Chicago City Wire

Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, a Democrat, has secured the endorsement of Cook County Republican Party Chairman Sean M. Morrison.

In a press release posted to Facebook, Morrison stressed that he “strongly encourages all Chicago Republican voters to unite behind the candidacy of Dr. Wilson and to get out and vote for him." He added, “As a successful businessman and humanitarian, Dr. Wilson espouses the core values, unparalleled business record and life experience needed to lead the city of Chicago.”

One of a crowded field of candidates to replace outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel that includes Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza, Paul Vallas, Bill Daley and Gery Chico, Wilson has built his campaign on a platform of lowering property taxes, greater job creation and fostering equality across the city.

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison

Morrison hinted that everything in the self-made-millionaire businessman’s background suggests he is up to the task.

“Dr. Wilson is the definition of a self-made success story with a tremendously successful business career that has touched the lives of thousands of people over the last several decades,” he added in the release. “From growing up in very modest means in Louisiana to arriving in Chicago in 1965 and from there he would go from $2 an hour custodial work for McDonald’s to owning several McDonald’s franchises in the Chicago area. All this achieved through his hard work, commitment and belief.”

Though the 70-year-old Wilson has never held public office before, he recently told Chicago City Wire he is convinced the city is ripe for his brand of politics.

“Doing good never grows old,” he said. “I’m motivated by the unseen power that says all mankind should be treated fairly. We should not be seen as Democrats versus Republicans, police versus citizens, rich versus poor. We all should be looking to take care of each other, and that’s what’s driving me. Call it being a servant, knowing that we must have other motivation besides earthly things.”

Morrison called on voters to take advantage of the opportunity he believes Wilson’s candidacy represents.

“Chicago voters have a unique opportunity to make a strong break from the recycling of yet another Democratic machine candidate as mayor of Chicago,” he said. “Dr. Wilson is the only candidate who has spent his entire career outside of government and has created jobs for thousands of people. No other candidate in this race can match his entrepreneurial record, or his philanthropic record for that matter. Willie Wilson’s selfless acts of kindness, which he has exhibited throughout the city of Chicago, are shining examples of his strong faith-based values as well as his sincere love and concern for all of his fellow residents.”