Jaime Andrade, a longtime aide to Ald. Richard Mell will succeed his daughter, out lesbian Deb Mell, as 40th District state rep.
Andrade was appointed by vote Aug. 12. He will be up for reelection in 2014.
Deb Mell stepped down as rep. to replace retiring Richard Mell as 33rd Ward alderman.
Mel Ferrand, an openly lesbian union activist and Latina had been vying for the position. She said she will pursue the position through election next year.
"The committeemen missed the unprecedented opportunity to be visionaries and send someone to Springfield that is not male, a lawyer, a businessman, white or otherwise politically connected," she said in a statement. "Our representative democracy demands we have more diverse representation, and that is, in part, what I bring to the table."
The 40th Dist. state rep seat is seen as crucial to LGBTs, especially as the house weighs a bill that would bring marriage equality to the state. Deb Mell had been seen as a key player in the marriage push.
Andrade said he intends to continue to push for equal marriage.
"I am absolutely going to keep being an advocate for the gay community," said Andrade. "I am going to keep doing what Deb did with that issue." He added that he did not understand why lawmakers failed to vote on the measure during spring session.
Andrade was expected to succeed Deb Mell as Richard Mell, who is also Democratic committeeman, said he would like Andrade to replace the younger Mell.
But he said the real challenge would come during election season.
Disclosure: Mel Ferrand is a contributing photographer to Windy City Times.