weaponized against the people of the district.”

Forte’-Wilson said she looks forward to the campaign.

"I am thankful for all of the support that I continue to have in Calumet City," she said. "I am looking forward to making the ballot and meeting all of the people in the areas of the 29th District that I have yet to meet. And I hope that I can be victorious."

The 29th State House District includes areas of southside Chicago and Calumet City, Thornton and Bloom in south Cook County.