The Foxx hunt . . .
The Foxx hunt is on!
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s Chief of Staff Kim Foxx is entering the race for Cook County state’s attorney.
“I am running,” Foxx, an attorney, told Sneed Thursday.
She’ll be making a formal announcement next month, she said.
“I will be stepping down in a couple weeks, then I will begin fundraising in earnest,” Foxx said.
• Translation: In April, Sneed tipped Foxx was planning to run. As a former assistant state’s attorney, Foxx will be up against her former boss, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
OPINION
It’s going to be a dem da dem femme war!
Trump ’em . . .
Batter up! Check out GOP presidential aspirant Donald Trump’s white baseball cap he was wearing at the Mexican border Thursday emblazoned with the words: “Make America Great Again.”
The real estate mogul doesn’t have an online campaign store pitching political gear, so Trump fans can’t get their hands on one . . . yet.
Trump ’em II . . .
Is former GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney going to rethink his decision to distance himself from Donald Trump’s political steamroller?
• To wit: Romney, who feels Trump’s comments on Mexican immigration hurt the Republican Party, has been meeting and dining with many Republican presidential hopefuls . . . minus the Donald.
• Romney told the media: “A lot of folks helped me during my campaign. I’m going to be loyal to them as they were to me.”
• The big question: Will that eventually include Trump?
• Backshot: Romney gushed when he got Trump’s 2012 Republican primary endorsement — and praised Trump for his economic know-how and ability to create jobs.
• Upshot: Stay tuned for the redefinition of loyal?
Scoopsville . . .
Sneed is told Doug Kucia, longtime right-hand man to new Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool, will become Claypool’s new CPS chief of staff.
• Backshot: Kucia was Claypool’s chief of staff when he headed the Chicago Transit Authority, where he played an instrumental role in projects like the Red Line South reconstruction and expansion of the security camera network.
Kucia, who previously held senior posts at the Illinois Tollway and state’s Central Management system, has also taught political science and public administration at DePaul and Northwestern Universities.
Hail to the chiefs!
Gov. Bruce Rauner, who is into name-calling when it comes to his sworn enemy, powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan — and has earmarked millions for a Madigan media smear — has a special name for his political nemesis.
• Translation: Rauner calls Madigan “Chief.”
• Explanation: That’s what Madigan told WGN radio’s Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano this week.
“The governor normally refers to me as ‘Chief.’ And I refer to him as ‘Chief.’ Don’t ask me what it means. He started it and I picked it up,” said Madigan.
Ben & Jen & woof . . .
Actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner may be getting a divorce, but they are apparently in the process of adding a new family member.
• To wit: It’s being reported the feuding Afflecks, who are living in Atlanta while Mom films a movie, rescued a golden retriever puppy.
The Eastland disaster . . .
As the city marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Eastland in the Chicago River Friday, don’t forget about Judy Baar Topinka.
• Translation: The late state comptroller was the first donor to the new Eastland Memorial at Bohemian National Cemetery, where many of the victims are buried.
The memorial recognizes the deadly disaster that claimed the lives of 844 people – many of them Czech immigrants, like Topinka’s family.
I spy . . .
“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek celebrated his 75th birthday Wednesday at Rick Bayless’ restaurant, Red O, in Santa Monica, Calif.
Sneedlings . . .
Friday’s birthdays: Jennifer Lopez, 46; Elisabeth Moss, 33, and Kurt Summers, ageless.
Follow Sneed on Twitter: @Sneedlings
