Harvey Park District director appointed to Cook County Board of Commissioners

Longtime Harvey Park District executive director Kisha McCaskill was appointed to the Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th District Friday night in an intense selection process at South Suburban College.

The seat became vacant after previous commissioner Monica Gordon was elected to Cook County Clerk last year. 

“While I want to thank all of the Committeemen for their support and participation in this process, I must give special thanks to Senator Harris for navigating me through this three-month lengthy process,” McCaskill said in a statement, also thanking Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale and Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan.

She will serve the remainder of Gordon’s term, which expires in 2026. The 5th District mainly covers the south suburbs with a few Chicago South Side neighborhoods. 

McCaskill beat out four other candidates who filed paperwork expressing interest in the position. That included notable names like Hazel Crest mayor and Bremen Township Committeeman Vernard Alsberry, Dolton trustee Kiana Belcher, Rich Township Highway Commissioner Dennis White, and Chicago Heights Ald. Kelly Merrick (7th).

The selection committee consisted of Democratic committeepersons from townships and Chicago wards represented by the 5th District, including Alsberry, Bloom Township Committeewoman Gordon, Calumet Township Supervisor Bob Rita and Illinois State Representative Bob Rita (D-28th).

Illinois Senator Napoleon Harris (D-15th) chaired the proceedings as Thornton Township committeeman. “Her leadership and commitment will drive meaningful change to our community,” Harris said of McCaskill in a statement. “I am excited to collaborate with her and advance our shared vision for progress.”

Votes for the committee were weighted. The portion of votes accounted to each committeeman was based on how much of their community comprised the 63,385 votes Monica Gordon received during the 2022 election. So, the person appointed to fill the vacancy had to receive 50 percent plus one of committeeman’s support, or 31,694 votes.

McCaskill will be one of only three Black women to serve on the Board, along with Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Commissioner Donna Miller (6th), who was present that evening.

Sims held the seat for 28 years before her retirement in 2022. Also present, she quietly sat in a corner. But the significance of Sims’ presence reverberated throughout the room. 

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times ahead of her retirement, she stressed the importance of having a Black woman to follow her and a desire to remain active in local politics. Gordon was elected to the 5th District in 2022, and Sims supported her campaign.

“I could not have hoped for two better women to succeed my tenure as Commissioner other than Clerk Gordon and now Dr. Kisha McCaskill,” Sims said in a statement, adding McCaskill has the “tone, tenor, and experience” to serve on the Board.

“Thank you for paving a way for women to have a space,” McCaskill said to Sims in comments immediately following her swearing-in.

The Harvey Park District is known for its grand events, including Caribbean-themed cultural festivals, househead bashes, Thornton Township High School alumni celebrations, and hosting local politicians. Residents from other south suburban municipalities where park district services languish often travel to Harvey to attend HPD’s event.

Under McCaskill, the park district recently launched “Park Programs Work,” a workforce development initiative aimed at Harvey youth. 

“Dr. McCaskill is considered one of the brightest and best event organizers in our area. She has partnered with governments on all three levels,” Gordon said in a statement, “and has a keen sense of the issues which southland residents are often impacted by.”

McCaskill holds a doctorate degree in public service administration and organizational leadership, a master’s degree in public service administration, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Western Illinois University, according to a statement from publicist Sean Howard.

Howard also noted that McCaskil is a founding member of the South Suburban Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and Industry with her husband Anthony L. McCaskill, a former HPD commissioner. The group is currently building an entrepreneur training academy in Dixmoor, which is 85 percent finished, according to a recent announcement on social media.

McCaskill was immediately sworn in, and her first Board meeting will be Jan. 16 at 10:00 A.M. downtown Chicago, 118 N. Clark St.