Liz Gorman To Run For Former 17th District Seat In Cook County

ORLAND PARK, IL — Elizabeth Doody-Gorman, former Cook County Commissioner of the 17th District, announced Monday she will be running against Sean Morrison for her old seat.

According to Gorman, who is a current Republican committee person for Orland Township, she hopes to win back the seat to focus on senior citizens' rights and "expanding the GOP base."

Gorman represented the 17th District from 2002-2015, when she stepped down to work as director of state and local government for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Following her stint at the accounting firm, Gorman was appointed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner to serve as executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Currently, Gorman works in both the private and public sector as a business leader for energy services company NORESCO and a board member for the Regional Transportation Authority.

"I'm a proud Republican, a smart Republican and someone who knows we can strengthen the Republican Party by attracting more voters ... and embracing commonsense, smart candidates for office" Gorman said in a news release.

The June 28 primary will see Gorman face off against Morrison, whom she backed for the seat in 2015. Since then, however, Gorman told reporters she feels Morrison has joined Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in feeding on residents' anger.

The 17th District contains Orland Park, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Lemont, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills, Willow Springs, Countryside, La Grange, Westchester, Elmhurst, Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, Park Ridge and Des Plaines.

Gorman told Patch on Monday she will formally announce her campaign in February.

In late December, Gorman's father, Lawrence Doody, died at 81 years old. According to his obituary, the man was known was the official electrician of Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, where Gorman is from.