Lightfoot to attend Trump State of Union address: Here are other Illinois guests

WASHINGTON — Mayor Lori Lightfoot is attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday as the guest of Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill. — just days after she observed his impeachment trial.

Lightfoot was in Washington to attend the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and on Jan. 24, she was in the Senate gallery to listen to a portion of Trump’s impeachment trial. (You can read my column on Lightfoot’s observations about the trial here.)

Last year, Kelly’s guest was then-state Sen. Kwame Raoul, now the Illinois attorney general.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is bringing environmental justice advocate Celeste Flores, the Lake County Outreach Director for Faith in Place, an Illinois-based educational and advocacy organization that helps diverse religious and faith communities implement environmental programs.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will host De’Andre Wilborn, a senior at George Westinghouse College Prep Academy.

Other Chicago-area Illinois delegations guests are:

Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., is hosting chef and small-business owner Bertha Montes Garcia. She “owns and operates Xocome Antojeria in Archer Heights and is a symbol of the strong food scene and small businesses opportunities in Southwest Chicago.”

Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., will bring Army veteran Miguel Perez Jr. “As a legal permanent resident, Perez served two tours of duty in Afghanistan before being stripped of his green card and deported to Mexico for a non-violent drug conviction. Gov. J.B. Pritzker pardoned Miguel in August 2019, clearing the path for his return to the United States and allowing him to become a U.S. citizen in October 2019.”

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., invited Ald. Matt Martin (47th).

Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., will bring Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen, a renowned scientist who immigrated to the U.S. from Nazi Germany in 1936. Gruen, 97, Downers Grove resident, “worked to enhance American technology development through his time with the Manhattan Project and at Argonne National Laboratory.”

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., is hosting Ruby Johnson of New Lenox, whose daughter’s experiences led her to become an anti-vaping crusader.

Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., invited Kristen Ziman, chief of the Aurora Police Department.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., is bringing small-business advocate and former solo-entrepreneur Geraldine “Geri” Sanchez Aglipay. She is the Midwest manager of outreach, education and policy efforts at Small Business Majority,

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., invited Dr. David Brothman, Social Studies Department chair and teacher at North Chicago Community High School.

Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., is hosting Kristen Ziman, chief of the Aurora Police Department.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., is hosting Karen Battaglia, the Trauma Coordinator for Emergency Services at Northwestern Medicine McHenry,