Chicago, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan was honored by the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) Saturday with the organization's Leon Despres Award for Independent Leadership. Presented at a luncheon at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago where IVI-IPO held its 63rd Annual Independents' Day Celebration. Madigan served as Keynote Speaker for the event, which was emceed by William McNary, President, Citizen Action Illinois, and James Shapiro, IVI-IPO State Chair.
Madigan was elected Illinois' first female Attorney General in 2002 and re-elected last November. IVI-IPO lauded her for being a champion of consumer rights, taking on the utility companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and predatory lenders. "A leader in the campiang for open, honest government, Madigan has prosecuted official misconduct throughout the state, challenged the insder deals surrounding the Rosemont casino, and used the power of her office to enforce the Open Meetings Act. She has appointed Illinois' first Public Access Counselor,a full-time advocate for government transparency, to enforce compliance with Freedom of Information Act request," according to literature prepared by IVI-IPO for the event.
Also honored were the "Shakman Team," Ed feldman, Roger Fross, Brian Hays, Michael Shakman & Fred Vars with the Legal Eagle Award; the Barbara Merrill-Rudy Lozano Labor Award was presented to Jerry Morrison, SEIU State Council; the Harold Washington Award was presented to Grassroots Collaborative; and C. Betty Magness received the Saul Mendelson Social Justice Award.
Park Forest resident Richard Whitehead serves on the IVI-IPO Board of Directors and provided pictures from the luncheon. Park Forest Trustee Gary Kopycinski attended with members of the South Chicagoland Young Democrats.
Madigan accepts the IVI-IPO's Leon Despres Award for Independent Leadership. (Photo: Richard Whitehead)
