State Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, does not understand the criticism that she did not provide enough time for people to file to run for her open 7th District seat.
'I could have allowed the committeemen to do it behind closed doors,' Ronen said, adding that she handled it in such a way to allow people a chance to file to run in the progressive lakefront district. After all, the required number of signatures ( 1,000 ) , she said, is quite low, so she felt she provided enough time.
The criticism came after Ronen's Oct. 22 announcement of her impending January retirement for not providing what they call an adequate amount of time.
However, two women filed by the deadline, Democrats Heather Steans and Suzanne Elder. Steans is a Democratic fundraiser from a prominent philanthropic family who has contributed to Ronen. She was endorsed by the senator. Elder is an Edgewater school activist focused on state health issues.
According to Ronen, 'There were at least three others who got enough signatures and decided not to file.'