Chicago City Wire

Chicago’s Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale has endorsed Eileen O'Neill Burke in the March 19 Democratic Primary for Cook County State's Attorney.

The O'Neill Burke campaign announced the endorsement on Feb. 16.

O'Neill Burke is running against Clayton Harris, III of Washington Park.

Harris is backed by outgoing Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx of Flossmoor and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle of Hyde Park.

O'Neill Burke grew up on Chicago's Northwest Side. She graduated from St. Mary of the Woods Grade School, Marillac High School, the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

She spent her first ten years as a lawyer working as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney (1991-2001), then worked for seven years as a criminal defense attorney in Cook County (2001-2008) before winning election as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge (2008-16) and then the Illinois Appellate Court, where she served on the First District bench until stepping down to run for State's Attorney last year.

Beale was elected Alderman of the 9th Ward on April 13, 1999, becoming one of the youngest elected officials serving the city of Chicago. He previously served as the president of the 100th Street of Prairie Block Club and the acting vice president of United Block Club of Roseland, among several other community organizations.

In 2013, Beale ran in the special election for Illinois’ 2nd District in the U.S. House. He lost in the Democratic primary to Robin Kelly.

Beale and his wife reside in Roseland with their three children.