Rep. Eddie Washington, 56, Legislator brought passion to position
Matthew Kruk
chicagotribune.com
Legislator brought passion to position
State representative believed in second chances for constituents
By John Byrne, Tribune reporter
8:30 PM CDT, June 7, 2010
State lawmakers remembered state Rep. Eddie Washington, 56, as someone
who brought a unique passion to standing up for his constituents,
especially those in need of a second chance.
"Eddie always felt that if somebody had strayed and done their time for
it, then they deserved another chance," Terry Link, state senator and
Lake County Democratic Party chairman, said. "He worked in Springfield
on recidivism programs, on getting people back to work if they had been
behind bars for something and done their time."
Rep. Washington, who had represented the 60th District in northern
Illinois since 2003, died of a heart attack Friday, June 4, while in his
Waukegan district.
A former Lake County corrections officer, Rep. Washington was the first
African-American elected to the General Assembly from Lake County. He
was chairman of the Prison Reform Committee and the Committee on Aging
and sat on several other committees, according to his House biography.
"You never knew what issue would cause Eddie to get up and speak. But
you knew when he did speak, he was going to speak from the heart," said
Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago.
In a statement, Gov. Pat Quinn said Rep. Washington's death "comes as a
shock to all of us who were fortunate to know and work with him."
"I have known Eddie Washington for many years as a good man with a
servant's heart who worked diligently for the people of the 60th
District," Quinn said.
Link will convene a panel composed of himself and two others who will
select someone to finish Rep. Washington's term and fill his spot on the
November ballot. Link said it is too early to think about who will
replace Rep. Washington but said he hopes to find a single person to
both complete the term and run for election.
"I have already received several phone calls from people asking to be
considered," Link said. "I have been coarse with them, explaining it is
far too soon to be having these discussions."
Rep. Washington is survived by his wife and seven children.
Visitation is set for 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Shiloh Baptist Church, 800
S. Genesee St., Waukegan. A funeral service is set for Wednesday in East
St. Louis, where Rep. Washington spent his early years.
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