Five candidates for the 6th District seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners responded to our invitation to contribute a profile. Homewood is part of the district.
Antoine Bass
Experience: A graduate of SIU-Carbondale with a degree in Marketing. I am a certified appraiser and Realtor with over 20 years of experience. I understand the complexities of property values and housing issues central to the Cook County government’s role. I served as the 24-25 Government Affairs South Chair for MainStreet.
Policy priorities: I will work directly with the Cook County Assessor’s office to ensure that the unique “property-poor” dynamic of the South Suburbs is accounted for in assessment models, preventing the overvaluation of modest homes in our district.
Our mental health crisis is a public health emergency, yet we continue to treat it like a police matter. This overburdens our law enforcement and fails our families. I will expand mental health services directly within the 6th District.
Eliminate duplicate services throughout Cook County.
Service to constituents: I believe that effective representation starts with showing up.
That’s why I will launch a monthly traveling town hall series, visiting cities across the 6th District to ensure every resident has a seat at the table. To ensure your tax dollars are working for you.
Closing statement: The Southland deserves an expert, not just a politician. The No. 1 issue in the South Suburbs is that seniors and families are being priced out of their own homes.
The South Suburbs suffer from some of the lowest property tax collection rates in the county — a clear sign that property tax bills have become unaffordable for working families.
Veronica Bolling-Franklin
Experience: Elected D159 school board member serving in my second term. Distinguished school board member, director‑at‑large and Constitution Review Committee member with the Illinois Association of School Boards. Professional experience: project manager, sales support and administration specialist, customer service supervisor and account manager. Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Management.
Policy priorities: I want a fairer, transparent property tax system that stops over burdening working families bringing real accountability to assessments. I support strengthening ACA access so residents can afford healthcare coverage. I support expanding SNAP by streamlining enrollment and protecting families from restrictive rules that deepen food insecurity. I want to abolish policy barriers that keep people from meeting basic needs. Rules that block access to affordable healthcare, food or stable housing should be eliminated so every resident can live with dignity and security.
Service to constituents: As a school board member, I work closely with constituents and staff to resolve concerns and remove barriers. Before holding office, I advocated directly for families with Concerned Citizens for Children and our local food pantry. I stay accessible, listen closely and intervene to ensure residents get timely, accountable support.
Closing statement: I bring proven, accountable leadership. I already do the core work of a county commissioner governing transparently, making tough decisions in public, managing real services and real dollars. I will fight for fairer property taxes, and expanded food security.
Sylvester Fulcher
Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Social Work, 30 years of public service as a social worker on multiple levels in rural and urban settings. Currently, a Senior Public Service Administrator with child protection for the last 4 years with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.
Policy priorities: Focusing on making the Southland a regional force economically and socially. Uniting towns, county and state representatives to work together to improve the lives of everyone in the Southland. Focusing on property tax relief now. Bring large businesses and companies to the area to reduce the tax burden on homeowners. Improving services for our seniors. Securing and protecting health care access for our citizens. Work with the schools on strageties for consolidation. Improve the image of the Southland area.
Service to constituents: I plan to meet people where they are at and offer them the help that they ask for, not what I think they need. I will be present in the community on a regular basis to answer and address the concerns that exist for the people of the Southland.
Closing statement: As a social worker, I have learned that we need to meet people where they are at and give them the help that they ask for and not what we think they need. Uniting the communities on a local level can give the Southland region leverage as we advocate for more resources and exercise a more commanding voice while addressing the needs of the community. For the past 30 years, I have been using my expertise working with people from all walks of life to secure a future for themselves, their families and their children.
Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy
Experience: I earned a Bachelor’s from Boston University, and spent nearly 20 years running my business at Chicago’s Navy Pier before entering public service. Elected Worth Township Democratic Committeeperson, 2018, 2022, and 2026; Trustee of the Moraine Valley Community College Board, 2019, and reelected 2021; Worth Township Supervisor 2021, reelected 2025.
Policy priorities: I support policies that make Cook County more affordable, safe and fair. I want to enact real property tax reform through accurate assessments; expand access to healthcare through community based local Health Hubs; invest in public safety by balancing prevention and accountability; and promote smart economic development to grow the tax base. I would abolish wasteful spending, end ineffective contracts, and stop policies that shift the tax burden onto homeowners or weaken essential services.
Service to constituents: I believe in being accessible and responsive. I would maintain my open door policy, my community outreach practices, listening tours, and work with my network of elected leaders and county departments to resolve constituent concerns.
Closing statement: I bring experience, results and readiness. I have been elected and re-elected to public office. I have hands-on experience managing budgets, securing resources and delivering services, policy, grants and working across levels of government.
I have a proven record of expanding senior services, supporting veterans and modernizing local government operations, earning the trust of voters through follow-through and accountability.
Wesam Shahed
Experience: First-generation Palestinian-American attorney. Senior Legislative Counsel in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office; former Cook County prosecutor and policy advisor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Loyola University Chicago (BA) and Michigan State University College of Law (JD). Recognized by the Arab American Foundation “30 Under 30.”
Policy priorities: My priorities: make Cook County more affordable by fixing property tax inequities, improving transparency and pursuing progressive revenue so working families aren’t squeezed. Expand Southland healthcare access, including urgent and trauma-level care, mental health and addiction services. Deliver smart public safety: violence prevention, gun interdiction and second chances. Defend immigrant communities and civil rights. Invest in flood mitigation, clean air and water and equitable access to forest preserves, trails and green space.
Service to constituents: I’ll run a highly accessible district operation: regular town halls and office hours across the Southland; multilingual outreach through faith and community partners; a responsive casework system to help residents navigate county services; and transparent reporting on budgets, contracts and progress on commitments.
Closing statement: I’m running to deliver an affordable, safe and healthy county for Southland families. I know how to make government work because I’ve done it in public service, and I’ll bring that experience to property tax fairness, better healthcare access and smarter public safety. I’ll fight for working people, protect immigrant families and invest in climate resilience and our forest preserves.
