SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot delivered a brief speech to the Illinois House on Wednesday, during which she introduced herself and promised to cooperate with legislators.
Lightfoot also met with Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said 40 minutes later the two had mutual interests and their discussion was “terrific.”
In her speech to the Illinois House, Lightfoot said she hoped her presence marked the beginning of a “strong and productive” working relationship with the chamber.
“I come to you with a strong, unequivocal mandate for change in the city of Chicago,” she said. “Given that mandate and the big challenges that lie ahead, we must be bold in our approach to doing the people’s work.”
Lightfoot, a Democrat, talked about her working class upbringing and how it helps her to relate to those struggling economically. Noting the geographic divide that often influences the progress of legislation in the chamber, Lightfoot said by working together, regardless of party of geography, she sees new opportunities ahead for all.
“Interstate 80 is just a stretch of pavement. It is not a border,” she said. “We are all one state, and Illinoisans, wherever we live, want the same things for themselves and their families.”
Lightfoot described the meeting with Pritzker productive, and called the governor “a very, very good, open guy, very no-nonsense.
“So, there are a lot of things we obviously need to be aligned on, and we started talking about some of those issues today,” she said. “I look forward to a very good and productive working relationship.”
On Thursday she is to meet with the Senate’s Democratic leadership and Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady.
Lightfoot takes office next month, replacing Mayor Rahm Emanuel who decided not to seek re-election
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