CHICAGO (CBS) — The large field of candidates running to replace Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr just got more crowded.
Healthcare administrator Joyce Washington announced her candidacy saying for too long Congress has been a refuge for the privileged.
Washington, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2002, says voters in the 2nd District came out for her.
“I got over 380,000 votes in that race, and 62 percent of those votes were from the 2nd District,” said Washington.
Washington lost another bid when she ran for U.S. Senate in 2004. She says her outsider status and healthcare background will distinguish her from the crowd that includes at least 10 other Democrats.
She began her career as a registered nurse at Walter Reed, has served as an executive at Michael Reese hospital and Advocate Healthcare and now runs healthcare consulting firm.
Washington says if elected to represent the second district, she’ll push to make sure Obamacare is fully implemented and refuse the congressional health care plan as long as the public doesn’t have insurance as good as that.
Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale is also formally launching his candidacy today.
He spoke before a crowd of supporters at his campaign office near 112th and State, touting his accomplishments during 14 years in the City Council.
Beale says he’ll work to bring more jobs to Chicago’s south side and southern suburbs through development of the US Steel Site, expanding the CTA’s red line to 130th street and getting the Peotone Airport off the ground.
