By Ray Hanania
I am really excited about the candidacy of John Harrell, who is running for the seat being vacated by La Shawn Ford in the 8th Illinois House District, which includes: parts of Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago, Cicero, Countryside, Forest Park, Hodgkins, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lyons Township, North Riverside, Oak Park, Proviso Township, Westchester, Western Springs and parts of the Chicago neighborhood of Austin.
Harrell is the religious leader of two Churches on Chicago’s West Side and suburbs, Proviso M.B.C. in Maywood and Chicago Northside New Hope M.B.C churches. This past month, Harrell was consecrated from the position of Pastor to Bishop in his religious church services.
I am inspired by his ability to champion the rights of citizens as a public servant, and also his dedication to the religious spirit of conveying goodness, health, and empathy to people in need.
He’s not bringing religion to politics. But he is bringing the power of empathy, support, and caring that is the foundation of genuine religious leaders, and that is missing from our politics these days.
He has a powerful faith that drives him to help everyone.
The co-founder of Black Men United has dedicated his life to uplifting families and communities in need, providing food, water, job programs, and securing county and state support for residents.
Property Tax relief: Harrell led pastors to speak out against the repressive property tax increases that were undermining tens of thousands of families in Cook County.
Flood Relief: When the residents of the West Side of Chicago and the West Suburbs faced flooding, he donated resources and provided people to assist residents in need.
Community Advocacy: When there were concerns regarding the allocation of resources during the migrant crisis, John Harrell stepped up by holding news conferences to showcase the needs and he advocated to ensure the community’s needs remained a priority.
Accountability: When Catholic Charities moved out of areas in the district, John Harrell was the first to speak out, highlighting the disservice this move caused residents.
Affordable Housing: He has helped provide affordable housing for families in need.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, John Harrell provided face masks and provided essential resources to people in need across the Chicagoland and the Western Suburbs, providing vital support.
In interviews, Harrell has dedicated himself to helping people of all races, color, and religions. He believes in equality for all.
“I want to take to Springfield your policy needs. So when you feel like they’re strangling you from doing business, strangling your businesses from growing and gaining capacity, simply because of public safety that you have nothing to do with,” Harrell said, noting that the city has targeted Arab owned businesses in the past, blaming them for violence that has been unrelated to them.
“I think it’s wrong to cut off parking paths where people can have access to your gas stations. I think that you should be able to have the flow of traffic so that you can continue to make money and be staples in our community.”
Harrell said that his platform is one that supports all of the residents in the district.
“I want to make sure that they’re not strangling our communities with taxes. I think it’s wrong for the Chicago Public Schools to mismanage, misappropriate, and mishandle the funds that they get from the general legislation, and then to have to go down and raise taxes on the backs of poor people,” Harrell has said.
“I need your support because I’m going down to Springfield and I’m taking on a machine. I’m trying to change and shift what is known as political entitlement. I’m up against three super sisters, three excellent African American women, and queens. I have nothing negative to say about them at all, other than they should not be able to go and represent us when they have been totally absent from our communities.”
Harrell has already been endorsed by many great government leaders and public servants:
Democrat John Harrell has been endorsed by Senator Kimberly Lightford Senator Lakesia Collins, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico, Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, Maywood Mayor Nathaniel Booker, the statewide Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU Local 73 union, the Teamsters Local 777 union, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, and the Arab American Business Coalition.
Here’s a statement Harrell put out last week that I found inspiring:
Voters in the 8th District face many challenges and issues that need to be addressed and that are at stake in this election.
One of the most important is curtailing rising property taxes. They need to be frozen, reviewed, and reversed. They are just too high, not just for the poor but for the Middle Class, too.
Another issue is ensuring that the people of the 8th District have affordable housing. I have spent my career ensuring that people have affordable places to live, and as you know, recently opened a new affordable housing building in Proviso Township.
But there are other issues that must be addressed, including ensuring that residents receive adequate and affordable healthcare services, including full Medicare and Medicaid services.
We need to expand, not cut back, our services to seniors, families, and our youth. We need to make them the foundations of government services.
The economy we face is difficult. Our fight is to ensure that the money taken from us in taxes are returned to us in essential services that address our needs; returned not just partially but fully.
And, we have issues in the region that include flooding that destroys everything we own. I have rolled up my sleeves and worked to bring relief to families in flood-prone areas.
Finally, I also want to speak out about the intervention of outsiders in our region.
The 8th District is an area of hardworking families. It is the West Side, city and suburbs.
Many of the issues facing West Siders are far different from the issues facing South Siders and North Siders.
Lately, we have seen South Siders come into the West Side to try to influence our elections. The people of the 8th District should be the only people who make the decisions about what is best for the 8th District.
People should focus on improving their areas, not interfering in other regions or in our district. They need to support what we need and listen to us, not tell us what we should have or do.
I am an authentic West Sider … having worked my life in the West Side, I know what West Siders need to strengthen their homes, families, and to fight for our rights and a stronger economy.
That’s why I am asking for your vote, to ensure we strengthen our communities in the 8th District and get our share of the pie to cover our needs, our challenges, and our interests in seniors, families, and the youth.
In the March 17, 2026, Democratic Primary election, I urge you to vote for John Harrell.
Get more information on his website at: www.harrellforillinois.com
Dear Ray, for a short bit, I mistakenly thought you were a confirmed Trumpistani. I admit that thought bothered me to no end. Clearly, either I was wrong, or you have acted and reacted naturally to the constant stream of equine excrement flowing from DC, especially the Oval Orfice. I wonder if our country can survive more years. I have serious doubts.