Ammie Kessem
Ammie Kessem
Republican state House candidate Ammie Kessem is calling for action in the wake of a Chicago Tribune report that found nearly 40 Chicago Public School (CPS) students reported being sexually assaulted on school property over the last decade.
"The state provides the majority of funding and CPS has shown, repeatedly, they can’t police themselves,” Kessem posted on Facebook. “The Chicago political bosses are incompetent and the Springfield politicians are happy to aid them. We can't stand by and watch as the same old politicians fail to act while children are victimized.”
Kessem, a Chicago police department lieutenant who is running against state Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) in the 19th House District, said the behavior lawmakers in Springfield have exhibited in dealing with CPS’ many issues is not what she is accustomed to as an officer.
Illinois State House Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago)
“As a police officer, when I see someone in trouble, I run towards them,” she wrote. “The politicians are more interested in pointing fingers and covering for themselves than helping. It is time for state government to step in. I'm running to take ownership of failing, if not criminal, enterprises and do something to fix them."
The 19th House District includes Elmwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge and River Grove.