South Loop, downtown and Near North Side residents are getting yet another new state representative.

On Monday morning, candidates from all over the state filed their paperwork to run for the Illinois House and other offices in next March’s primary, and current 26th District State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet (who replaced Will Burns in May) wasn’t among them.

The powers-that-be seem to be priming the third person to take the seat since the beginning of this year: Christian Mitchell, a 25-year-old community organizer who lives in Bronzeville.

Mitchell, a graduate of the University of Chicago, has been working as a faith-based community organizer in neighborhoods from Bronzeville to Country Club Hills. He’s a political veteran, having already written two pieces of successfully passed legislation — the 2009 Urban Weatherization Initiative and the 2011 Universal Fare Card bill — while working with his community organizing group, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation.

In an interview Monday evening, Mitchell said both laws fit with his goal of empowering underprivileged communities. After working on failed efforts to pass gun control legislation, he started to look at what else could be done.

“What were some of the real structural problems that are creating violence? Unemployment,” Mitchell said. “So we started to look for ways to get people working, and we ultimately settled on weatherization, with a focus on local training and hiring.”

His second bill helped the underprivileged too, he said. A universal fare card would allow riders to use one pass for CTA, Metra and Pace, making it easier for folks living on the far South Side of Chicago with long commutes to switch between modes of transportation.

Both bills were introduced into the house by Burns, whom Mitchell calls his mentor. Mitchell was Burns’ campaign manager in his run for 4th Ward alderman this spring and then went to work on former 4th Ward alderman and current Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s staff. He also worked for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s reelection campaign in 2010.

Both Burns and Preckwinkle have endorsed Mitchell, and each gave his campaign $25,000 from their campaign coffers in late September.

Mitchell said du Buclet, who was handpicked by Democrats in May to replace Burns when he was elected alderman, has decided not to run and is supporting him in the race. Du Buclet didn’t return a call seeking comment Monday evening.

Though he said he didn’t push to be appointed to the seat earlier this year when du Buclet got it, Mitchell said he’s had his eye on the district since at least 2008.

“It’s just such a rich swath of Chicago history. These are great people from all walks of life, plumbers and electricians and professors and business people,” Mitchell said. “It’s just a great, great place to live and a great place to work and I think it’s a district that can be a model for the rest of the state and, in some ways, the rest of the country.”

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By JP
Posted: 12/06/2011 11:41 AM

Three candidates total have submitted their petitions. Along with Mitchell, LaConyer Davis and Kenny Johnson have filed the appropriate nominating papers. The filing period is now closed. Kenny is well known to S. Loopers, having run for 2nd ward Alderman and in the election for this State rep seat against Will Burns last cycle.

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By Other candidates from South Loop
Posted: 12/05/2011 3:45 PM

The article makes it look like Mr. Mitchell is the only candidate. More of an informercial. Let's hear about the other more qualified candidates.

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By Eric from South Loop
Posted: 12/04/2011 8:32 PM

http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/21/energy-dept-weatherization-programs-rife-with-waste-fraud-inspector-general-audits-show/ So good to see Mr. Mitchell, a "veteran...", who is "articulate, thoughtful and informed", has already learned how to be involved with legislation that is rife with fraud and waste. He has already learned something with all that experience. Good god, this guy sounds like he should be investigated, not elected.

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By JCB from South Loop
Posted: 12/04/2011 5:29 PM

South Loopers by and large are a joke when it comes to politics. Look at that map. That's the real issue. The person who ultimately runs for the office is only a function of the RIDICULOUS gerrymandering. Our neighborhood is one of the worst examples of that particular technique. I don't see many South Loopers making a fuss about it though; instead we sit in our ivory condo buildings at snipe at each other anonymously. No wonder the pols they can take advantage of us with impunity.

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By Mike
Posted: 12/04/2011 2:49 PM

This is why Chicago will NEVER be a great city and suffers from "blan". Chicagoans "as usual" are deciding on candidates based on race alone rather than the issues at hand or doing an open-minded research on the candidate. In Chicago EVERYTHING is either black or white NEVER ALL INCLUSIVE. Typical Midwest podunk culture or lack thereof. I hope I'm wrong in my assessment but I doubt that I am. These comments are pathetic.

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By Andy from Hyde Park
Posted: 12/03/2011 11:29 PM

Mr. Mitchell seems thoughtful, articulate, informed -- and he's already written more successful pieces of legislation than many actual lawmakers. He seems more qualified than a large number of elected officials in the U.S. As for background, a quick Google search shows that he is a first-generation college student who was raised by a single mother. His age could even be a benefit -- he hasn't spent years in the machine getting corrupted/jaded.

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By Eric from South Loop
Posted: 12/02/2011 6:48 PM

No Jenny, you\'re a lemming. We need city services, schools, and infrastructure based on market and community needs. #1, the politicians are creating boundaries by gerrymandering boundary lines based on racial data & the ability to gurauntee at least 50% of the probability of the outcome. #2, with the other 50% of that outcome, they are then further handpicking unqualified goofs like this guy and build them up as having experience. Running a campaign = qualified to represent tax payers?

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By Eric from South Loop
Posted: 12/02/2011 6:48 PM

No Jenny, you're a lemming. We need city services, schools, and infrastructure based on market and community needs. #1, the politicians are creating boundaries by gerrymandering boundary lines based on racial data & the ability to gurauntee at least 50% of the probability of the outcome. #2, with the other 50% of that outcome, they are then further handpicking unqualified goofs like this guy and build them up as having experience. Running a campaign = qualified to represent tax payers?

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By Jenny from South Loop
Posted: 12/02/2011 12:18 PM

Eric: Does that mean you're white? Case closed. What on earth are you going to do with two black candidates for this seat? Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. Concerned: Why wouldn't a Bronzeville resident be able to represent the whole constituency? Are you saying the constituency should be divided with other lines (like race? or wealth?). You concern me as well. I hope everyone educates themselves prior to voting. A lot of rocks being thrown in this glass district...

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By Zach from Bronzeville
Posted: 12/02/2011 10:08 AM

This candidacy is just another example of patronage at work in Chicago. This song and dance is so old that no one even gets upset about it anymore. Hopefully someone more qualified jumps in this race so that we have an actual election.

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By Eric from South Loop
Posted: 12/01/2011 11:34 PM

Oh the irony. It appears Mr. Mitchell\'s only qualification is that he appears to be African American. This guy isn\'t qualified to run a Dunkin Donuts let alone a state office. Put up an asian, latino, or caucasion of the same experience and that individual would be crucified by the powers that be. After the ACLU helped with the shakedown from the fire department test score issue, how come they are not protesting and representing my ability to fairly be given this job but for not the racism?

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By A Very Concerned South Loop Voter from the South Loop
Posted: 12/01/2011 8:27 PM

Jenny, Robert: Maybe Mr. Mitchell is a great guy, and maybe he would make a great political leader; or maybe he wouldn't. That's for the voters of the 26th to decide. The more important point that's not being discussed is that someone from Bronzeville will likely end up representing a major portion of the South Loop - including the Prairie District! So will someone whose main constituency is in Bronzeville have the same level of concern for the South Loop? Will we get the same representation?

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By Jenny from S. Loop
Posted: 12/01/2011 5:09 PM

Robert\'s comment would make sense if it was true, but you know what they say about assuming things. I know that Mitchell did not grow up privileged, and that\'s one of the reasons why he is so passionate about politics. He is young, but he\'s done a lot more than I would ass-ume Robert has for his community. Thanks for the verbal diarrhea, Robert.

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By Anonymous
Posted: 12/01/2011 4:56 PM

At least he is getting involved in the process.

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By Robert from S. Loop
Posted: 12/01/2011 7:40 AM

Is this a sick joke? Oh, I'm sure his recent college degree has a transcript filled with social justice, oppression study classes and few science or economics courses. Why doesn't this candidate try working for a couple of decades so he actually understands his constituency. I don't want a privileged child to represent me in government.