Josina Morita
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Josina Morita | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 13th district | |
| Assumed office November 20, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Suffredin |
| Member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners | |
| In office 2016–2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
Josina Morita is an American politician who currently serves as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners for the 13th district. The 13th district includes the West Ridge and Rogers Park areas of the City of Chicago as well as the suburbs of Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka.
In 2016, she was elected to a six-year term as a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Greater Chicago.[1] In 2022, Morita won election to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and took office on November 20, 2022.[2] She is the first Asian American to serve on both bodies.[2][3][4]
Cook County Commissioner
In May 2021, Morita launched a campaign to replace retiring Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin in the 2022 election.[5] She won the Democratic primary uncontested, and defeated Republican candidate Andrew Border in the general election.[2] She stated that her goals as Commissioner include environmental justice, constituent outreach, and changing the county's data collection practices to collect more precise data on Asian American ethnic groups and to create a Middle Eastern and North African category.[3]
Morita is the chair of the Illinois Asian American Caucus,[6] whose members include state representatives Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and Theresa Mah and state senator Ram Villivalam.[7] In response to discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, Morita and the Caucus urged state and local officials to act to combat anti-Asian American violence and prejudice.[6][8]
Morita is a founding member of the Illinois Mamas Caucus, an organization formed in April 2021 to support elected officials who are mothers and to advocate for "policies that support working families, protect female and maternal health, provide high-quality public education and make it easier for women to run for elected office."[9]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 70,431 | 80.16 | |
| Republican | Andrew Border | 17,435 | 19.84 | |
| Total votes | 87,867 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 30,379 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 30,379 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barara McGowan (incumbent) | 1,150,063 | 28.79 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 951,773 | 23.83 | |
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 919,714 | 23.03 | |
| Green | Karen Roothaan | 343,930 | 8.61 | |
| Green | George Milkowski | 308,576 | 7.73 | |
| Green | Michael Smith | 320,162 | 8.02 | |
| Total votes | 3,994,218 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara McGowan (incumbent) | 517,239 | 24.42 | |
| Democratic | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos (incumbent) | 423,313 | 19.99 | |
| Democratic | Josina Morita | 388,766 | 18.36 | |
| Democratic | Kevin McDevit | 303,170 | 14.32 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Daniel Cook | 321,814 | 15.20 | |
| Democratic | R. Cary Capparelli | 163,482 | 7.72 | |
| Total votes | 2,117,784 | 100 | ||
Personal life
Morita lives in Skokie with her husband and two children.[4]
References
- ^ "Josina Morita departs MWRD Board of Commissioners for Cook County Board". mwrd.org. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ a b c "Josina Morita becomes 1st Asian American woman to serve as 13th District Cook County commissioner". ABC7 Chicago. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ a b Tong, William (2023-02-13). "New Cook County commissioner's office opens". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b Washington, Laura (2021-09-25). "What makes Josina Morita a formidable politician for these times". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "POLITICS Morita to run for Cook County commissioner seat - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b Hinkel, Dan (May 2, 2021). "Religious groups rally in Uptown against racism facing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Caucus Members". ASIAN AMERICAN CAUCUS. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Stevens, Heidi (Mar 17, 2021). "Column: Atlanta shootings a chance to speak out, say members of Illinois' Asian American community. 'We're tired of being quiet.'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Stevens, Heidi (Apr 22, 2021). "Column: Mamas Caucus wants to make Illinois the most mom-friendly state in the nation. 'Who better to advocate for us than us?'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the November 8, 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in Cook County, Illinois Including the City of Chicago" (PDF). www.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Cook County Clerk. 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election June 28, 2022 Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2022.
- ^ "General Election Cook County and The City of Chicago Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Combined Summary" (PDF). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Primary Election Cook County and The City of Chicago Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
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