For decades, regional elected officials and economic development leaders have supported the proposed South Suburban Airport as the project expected to have the biggest impact on revitalizing the south suburban economy.

The airport project got a boost in 2024 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill that required the Illinois Department of Transportation to seek out private companies interested in partnering with the state on the project.

Candidates in the race for 2nd Congressional District seat on Tuesday, March 17, are frequently asked their views on the project, which would be located in the district at Bult Field between Monee and Beecher. The state already owns 90% of the land needed to develop the airport, but the project apparently has stalled after making progress in 2024. 

After a number of potential partners came forward, progress slowed. Although the project is primarily a state matter, the 2nd District office under current Rep. Robin Kelly has been a key advocate for moving it forward.

Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. touts his work pushing for the airport during his 1995 to 2012 tenure, a time when the first land purchases were made. 

In an interview with the Chronicle, he noted that since that time, the economy of the region has continued to suffer, pointing to cities like Harvey, which is on the verge of insolvency. He said the potential for 15,000 permanent jobs and the economic boost the airport could bring would help address a number of the region’s problems, including high property tax rates in south Cook County.

“That’s the way we lower property taxes — when the burden is shared,” he said. “That is the way in which we fund public schools — by sharing the burden with more businesses.” 

Candidate Donna Miller has supported the project in her role as 6th District Cook County commissioner. During an interview with the Chronicle, she noted Chicago’s  South Side and South Suburbs are already a logistics hub, with five connected interstate highways and intermodal train yards. She said the airport would be a natural next step to build upon what the region already has.

“That would be one of my priorities from a logistics, transportation and economic development standpoint,” she said. 

On March 6, she held a news conference to urge the state to expedite the airport development process in response to a report that the FAA was considering a cap on air traffic at O’Hare Airport. She said the South Suburban Airport, even if it is cargo only, could help relieve pressure on the busiest Chicago airport.

At the League of Women Voters/Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce candidate forum on Feb. 21, candidate Adal Regis said he would support the airport. Regis spent time working for Kelly, whose senior aide, Rick Bryant, has been one of the key players in advocating for the project.

“That airport is an opportunity to level the playing field,” Regis said. “We’ve seen a lot of disinvestment because we live in a segregated state. That’s just the reality of it. A lot of the money goes up north, not enough on the South Side. You create that airport … it is gonna give the folks further down south an opportunity to have jobs and also to keep the money circulated in that area.”

He said the economic boost to the region would help reduce crime.

At a forum March 28 at Thornton Fractional North High School, candidate Robert Peters said he supports the airport project but with a caveat about how it sometimes is being presented to the public. 

“It will most likely be a cargo airport. I don’t want to sell people this false dream about what this airport’s going to be,” he said. “You hear other candidates talk about it like United Airlines or Southwest is coming. This airport would specifically be tied to the commercial transportation logistics and would add to the area when it comes to the economic activity, particularly in the Southland community. So I support it.”

At the TF North forum, candidate Eric France said he has long supported the idea, although he’s frustrated with the long delay. 

“I thought the third airport was a great idea 30 years ago. I’m a developer. It doesn’t take me 30 years to build anything,” he said. “This airport will never get built until you have the right people at the table, not only in Washington, but here at home. We’re losing a billion dollars a year by not having that airport.”

Candidate Yumeka Brown, who currently serves on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board and focuses on environmental issues, expressed more skepticism about the airport proposal than other candidates.

“I think about the environmental impact of another airport,” she said during an interview with the Chronicle.

She also questioned whether it would be the best investment. 

“We’re looking to build this runway, but we barely have good roads in our community,” she said. “I am more focused about taking care of the everyday people. I haven’t seen any data that supports that we need a third airport, but I have seen data to support that we need better roads, better bridges, better infrastructure in the communities that we live in.”

Candidate Willie Preston also said he has other priorities for investment. 

“I support rebuilding Harvey. I support building a trade school so that the next generation of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, are able to actually build whatever we build because they have the proper training to do so,” he said, mentioning several other struggling communities in the area, like Dolton, Riverdale, Dixmoor and Ford Heights that he said are in need of investment and better infrastructure.