In his first bid for elected office, John F. Morrow knows he has a huge name-recognition problem.
Morrow, 47, of Park Forest, is one of five Democrats on Tuesday’s ballot seeking the party’s nomination to succeed the imprisoned Mel Reynolds as congressman for the 2nd Congressional District. His primary opponents are state Sens. Emil Jones Jr. and Alice Palmer, and state Rep. Monique Davis–all veteran political figures–as well as Jesse Jackson Jr., who carries a name familiar to the Chicago area since the 1960s.
“I didn’t come into this with my eyes closed,” Morrow said. “My objective was to present an alternative, a new approach, and a new face in politics.
“If people overlook the political babble, the popularity contest and the rhetoric, and weigh the issues, they will see that I have a plan and that I am addressing the issues of jobs, education, health care, services to seniors and the environment.”
The five Democrats and the four Republicans who are seeking the GOP nomination are running to fill the seat left vacant by Reynolds’ Oct. 1 resignation following his August convictions on charges of sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice.
The Democratic and Republican primary winners face off in the special general election Dec. 12, with the winner serving the one year left on Reynolds’ two-year term.
Without funding or staffers, Morrow’s campaign has been a hands-on operation–by necessity.
“I went out personally and got 2,000 signatures to get on the ballot,” he said.
Morrow has worked for a large telecommunications company for five years, designing business and computer systems.
He previously worked for 20 years in marketing and advertising. He also set up distributorships with wine and liquor firms.
Married for 25 years, and the father of two daughters, he graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in business administration. A native of Tennessee, Morrow has lived in Park Forest for 15 years.
During the past few months, Morrow has visited churches and attended all the candidate forums, while accusing the media of ignoring his uphill battle.
He said that when the campaign started, “a lot of the candidates with money were the first to get into the race, and the media just jumped on covering those four and seemed to tell the people, `This is it.’ “
He added: “My funding came from friends, small donations. No tremendous amount; we had a total of right around $5,000. But my feeling is this: You can always put obstacles in your way and do nothing, or you can work with what you have and accomplish something.”
