Hagerty Repudiates Endorsement of “A Better Evanston” PAC

EVANSTON, IL — A newly formed political action committee has endorsed candidates in the upcoming April 4 elections, but those candidates have repudiated or denied any connection with the group.

A Better Evanston was formed earlier this month. Its chairman is Evanston Republican activist Blair Garber, according to documents filed with the Illinois Board of Election. Garber was also an individual plaintiff in an NRA lawsuit challenging Evanston's handgun ban filed in the wake of the 2008 District of Columbia vs Heller Supreme Court case, which struck down D.C.'s ban.

The group has endorsed three candidates: Steve Hagerty, for mayor, Devon Reid, for clerk, and Lee Cabot, for 1st Ward Alderman. Each offered a response to the endorsement.

Hagerty's response to the endorsement came first and was the most forceful.

“I repudiate the endorsement of the ‘A Better Evanston’ PAC. I know nothing about this organization. I have never met nor communicated with any of the people involved, I am a Democrat, and I actively campaigned against Trump in the election through canvassing both in Evanston and in Iowa. My views on issues, which are counter to those conflated with this group, are described on my website," he said in a Friday morning statement.

After a letter to the editor spotlighted the participation of A Better Evanston PAC in the race for 1st Ward Alderman, Lee Cabot's campaign posted a response to the endorsement on social media:

Devon Reid was asked about the endorsement Friday afternoon as he spoke to voters outside the Morton Civic Center, where early voting is taking place.

"Honestly, I had no clue about the group prior to its inception. I think they're endorsing me because I stand for open government and transparency, I've heard the group is a Republican group, but I think the issues that pertain to the clerk's office are non-partisan and I think everyone can get behind open government," Reid said.

Blair Garber and A Better Evanston did not respond to an emailed request for comment.