Beale said he would work to make sure members of FLY and SHE have the meeting they have been demanding for years.

“Once I become congressman, and I’m going to be the next congressman of the 2nd congressional district, we’re going to fight, we are going to fight to put a minimum of three trauma centers on the South Side. We need one closer, near south, we need one south, and we need one in the south suburban areas. So we’re going to bridge that gap,” Beale said.

FLY has been petitioning the university to open a trauma care center, or raise the age of the children’s trauma care center at the Comer Children’s Hospital to 21, since 2010. In January four members were arrested following an attempted sit-in at the Center for Care and Discovery, the university’s new $700 million hospital and research center.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130220/chicago/beale-touts-gun-record-echoes-charges-of-buying-election-new-tv-spot

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-2nd-district-congress-race-jesse-jackson-junior0,7582738.story,

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=216512

http://www.copylinemagazine.com/news/2013/02/22/copyline-magazine-endorses-9th-ward-alderman-anthony-beale-in-the-2nd-congressional-district-race/

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/category/233986/fox-chicago-sunday

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Kelly-Beale-Halvorson-2nd-District-Election-193092121.html

http://soundcloud.com/morningshiftwbez/democratic-candidates-for-2nd

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=9005856

http://wgntv.com/2013/02/25/contenders-make-final-push-for-il-2nd-district-race/

http://www.redlineproject.org/2nddistrictpanel.php

http://www.pjstar.com/free/x1433787865/Candidates-make-final-push-for-Jackson-Jr-s-seat

http://wgntv.com/2013/02/25/2nd-district-candidates-make-final-push-for-votes/

Beale applauded the Chicago Transit Authority’s extended outreach campaign.  At a February 21 news conference, officials announced the CTA would attend “dozens” of meetings in communities throughout the South Side to discuss its plans for construction, as well as for alternative bus and rail service.

The CTA will begin work this May on the five-month, $425 million rebuild of tracks and improvement of stations on the Red Line’s 10-mile stretch from Cermak/Chinatown to 95^th St.   The CTA expects hundreds of jobs related to construction, operating shuttle and supplemental buses and traffic control.

“There’s no getting around the reality local communities will be inconvenienced during this period,” Beale acknowledged.  “We wouldn’t let the project move forward without assurances local residents would have their fair shot at the benefits.”   He urged interested residents in the affected neighborhoods to attend CTA job fairs and check with their alderman for announcements of openings.

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Click here to view the interview.

One of the first candidates’ forums was held in Kankakee County in January where Beale told residents of Pembroke Township and Hopkins Park that he would open a congressional satellite office in the area, if elected. In a show of good faith, Beale has campaigned throughout the Kankakee area attending forums, churches and meetings with elected officials.

“The 2nd Congressional District is so diverse in terms of people, geography and economics,” says Beale. “If elected, I will make sure residents in Kankakee County have access to representation that can lobby for their needs on a federal level.”

The Beale For Congress campaign office in Kankakee will be open through Election Day on February 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. during the week, and from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. The campaign telephone number is 872-600-4484.

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Dozens of ministers representing the 2^nd Congressional District endorsed Anthony Beale, this afternoon at his campaign office, in the special election to fill the seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr.’s resignation.

The two lead ministers said they are supporting Beale because they know from personal experience he understands the problems plaguing the 2^nd Congressional District.  “We stand here today with a person who has the commitment, integrity and passion we need,” stated Rev. J.C. Smith, pastor of Bethlehem Temple M.B. Church in Harvey.

“This is a critical race in the 2^nd Congressional District,” said Rev. A. Edward Davis Jr., pastor of St. John M.B. Church in Chicago.  “This is a fight for whether we move forward or backward.”

Rev. Davis said this race is not a one-issue contest and described the 2^nd CD as a “desert” that needs economic development, recreational activities, after school programming and jobs.

For the past two months, Beale has crisscrossed the 2^nd Congressional District from Chicago’s South Side to Kankakee.  He noted, “I have visited dozens of churches and worshipped and talked with thousands of congregants.  At every church, I was received warmly by both the pastors and people.”

Beale expressed his gratitude for the ministers’ vote of confidence, acknowledging, “Reverend Davis and I are close friends.  We’ve worked on many projects together.  Some know this because they live in the district.  Others may know because of the people whose needs are served through soup kitchens, food pantries, clothing drives, etc.”

Beale pledged that, as the district’s next congressman, he would continue fostering his relationships with religious communities throughout the district and promised they will always have an open door.

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Feb. 7, 2013 12:53 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP) — Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart threw his support behind Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale on Thursday in the race to replace former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a boost for Beale as he tries to emerge from a crowded field of candidates.

Dart, who has gained national attention for such moves as suing Craigslist over adult content, is the highest-profile public official in the Chicago area to endorse a candidate since Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced late last month she was backing state Sen. Toi Hutchinson in the Feb. 26 primary.

What makes endorsements from the likes of Dart and Preckwinkle potentially important is that the race is wide open, particularly since Democratic Party officials were unable to slate one of the nearly two dozen candidates who filed petitions to run. And Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez do not plan to endorse a candidate, according to their offices.

In Dart, Beale has a public figure popular enough to once have been considered Rahm Emanuel’s most serious challenger in the mayoral race before the sheriff decided not to run. And Dart is also known as a savvy politician who, it was said before he declined to run for mayor, had the ability to put a couple hundred volunteers on the street to campaign whenever he wanted.

“As both a state legislator and Cook County Sheriff I have worked with Anthony on a number of issues, most notably protecting our children and neighborhoods,” Dart said in a statement. “He has proven himself to be a man of integrity and results.”

The special general election is April 9.

Meanwhile, former state representative and one-time Preckwinkle aide Robin Kelly announced in a news release Thursday that a group of more than 100 ministers, the International Ministers & Community Alliance, is supporting her candidacy. For Kelly, the endorsement is significant; not only is the clergy a powerful political force, particularly in Chicago, but the endorsement follows what was a blow to Kelly’s candidacy — when Preckwinkle decided to endorse Hutchinson.

Jackson resigned in November, citing ongoing health problems and acknowledging that he was under federal investigation, reportedly for misusing campaign money.

The 12-year taxi veteran serves the disabled community and received 73 nominations from his customers.   “Providing better service to the disabled and elderly was definitely a need expressed by the community,” said Beale.

When he assumed chairmanship of the City Council Transportation and Public Way Committee, Beale reveals he found himself at the center of several long-standing issues.  “I heard from passengers, drivers, owners and industry organizations.  They came to me about everything from service standards, fair increases or dealing with the ‘bad apples,’ to the age and environmental impact of the vehicles themselves.”

Beale brought various parties together to hash out equitable, workable compromises.  Innovative solutions became the basis for the 2012 Taxi Ordinance.  Beale expresses satisfaction with the results a year later, which include the doubling of wheelchair accessible vehicles, 416 percent increase in fuel-efficient vehicles, incentives for taxi medallion owners to improve quality and safety, and performance-based benefits and penalties for drivers.

“We made comprehensive changes, with an eye to win-win whenever possible,” says Beale.  “I believe most Chicagoans would agree with Mayor Emanuel’s assessment of ‘huge improvements’ in taxi-related cleanliness, accessibility and responsibility for protecting everyone who uses our streets.”

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