Kisha McCaskill, executive director of the Harvey Park District, was selected Friday evening to replace Monica Gordon as a member of the 5th District Cook County Board.
McCaskill has been executive director since May 2015 and, according to her resume, co-founder of the Democratic Women of the Southland Region.
Democratic party leaders from the 5th District had to choose a replacement for Gordon, who was sworn in as Cook County clerk last month.
They met at South Suburban College in South Holland, and McCaskill was one of five candidates seeking the position.
Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry, who cannot be re-elected this year due to term limits, was among the candidates. He is also a Democratic commissioner of Bremen Township and had a say in choosing Gordon’s replacement.
Dolton trustee Kiana Belcher, Chicago Heights Ald. Kelli Merrick and Rich Township Highway Commissioner Dennis White also sought to fill the vacancy on the board.
McCaskill audibly gasped after her selection was announced, and after taking the oath of office, she told Democratic leaders, “I know it wasn’t an easy decision.”
She told the crowd that “my job will be to serve you, from Roseland to Chicago Heights.”
After the announcement, Gordon said she believed McCaskill “will be a great addition to the board.”
“She will work to improve the quality of life for the residents of the 5th District,” Gordon said.
McCaskill’s husband, Anthony McCaskill, previously served as chairman of the Harvey Park Board and made an unsuccessful bid to become mayor of Harvey in 2023.
McCaskill will fill Gordon’s unexpired term and will be elected to a full term in 2026.
In April, Cook County Democrats voted for Gordon from among 15 hopefuls as the party’s nominee for the November special election, replacing Karen Yarbrough, who died last spring.
Gordon was elected to the County Board in November 2022 and has served as executive director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, a trustee at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights and director of government relations at Chicago State University.
On the County Board, Gordon replaced retiring 5th District Commissioner Deborah Sims.
Sims was in the audience when the decision was announced, and McCaskill thanked her for “paving the way for women” on the County Board.
Dozens of people waited outside a meeting room at the college Friday evening as candidates presented their resumes and qualifications and spoke to party leaders behind closed doors.
Belcher is running for re-election to a second term as Dolton trustee and explained her reason for seeking the commissioner post before Friday’s decision. She said she did not believe she would be able to serve as both a trustee and a county commissioner if selected.
“As a trustee, I have been a good advocate for the village and I would like to expand my advocacy in the position of commissioner,” she said.
Fellow board members Jason House, candidate for mayor of Dolton, and Tammie Brown joined her at the selection meeting along with Village Clerk Alison Key.
Merrick said she served as a councilor for six years and is not seeking re-election this year.
“I love doing good and I’ve done good things for Chicago Heights and wanted to expand that and do good things in the 5th District for good people,” she said.
She said she wasn’t sure if she would be able to serve on both the county council and the city council if chosen.
“I could still bring good things to my community, but on a bigger scale,” she said.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
