STAY UP TO DATE
A Personal Update from Commissioner Morrison
17th District Newsletter - A Final Message from Commissioner Sean Morrison October 5, 2026
CLICK ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO TO WATCH COMMISSIONER SEAN MORRISON'S INTERVIEW WITH FOX 32 NEWS ON THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND THE FAILURE OF SANCTUARY POLICIES
Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison Sponsors Resolution Urging the State of Illinois to Opt-in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program
On April 29, Commissioner Sean Morrison joined nationally syndicated Talk Show Host Vince Coglianese on his podcast to discuss Governor JB Pritzker's inflammatory political remarks from the previous weekend. Click on the video image below and go to the 22 minute mark to watch Vince's interview with Sean.
Unsustainable Migrant Crisis Wreaking Havoc on Illinois and Local Communities - Time for Border Closure
Headlines
Republican Sample Ballot provided by Commissioner Sean M. Morrison
OCTOBER 29, 2026
PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING CANDIDATE LIZ GORMAN
I intended to stay out of this race. However, a social media post I made in February of 2018 was recently circulated in a manner suggesting I currently endorse or support Liz Gorman for Cook County Commissioner, I believe in an attempt to deceive republican voters once again.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In 2018, when Liz Gorman received an appointment to another position, I believed she was leaving electoral politics. I offered her a courteous congratulations and wished her well. That was eight years ago.
My assessment of Liz Gorman today is profoundly different.
Having served nearly 11 1/2 years on the Cook County Board and previously as Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, I have had extensive firsthand experience with the political conduct, internal disputes, and controversies involving Liz Gorman.
My concerns are not the product of one disagreement or one election. They reflect years of experience and observations.
REPUBLICAN PARTY CONDUCT
I have serious concerns about Liz Gorman’s history of very questionable activities involving Republican candidates and organizations.
These include the activities of an intentionally deceptive organization created by Gorman and others, using the same name as the actual duly sanctioned Orland Township Republican Organization currently headed by Committeeman Ken Duffy. Gorman created a similar committee called: the Republican Organization of Orland Township, known as ROOT, which put out Republican-branded sample ballots that included endorsements of nearly all Democratic candidates in order to sow chaos and confusion among unsuspecting republican voters.
I am particularly concerned about recent campaign materials attributing endorsements by Republican officials and local leaders who, according to information shared with me, had not authorized those endorsements.
Worth Mayor Mary Werner, former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, and others are among the officials whose support has been questioned. I understand that they requested the removal of their name from material suggesting they endorsed Gorman.
These matters warrant public scrutiny and a clear accounting of who authorized the materials.
OPPOSITION FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS
My concerns are not unique.
Earlier this year, Keith Pekau publicly criticized Gorman’s past Republican Party leadership, accusing her of attacking Republican candidates, supporting Democrats, and undermining Republican party unity.
Orland Park Committeewomen Cindy Katsenes publicly supported Ken Duffy rather than Gorman in the March 2026 Republican Committeeperson election, and voters concurred.
Other local Republican officials, including Palos Township Supervisor Colleen Schumann, former Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak, have been identified to me as not supporting Gorman.
The positions of these officials should be represented accurately without attributing endorsements they have not authorized.
HER RECORD IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Liz Gorman’s voting record also deserves examination.
In July 2015, when Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle sought a major sales-tax increase, Gorman voted “present” rather than voting against the proposal. The increase passed.
I believe voters are entitled to consider that decision alongside her public claims of fiscal conservatism.
THE FEDERAL COURT CONTROVERSIES
Gorman’s history also includes serious litigation involving her family’s former automobile businesses and political campaign funds.
Published accounts of federal litigation report that Seventh Circuit Judge Frank Easterbrook described the Gorman’s as having behaved like a “pack of weasels” whose account could not be believed.
Separate proceedings concerning the transfer of campaign funds resulted in a judicial recommendation that Gorman be held in contempt.
These are significant matters in the public record. The contempt recommendation should not be confused with a final contempt judgment.
Voters should also be reminded that Liz Gorman’s tenure as Cook County Commissioner ended abruptly in 2015 with her resignation while under investigation by the Office of Inspector General for misuse of county funds.
The full circumstances of these proceedings deserve examination, including the courts’ findings and the ultimate disposition of the cases.
MY POSITION
Throughout my years in public office, I have advocated for fiscal accountability, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and integrity in government.
I believe those standards should apply consistently to every elected official, regardless of political affiliation.
My concerns about Liz Gorman are substantial and longstanding. They involve her political conduct, public voting record, and the controversies documented during her years in public life.
I have no interest in having a courteous statement from February 2018 misrepresented as an endorsement by me eight years later.
I do not endorse Liz Gorman. I do not support her candidacy for Cook County Commissioner.
That is my public position, and I want there to be absolutely no misunderstanding about it. LIZ GORMAN SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE EVER AGAIN.
On Tuesday, November 3rd, I would ask you to vote for every Republican candidate down the ballot, except for Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman: Vote NO!
Sean M. Morrison
Cook County Commissioner, 17th District (R)
Former Cook County Republican Party Chairman
Former Palos Township Republican Committeeman
As Cook County Commissioner, I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the horrific shooting at the mosque in San Diego. Houses of worship should always remain places of peace, prayer, reflection, and community, never targets of violence or hatred.
My prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire Muslim community impacted by this senseless act. We mourn the lives lost, pray for the recovery of those injured, and stand in solidarity with all those grieving during this painful time.
Violence rooted in hatred and division has no place in our society. We must continue to reject extremism in all forms and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, understanding, religious liberty, and the dignity of every human life.
May God bring comfort to the families affected, healing to the wounded, and peace to the community during this difficult time.
Commissioner Sean M. Morrison
Cook County Board, 17th District
The recent arrest of Michael F. Henry of Orland Park marks an important step toward bringing accountability to what has been, in my experience and the experience of other public officials, a prolonged pattern of slander, harassment and intimidation.
According to authorities, Mr. Henry faces felony charges including threatening public officials and intimidation, along with misdemeanor charges related to harassment through electronic communications directed at multiple elected officials, including myself.
For nearly eight years, I and others in the south suburbs have endured repeated robocalls, text messages, written correspondence, and other forms of unwanted and disruptive communications. Public service requires thick skin. Disagreement, criticism, and even harsh rhetoric come with the job and are part of our democratic process. However, there is a clear and important line between protected speech and what authorities allege crossed into criminal harassment and intimidation.
What makes this situation particularly troubling is that on numerous occasions this conduct extended beyond elected officials and into our personal lives, involving references to spouses, family members, and even children. That type of behavior is especially deplorable and should never be part of political discourse, regardless of party or ideology.
I want to thank the Illinois State Police and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for taking these allegations seriously and conducting what appears to be a long and thorough and professional investigation.
It is my sincere hope this action brings an end to what I would describe as nearly eight years of disruptive and targeted harassment directed not only at me, but at multiple public servants simply trying to do their jobs on behalf of residents.
Equally important, any individuals who may have coordinated, assisted, or participated in these activities should also be fully investigated. If wrongdoing is found, they too should be held accountable under the law, criminally and civilly.
As this case proceeds through the court system, I encourage the public to monitor the process. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining trust in our institutions and ensuring that the rule of law applies equally to everyone.
For years, many of us simply tolerated this behavior because we believe in public service and respect free speech. But targeting families is not activism, it is harassment. Dragging spouses and children into political disputes is not advocacy, it is intimidation. Hopefully this case sends a clear message that while debate is welcome in America, alleged threats and harassment cross a line and will not be tolerated. No one should face that for simply serving their community.
The rule of law still matters, and no one is above it.
Commissioner Sean M. Morrison - Cook County Board, 17th District
Illinois State Police News Release: CLICK HERE
Let me be absolutely clear; this crisis is not the fault of the officers on the ground. It lies squarely with the command leadership following political orders, and with the reckless politicians who engineered this breakdown of law, order, and accountability.
This entire situation stems from ideological arrogance and political cowardice. The Mayor, the Governor, and every official who advanced so-called “sanctuary” policies in Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago are directly responsible for the chaos we’re witnessing today. They’ve turned our state into a magnet for illegal migration, draining the already scarce housing, healthcare, education, and public-safety resources meant for our citizens.
Even worse, their refusal to cooperate with the federal government, to identify and remove criminal and egregious illegal migrants, represents a dereliction of duty and a calculated act of obstruction toward the Trump administration. This is not compassion; it’s a political maneuver carried out at the expense of our residents’ safety and stability.
To make matters worse, Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have, in recent weeks, fanned the flames with reckless and inflammatory rhetoric, vilifying and dehumanizing law enforcement, undermining federal officers, and dividing our communities. This kind of language has no place in responsible government. It incites disorder and weakens the rule of law.
The results are undeniable:
- Overwhelmed housing and shelter systems,
- Skyrocketing healthcare, education, and social-service costs,
- Hospitals and schools at breaking points,
- And escalating strain on police and public safety networks across Illinois.
This is not sustainable, it is not fair, and it was completely avoidable. It’s a betrayal of the hardworking families now forced to shoulder the cost of failed ideology.
The Path Forward
It’s time to stop the political theater and start restoring order. Here’s what must happen immediately:
End lawlessness and enforce accountability.
Arrest and prosecute anyone who obstructs or interferes with federal law enforcement operations in Illinois. The rule of law is not optional; it’s the foundation of public safety.
Suspend sanctuary policies.
Illinois, The City of Chicago and Cook County must immediately suspend their sanctuary ordinances, which have tied the hands of local police and endangered the public.
Re-establish communication and cooperation with federal authorities.
The Governor and Mayor should work directly with the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the lawful arrest and removal of criminal aliens and gross migration violators, including those with federal detainers and warrants.
Develop a long-term repatriation plan.
Illinois should collaborate with federal and international partners to safely and humanely repatriate paroled migrants back to their nations of origin, ensuring due process while restoring balance to our overwhelmed systems.
Lower the rhetoric, raise the responsibility.
Our leaders must stop inflaming tensions and start leading with maturity. It’s time to calm the rhetoric, restore respect for law enforcement, and rebuild public confidence through action, not ideology.
Conclusion
This is a defining moment for our state and our country. We can either continue down the reckless path of political gamesmanship and chaos, or return to the rule of law, cooperation, and accountability.
The people of Illinois deserve leadership that puts safety over slogans, law over ideology, and citizens over politics.
The time to act is now.
Commissioner Sean M. Morrison
17th District, Cook County
Contact Us
Chicago Office
118 N. Clark Street, Suite 567
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone : 312-603-4215
Fax: 312-603-2014
District Office
15040 Ravinia Ave, Suite 44
Orland Park, Illinois 60462
Phone: 708-349-1336
Fax: 708-349-1627