On Aug. 5, a majority of Democratic delegates from around the United States voted during a virtual roll call to name Vice President Kamala Harris the presidential candidate for their party.
As more than 170 of those delegates from Illinois prepare to attend the Democratic National Convention Aug. 19 through 22, the Review spoke with one of them, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, about his path here and his role during the DNC.
This isn’t the first time Hoskins has been a Democratic delegate. He also participated in the 2020 DNC, which was mostly remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As soon as I got elected mayor, I knew I wanted to participate as a delegate in 2020,” said Hoskins, who became Forest Park’s mayor in 2019. “I felt like being the mayor gave me a platform to run for delegate.”
To nominate Hoskins in 2020, voters in Illinois’ 7th congressional district cast a vote for him in the primary elections. The Democratic Party approved the delegates with the most votes, Hoskins said.
Hoskins said he started campaigning to be a 2020 delegate in 2019, reaching out to people in Democratic Party politics. As a formality, those individuals had him sign two or three pieces of paper saying he would vote for President Joe Biden at a convention of delegates, Hoskins said.
Hoskins petitioned for signatures to get his name on the primary ballot as a delegate for the 7th congressional district. At the same time, he asked for signatures to petition for Biden for president, and did so in the 4th district, too, where Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García was petitioning for Bernie Sanders.
After Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Hoskins continued with his mayoral duties. In 2022, he was appointed to an advisory board that assists the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a presidential appointment.
“I never really lost contact with the party apparatus,” Hoskins said.
While preparing for this year’s DNC, Hoskins said he expressed interest in being a delegate to Democratic Party politicians. Again, he circulated petitions for both himself and Biden. Biden became the Democratic presidential candidate, and Hoskins became an Illinois delegate for the second time — a position that he said he ran for simply because it excited him.
“You hear the phrase, ‘Someone has to do it.’ Well, I don’t see it as someone has to do it, I see it as someone gets to do it,” Hoskins said. “I got involved in public service because I wanted to make a difference, and this is just one more way to be involved and be part of the process.”
Hoskins’ DNC plans
The prominent role for delegates is voting for the presidential candidate. Even though Hoskins has done his part in voting for Harris during the virtual roll call, and Harris has been chosen as the Democratic presidential candidate, Hoskins and other delegates still have a part to play at the DNC.
From Aug. 19 through 22, delegates will attend speeches and get-togethers, rallying around the Harris-Walz ticket and the Democratic Party’s platform.
At past conventions, delegates have voted on resolutions and platform initiatives. Hoskins said he’s not sure if that will be the case this year, though he added that there may be a platform currently being drafted that could potentially be ratified during the DNC.
Initiatives that Hoskins said he would look to advocate for at the DNC include expanding the child tax credit, supporting student loan forgiveness, reaffirming support for international partnerships like NATO, plus support for Ukraine and renewable energy.
Hoskins is also a part of the DNC’s 7th congressional district welcoming committee. And welcoming people is one of the things he said he’s most excited about for the DNC, along with showing off the Chicagoland area and informing other politicians about Forest Park.
When asked what he’s most concerned about regarding the DNC, Hoskins named security measures, which are in place.
Safety has been top-of-mind for many following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July. United States Secret Service and law enforcement officers finalized the DNC’s safety measures that month.
Forest Park officials, like many others, have an increased level of awareness regarding security measures and are in communication with Cook County’s Emergency Management and Regional Security. Village Administrator Rachell Entler, Chief of Police Ken Gross, Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta and Fire Lieutenant Lindsey Hankus have been working together to make sure the village is ready in case any emergencies take place during the DNC.
Hoskins said that the Illinois State Police’s Emergency Radio Network has been activated, allowing federal, county and local police to communicate and share resources. The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, a similar statewide response system for firefighters, is also in place with a plan for potential emergencies.
“I want to see a convention that’s instance-free, and I know that our staff is focused on doing their part,” Hoskins said. “I know that we’re prepared in the event that there’s an emergency.”
With safety plans in place and just days to go until the DNC, Hoskins said he’s excited to talk with other officials, share about his village and rally around the Democratic Party.
“My role is to represent Forest Park, to vote for Kamala Harris, to help her get elected president,” Hoskins said.