CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - In addition to the race for Chicago mayor, more than a dozen aldermanic races will be decided today.
There are 14 Aldermanic seats up for grabs today, and six of those races involve incumbents.
Controversial 45th Ward Ald. Jim Gardiner is up against business owner Megan Mathias. He’s drawn fire for alleged intimidation of critics and opponents and ethics code violations.
29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro, who chairs the City Council Public Safety Committee, is facing a challenge from businessman CB Johnson, who runs the nonprofit Campaign for a Drug Free West Side.
36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas, head of the Latino Caucus, is essentially running in a ward that looks nothing like the one that elected him. It was redrawn, severely, after he publicly opposed the remap process. He faces CPS Teacher Lori Torres-Whitt.
Alderpersons whom Lori Lightfoot appointed to fill vacancies on the Council have all had a hard time this election season. One of them, Anabel Abarca, was just getting used to her seat as 12th Ward Alderwoman. She was her predecessor George Cardenas’ chief of staff. But, she was unseated entirely by community organizer Julia Ramirez.
Today, three other incumbents face challengers, including 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee, who was tapped to fill the seat of convicted ex-Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson. She is the first Chinese-American on the Council and she was forced into a runoff with Chicago Police Officer Anthony Ciaravino.
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24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott was named to take her brother Michael Scott Jr.’s place when he left for a private sector job. She faces police firearms instructor Creative Scott, who’s no relation.
Finally, there’s 43rd Ward Ald. Timmy Knudsen who was appointed to replace the North Side’s Michele Smith when she chose to leave for personal reasons. He’s up against Sheffield Neighborhood Association President Brian Comer.
All three of them failed to clear the 50% plus one vote threshold for avoiding runoffs.
Among other notable runoff races are the two where the incumbents ran for Mayor. 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King’s seat is the subject of a race between King’s Chief of Staff Prentice Butler and State Rep. Lamont Robinson.
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In the 6th Ward, where Alderman and Mayoral hopeful Roderick Sawyer gave up his seat to run, two ministers are squaring off. Pastor William Hall and former Police Officer and Pastor Richard Wooten finished only about 70 votes apart in round one.
21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. is retiring. Political Consultant Ronnie Mosely and retired Chicago Firefighter Cornell Dantzler are in contention there.
In the 30th Ward where Alderman Ariel Reboyras is retiring, Jessica Gutierrez, daughter of former Congressman Luis Gutierrez is vying with Ruth Cruz for that seat. Union endorsements are split among the two.
And in the 48th Ward, where Ald. Harry Osterman is stepping down, developer Joe Dunne and community activist Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth are still running. Osterman has endorsed Dunne.
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