Chicago Mayoral Hopeful Wants To Annex Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park

CHICAGO, IL -- Mayoral hopeful Garry McCarthy thinks Chicago can solve its financial problems by annexing inner tier suburbs, such as Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park. The city’s former top cop made his remarks during a mayoral endorsement session before the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board. The Chicago mayoral election is Feb. 26. To avoid a runoff in April, one of the 14 mayoral candidates must win 50-plus-one of the vote.

According to McCarthy, annexing Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Norridge and Oak Park could generate much-needed revenue to help Chicago meet its $270 million pension obligation in the city's 2020 budget. Annexation, McCarthy added, could also help the city gain back some population it lost from people fleeing to the suburbs.

“We really need to talk about annexation. Nobody wants to talk about it. It’s a political football,” McCarthy told the Sun-Times editorial board. “I could tell you how we could scoop up almost 160,000 people in a heartbeat.”

McCarthy thinks annexation would give Chicago “the ability to combine municipal services, which will be cost savings and at the same time expand our tax base.”

Mayor Sandra Bury suggested that Mr. McCarthy should perhaps discuss his idea first with Oak Lawn residents and elected officials.

“He really said that,” Bury asked. “I don’t even know where to start. I can’t speak for all residents but I’m fairly certain that would not be popular in this safe, well-run, fine community.”

Bury invited McCarthy to contact her to discuss his annexation idea. McCarthy can reach the mayor at sbury@oaklawn-il.gov.

“We’re not just something to be taken,” Bury said. "Oak Lawn is an independent municipality and home ruled. Our residents enjoy being that way. That’s why they’re here.”

Mayor Jim Sexton, of Evergreen Park, called McCarthy's idea "interesting."

“Evergreen Park has a double AA bond rating. Our pensions are paid off,” Sexton said. “Why would we want to become part of that mess?”

Sexton said Evergreen Park incorporated 125 years ago and "never looked back."

“We don’t need all of Chicago's problems,” Sexton said. “People are moving here to get out of the city. I don’t know what his thinking was, but it’s not a very good idea on our part.”

Now it’s your turn. Tell us if you think Garry McCarthy’s annexation idea would be good for Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park by taking our Twitter poll. Vote as often as you like -- do it for Chicago. Our poll closes 8:46 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6.

~Image via GarryForMayor