South Cook News

Police Chief David Sheppard looks to unseat Democrat Kelly Burke in the 36th House District. 

Sheppard is a strong supporter of veterans and seniors. He also is in support of creating a better environment for formerly incarcerated persons and their families.

“Myself and Lt. Governor candidate Stephanie Trussell spent time in the park with formerly incarcerated individuals, Political Prisoners, and Prisoners of War (POWs), along with their families and friends," Sheppard stated on Facebook. "There’s much work to be done in Illinois to support and repair the damage done to families because of these past events." 

Burke, who has been seated since 2011, has been unopposed in all elections after Republican Bob Shelstrom challenged her in 2012. This will be the first time since then that a Republican is running to represent the district. Sheppard was encouraged by the Illinois Policy Institute to run for the office. He recounts a battle he had with his local school district over his son, who is non-verbal autistic.

“If I am treated that way and I’m a local police chief, I cannot imagine the families out there who suffer, because they’re shy or don’t know their rights for their disabled children," Sheppard said. "And the district doesn’t tell them what’s really going on with their child.”

He said that he sat down with the principal at the end of the last school year and discussed an individualized learning plan so that his son could start in August. The principal wanted his son to attend a regular day of class, but Sheppard had to explain that his son could never do that due to his disability. When school started the following year, no plan was in place for Sheppard’s son; He immediately met with the principal who once again wanted his son to go full time. The principal would not even let his son build up to a full day. Sheppard finally hired a lawyer, and they went head-to-head with the school district’s legal team. Under state law, attendance can be changed due to medical reasons, such as autism, but the district did not want to recognize this. Sheppard has to stand up for his son because his son cannot do it for himself. 

“Why political office? It’s simple. This fight has turned personal, but there are so many people in the same fight," he said. "The most powerful and important thing to me is my son. Now that I’ve experienced conflict with the district office over what his rights should be, no family should have to endure that. I called our state representative personally and they wouldn’t do anything about the situation.”

Sheppard is ready to take the fight to Springfield. His top two issues are education and crime. He opposes the catch-and-release policies that have fueled so much crime, and he wants more parental control when it comes to the school system.

Sheppard won in the Republican primary with 63.8% of the vote over his opponent Robbie Katherine Segina’s 36.2% of the vote. About 4,668 votes were cast according to Ballotpedia.

Sheppard’s November opponent has been an ally of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Burke, of Evergreen Park, gave the former House Speaker $25,000 in 2019. The money went towards reimbursing the $453,608 of contributions Madigan spent on legal fees.  Burke is an attorney and former library board member who unseated Madigan ally Jim Brosnahan; now Burke is considered a Madigan ally.