Durbin endorses challenger in East St. Louis mayoral race
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is wading into the mayoral race in his hometown of East St. Louis. Durbin is endorsing a challenger for her support for limiting operating hours at the city's late-night bars and clubs.
The Belleville News-Democrat (bit.ly/1MfTNHk ) reports Durbin held a local news conference Friday in support of mayoral candidate Emeka Jackson-Hicks. She faces incumbent Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. and challenger Courtney Hoffman in the April 7 election.
The Senate's assistant minority leader and Number-Two Democrat called for a "fresh start" in East St. Louis while crediting Jackson-Hicks for opposing a proposal by Parks to allow around-the-clock operating hours for nightclubs.
Parks could not be immediately reached for comment. Jackson-Hicks is an East St. Louis City Council member and daughter of Democratic state Representative Eddie Lee Jackson.
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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com