Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin endorsed businessman Steve Hagerty in the Evanston mayoral race Wednesday.

In an email statement, Suffredin said he was impressed with Hagerty’s background in municipal finance and his plans to fight gun violence in the city. The candidate — who topped the field with roughly 44 percent of the vote in last month’s primary — has also received endorsements from Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and former Mayor Lorraine Morton.

Suffredin did not endorse any of the five primary candidates, even though his chief of staff Ald. Brian Miller (9th) ran for the position. Miller came in third place with nearly 19 percent of the vote, which was not enough to earn him a spot in the April 4 general election. Miller told The Daily last month that he would not endorse either candidate.

“(Hagerty) has a dynamic approach to leadership and to Evanston issues,” Suffredin wrote in his statement. “He wants Evanston to be the boldest, strongest city in Illinois when it comes to fighting gun violence.”

According to his website, Hagerty intends to stem gun violence by working with local legislators to pass “common-sense legislation” requiring state licensing of gun dealers. In addition, he said he would be “open to all suggestions” about improving Evanston’s gun buyback program.

Hagerty’s other major goals include: expanding economic development to all neighborhoods, strengthening youth development to reduce violence and maintaining diversity through affordable housing.

“The role of the mayor is to balance lots of competing demands,” Hagerty told The Daily last month. “Strike that balance between smart and sensible economic development and not losing the character of the city. Between keeping all of our neighborhoods safe and not infringing on people’s rights.”

Ald. Mark Tendam (6th), who is running against Hagerty, received multiple endorsements, including one from Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and another from Equality Illinois, a statewide political action committee advocating for LGBTQ rights.

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