60th state House replacement picked; announcement Tuesday

A trio of Lake County Democrats have picked a candidate to fill the vacant 60th state House seat.

They just don't want to tell you who it is - not until a swearing-in ceremony set for noon Tuesday, anyway.

The three-member committee charged with finding a replacement for the late Eddie Washington - State Sen. Terry Link and Waukegan Township Democratic officials Dave Koss and Cynthia Alexander - want to keep the candidate's identity a secret until then, Koss said Monday.

Koss didn't have a reason for keeping the secret.

"I think it's just (Link's) plan," Koss said.

Link did not respond to multiple interview requests.

Washington, of Waukegan, died June 5 of a heart attack. He was in his fourth term and was seeking re-election Nov. 2.

About a dozen Democrats were interviewed for Washington's former post late last month. The eventual appointee will be expected to run in November's election.

Link had said he would identify the appointee last week, but an announcement never came.

Only one candidate's name has been confirmed publicly: Lake County Board member Angelo Kyle of Waukegan.

Koss declined to say whether the general public would recognize the trio's choice.

A Republican isn't running for the seat, which serves parts of Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City. The only other candidate is North Chicago Alderman Valerie DeVost, a former Democrat who is running as an independent.

The appointee will be sworn in at noon in the offices of Waukegan attorney Douglas Roberts, a Democrat who's running for sheriff against Republican incumbent Mark Curran.