DEERFIELD, IL — Deerfield health care policy attorney Bob Morgan announced Thursday he is challenging for the Illinois House seat currently held by State Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood). Morgan was the Illinois's first-ever statewide coordinator for its pilot medical marijuana program and a top lawyer in the Illinois Department of Public Health and governor's office.

"Springfield is broken and millions of Illinoisans are suffering. It's been more than 700 days without a budget, and it's time for someone to stand up for the values of our community, make changes, and begin fixing the problem," Morgan said. Morgan is currently the chair of the West Deerfield Township Democrats. He pointed to recent success in partisan local municipal elections under his leadership. He was also in charge of Jewish outreach for Hillary Clinton's Illinois operation in 2016.

"We need to elect leaders with progressive vision who are going to fight hard against the forces that want to destroy everything that makes Illinois strong, in the name of an agenda intent on hurting working families," Morgan said. Drury is currently serving his third term representing the 58th District. The former federal prosecutor said in April he is exploring a run for governor and has not made a decision on whether he will defend his seat in a primary next March. Drury was notably the only Democrat not to vote for Speaker Michael Madigan reelection to a 17th term (he voted "present" in protest.) Drury has said the move he said was responsible for costing him committee assignments and touted it as proof of his independence.

Illinois 58th State House District Just under a year ago, Morgan left his post with the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program to become a private attorney for the firm Much Shelist. He said was involved in organizing dozens of local attorneys and advocates to provide emergency legal services at O'Hare International Airport for immigrants detained under President Donald Trump's travel ban. "We are facing troubling times as a community. It's easy to cast blame, and even easier to shut our eyes to what is happening in Illinois and the nation. But I was raised with the notion that we have the power to heal the world if we stand up and fight for the voiceless and the downtrodden. That's how I've spent my career, and what I want to bring to Springfield," Morgan said in his announcement. Morgan is also a member of the Midwest Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of Chicago's Government Affairs Committee, and Northbrook's Temple Beth El. He lives in Deerfield with a wife, son and dog.