CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Chicago alderman has become the first person to announce he’s running for Congress in the newly redrawn 3rd District that has a majority Latino population.
Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) is a former Marine who decided to announce his candidacy Wednesday on the 246th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“What you saw on Jan. 6 really troubled me. I took an oath to defend this country against all enemies foreign and domestic when I was in the Marines, and that oath did not have an expiration date," Ald. Villegas said.
He went on to tell WBBM Newsradio, “I think Illinois needs a proven fighter in Congress to hold the line against a Republican party that’s just waging an assault on our democracy and middle class.”
If Governor Pritzker signs the new map into law, the 3rd Congressional District would become the second majority Latino district in Illinois.
The alderman said his 36th Ward is similar in diversity to the new 3rd District. He said his ward is 60 percent Latino, 30 percent Caucasian and 10 percent other.
Ald. Villegas said he is a huge proponent of small businesses and wants to focus on giving small businesses a chance.
The alderman said he believes his politics aligns with the people in the new district and said he does not want to be put into a political box of whether he considers himself more of a progressive or moderate Democrat.
“My politics are very in line with the district. I’m not one of these folks that prescribes to being put into a box. Reality is that my job is to make sure that I’m representing the community to the best of my ability,” he said.
“Compromise is okay. Negotiation is okay ‘cause any time you’re moving the ball down the field, you’re winning. It’s not an all or nothing approach.”
Besides serving in the U.S. Marines, Villegas drove a bakery truck for nine years, worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Capital Development Board, as well as a non-profit association before becoming an alderman six years ago.
He said his main focus now will be to introduce himself to 3rd District voters.
Related
