Patrick Brutus runs against Bobby Rush for first district

By ALLISON MATYUS
Staff Writer

Hyde Park Herald 1/6/16

The 1st Congressional District has had the same congressman, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1), for 22 years. Candidate Patrick Brutus said he is trying to change that and push the district he calls home into a better political future.

“The reason why I’m deciding to run is simply because I still think there is a void in leadership,” Brutus said.

Brutus officially announced his candidacy to run in the Democratic Primary for Congress on Nov. 30. He previously ran back in 2013 for the 2nd District. Since Brutus lives in the 1st District and sees the disparities first-hand, he is taking on the challenge of a campaign once again.

The 1st District is comprised of three main areas: Chicago’s South Side, south Cook County and Will County. Over 700,000 people make up the over 200-square-mile district, and Brutus is looking to represent them all.

Brutus has an extended history in the public sector, with 11 years in the Illinois Department of Transportation as well as nine and a half years with the City of Chicago doing economic development and neighborhood planning, with a focus on matters such as reusing vacant lots, affordable housing and small business development.

“I know how to use the public’s resources to improve the quality of life either through our transportation, distribution and logistics in the southland,” he said. “I think with the kind of real, tangible skill set where I have looked at projects and taken them from concept to close, I think that addresses exactly what we need right now.”

Brutus talked about the disparities within the district, one of them being education.

“There is a huge missed opportunity right now [in education]. We have a system here where the [city] schools are not on an equal par level,” he said.

He said as a congressman, he would bring money to schools through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-rate program, a program that helps schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband that would advance the opportunity for students through technology.

Brutus is no stranger to advocating for education, as he served one year on the local school council (LSC) for Ray Elementary School, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave., where his son still attends.

“I spoke at the Ray Teacher Walk-In twice to make sure that the teachers there and the community and parents know that I stand with them,” he said. “I will continue to advocate for them and their interests because their interests are my interests.”

Aside from education, Brutus is also interested in taking a look at the economic development within the district’s communities.

“When I say economic development, I look at that as a global thing where it spurs community development, the addressing of fair and quality affordable housing and a sound approach on education,” he said. “It also means public health, sustainable and smart communities and crime and safety.”

Brutus is interested in taking the three sectors that make up the district and figure out an inter-county economic plan. He said the opportunity could advance development across the board.

“There is a separate, and not equal, look at how each region advances the development of their areas and communities. If you bring them together and create a regional economical strategy, we can focus on engaging each county,” Brutus said.

For now, he is focusing on engaging the various communities that make up the 1st District and listening to what each voter has to say before the March 15 election.

“We intend to talk to everybody and make sure we focus on the communities’ input and interests first,” he said. “I think we have to move forward with someone that we know will be there to advocate for our interests, our concerns, who will put the community first and make sure that we pass laws that have their voice.”

a.matyus@hpherald.com

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