While Illinois was hit with a typical July heat wave, south suburban State Senate GOP candidate Eric Wallace coolly celebrated his ongoing campaign against incumbent Maggie Crotty with an evening of jazz last night in University Park.
Choosing a new Cook County small business to emphasize the need for economic development, 47 year old Wallace congratulated the Savannah Club's owner Luther Rogers by gathering in friends and new supporters to listen and move to summertime jazz.
Two attendees said they were excited to join the campaign as volunteers Wallace had met while knocking on doors in Matteson and Country Club Hills. "I liked the way he presented the issues on his mind," one lady said. "I knew I wanted to help this campaign."
Wallace shared with the crowd what he's hearing as he talks to district residents this summer. "They're tired of paying high taxes and seeing businesses leave the area," Wallace said. "There's no doubt there's a discontentment with the ways things are."
Wallace, the only African-American Republican running for Senate, was introduced by his mother Dr. Joan Wallace, former deputy U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. "I'm very proud of our middle son, Eric. I'm pleased he's chosen to run for Senate. But I'm also surprised he's chosen to do this, With his PhD in Biblical studies and as a Johnonian scholar, only God knows His plans for Eric." A "Johnonian scholar" has a study emphasis on the Gospel of John, she explained.
Later in the evening, Mrs. Wallace announced July 19 as her husband John Wallace's 81st birthday. The two danced to "I've Got the World on a String" in celebration.
There's no question. The Wallace campaign is hardworking, but the coolest State Senate campaign around this summer.
Wallace hoped to raise funds at the event to ratchet up his ongoing campaign. The 19th district includes Country Club Hills, University Park, Matteson, Oak Forest, Orland Park and Tinley Park, among others.