Foxx ousts Cook County State's Attorney Alvarez in primary
CHICAGO — Voters ousted the Chicago area’s top prosecutor Tuesday, backing Democratic primary challenger Kim Foxx in a campaign dominated by questions about Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s handling of the shooting death of a black teenager at the hands of a white police officer.
Foxx, who had served as a former chief of staff to the county board president, was among the harshest critics of Alvarez over the Laquan McDonald shooting. The teenager was shot 16 times in October 2014, an incident that was captured on squad-car video. Alvarez charged the police officer with murder, but not until November, more than a year after the incident and hours after a judge ordered city officials to release the tape publicly.
The video sparked near daily protests throughout the city, with activists who called the investigation a “cover up” showing up to her office, home and outside public appearances. It put Alvarez on the defensive, who explained the yearlong investigation by calling it complex and meticulous.
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Foxx, who worked in the juvenile division of the office, has called for other reforms such as working with outside groups and data-based decision making. She said her win was a clear sign voters were ready for a change, with the handling of the McDonald case as just one of many issues troubling the office.
