Sneed exclusive: Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp urged to run for Kirk’s seat

SHARE Sneed exclusive: Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp urged to run for Kirk’s seat

Getting Zopped?

Sneed has learned that Urban League President and CEO Andrea Zopp, whose resume reads like a corporate bible, is being urged to run for the U.S. Senate and is mulling it over.

Sneed also hears former White House chief of staff William Daley, the brother and son of former Chicago mayors — and others — have talked to the uber-credentialed Zopp about being a potential candidate against GOP U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk.

“Yes, I have talked to her about it and have enormous respect for her, consider her my friend, and think she would be great in government and politics — but I can’t push anybody — anyone to run,” Daley tells Sneed.

Sneed hears that a cadre of top Dem leaders are very concerned about an absence of persons of color on the Illinois Dem ticket, besides perennial Dem candidate Jesse White, whose latest incarnation is secretary of state.

“A lot of people in the African-American community are still shaking their heads they have no mayoral candidate this time around,” a top Dem party source said. “Barack Obama will not be on the next ticket, which will be the first time since 2004. And Zopp would be an exciting candidate!”

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a wounded Iraq war veteran, has just tossed her hat in the ring to run against Kirk. Both are former soldiers with physical disabilities: Kirk is suffering the after-effects of a stroke; Duckworth lost both legs during her military service.

Zopp, an attorney who is a distinguished corporate and civic leader, was general counsel at Exelon Corp., Sears Holdings Corp. and Sara Lee Corp.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Zopp also was first assistant state’s attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, the first woman and African-American in this role.

Stay tuned.

Tipsville . . .

Pssst! Sneed hears rumbles a plan may be afoot to shove freshman State Sen. Tom Cullerton, (D-Villa Park) — a member of Chicago’s legendary Cullerton political clan, which includes State Senate President John Cullerton, — into Duckworth’s congressional seat. “They are trying to work out a deal,” a Sneed source said.

Tipsville II . . .

Sneed hears former DuPage County chairman/2010 gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom is being strongly considered for the plum post in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration as chairman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Hmmm.

The cardinal’s story . . .

A health update: Sneed hears Margaret Cain, the sister of Cardinal Francis George, who lives in Michigan, is now visiting her brother at Loyola University Medical Center — where he is being treated for pain stemming from bladder cancer. His eminence ended clinical trials late last year.

Kissing cousins?

Blimey! It seems the reality star Kardashian family has added one more to their ranks, though his name begins with a C.

• Translation: British Prime Minister David Cameron is the 13th cousin of Kim Kardashian, he told the U.K. press.

They’re apparently linked through their mutual relative, Sir William Spencer, born in 1555. Now isn’t that something?

The color of money . . .

Pool shark Pelosi!

What does former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi want for her 75th birthday, which she celebrated last week?

The same thing she’s wanted for a few years: A pool table!

She’d keep it in her dining room.

Sneedlings . . .

Stepping into the fray: John Thomas Donovan, son of former mayoral aide Tom Donovan — who worked for Mayor Richard J. Daley and Mayor Michael Bilandic — is stepping into the political fray and running for the board of Consolidated High School District 230. And he just snagged an endorsements from Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski . . . Wednesday’s birthdays: David Oyelowo, 39; Susan Boyle, 54, and Debbie Reynolds, 83.

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