Mr. Kwame Raoul; Illinois

State Senator, Haitian Immigrant's Son Kwame Raoul replaces Barack Obama in Illinois Senate. http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/raoul/

HYDE PARK, ILLINOIS - While many Blacks around the world still "cheered" Barack Obama as the first African-American male elected to the United States Senate in the 21st Century, and the fifth one in US history to serve in the nation's highest legislative body. Since last Saturday, Haitians in Illinois are very proud because the son of Haitian-born immigrants Marie Therese Raoul and late Janin Raoul, M.D., Kwame Raoul, was appointed by the Democrats to lead the 13th District as its new state Senator, filling the seat left vacant by Obama.

Kwame Raoul, a senior attorney for the City Colleges of Chicago, a lifelong resident of Hyde Park, was chosen by Democratic committee to replace Obama in the Illinois Senate.

Leslie Hairston (5th), who headed an 11-member committee to find a replacement from among seven candidates, including several progressive attorneys and a pro-choice pastor. The committee met in a Mc.Cormick Place conference room for several hours where they interviewed candidates individually on policy positions and their backgrounds.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on September 30, 1964, Kwame Raoul was the only candidate who had experience running for office, which may have been the deciding factor in his being chosen. He campaigned unsuccessfully in 1996 to unseat Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), who was also on the selection committee.

As he accepted the 13th legislative district seat, Raoul seemed stunningly similar to the man he was replacing. Wearing a tailored dark suit and red tie, Raoul held his 4-year-old daughter, Mizan, who clutched her father much like Obama's daughters clung to him during his campaign.

Beside him, settling their fidgety 6-year-old son Che, stood Raoul's wife, Kali Evans-Raoul, a professional-image consultant who admitted responsibility for shaping her husband's polished style.