U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-4th)
Despite mayoral loss, Chuy expands Southwest Side footprint
.
.
Lost citywide, but won in 12 and 14
By Tim Hadac
Southwest Side incumbents did generally well at the polls on Feb. 28, with only one—the recently appointed 12th Ward Ald. Anabel Abarca—going down to defeat.
The biggest winner appeared to be U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th). While he lost his mayoral bid (finishing fourth in a field of nine), his protégés rolled to victory in the 12th and 14th wards, expanding his political footprint on the Southwest Side.
In the 12th Ward, with all 22 precincts reporting, Julia M. Ramirez finished with 3,151 votes (57%) to Abarca’s 2,426 (43%). Abarca is backed by her predecessor, longtime Ald. George Cardenas, who left his aldermanic seat last fall when he was elected to the Cook County Board of Review.
Cardenas remains Democratic committeeman of the ward.
In the 13th Ward, Ald. Marty Quinn crushed challenger Paul Bruton, in the most lopsided contest of the day. With all 40 precincts reporting. Quinn ended with 10,910 votes (88%) to Paul Bruton’s 1,501 (12%).
In a statement sent to the press, a victorious Quinn said, “I want to thank the voters of the 13th Ward for reelecting me as your alderman for the next four years. We have accomplished a lot together to make our community a place where people want to live, raise a family and set down roots. But we have more work to do, and I’m honored to work alongside the 13th Ward residents to get it done.”
The 14th Ward race to succeed Edward M. Burke, the longtime dean of the City Council, was not close. With all 15 precincts reporting, García protégé Jeylú B. Gutiérrez racked up 2,937 votes (65%) to 1,573 (35%) for Raul Reyes, who was said to be Burke’s candidate.
With the victory, García has complete control of the ward. The Democratic committeeman of the ward, Aarón Ortíz, is a García disciple.
Burke, facing a federal indictment on corruption charges (he has denied accusations of wrongdoing), now appears to be out of 14th Ward politics for the first time since 1968.
In the 15th Ward, with all precincts reporting, Ald. Raymond A. Lopez finished with 3,007 votes (64%) to 1,115 (24%) for Victoria “Vicko” Alvarez and 546 (12%) for Gloria Ann Williams.
The campaign was frequently bitter between Lopez and Alvarez, with each accusing the other of being a hardliner: Lopez allegedly an anti-immigrant right-winger and Alvarez allegedly being an anti-police left-winger.
Lopez remains Democratic committeeman of the ward.
Alvarez was defiant in defeat.
“We demanded the reopening of our mental health clinics,” she said., “We demanded fully funded schools. We demanded state of the art libraries. We ran this our way. Demanding the world for the Southwest Side. The fight continues.”
In fact, it will continue in that Alvarez is one of a slate of Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidates and will doubtless throw herself into the mayoral campaign of Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson (D-1st), the CTU-backed candidate who finished second to former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas. The two will face off in a runoff election set for Tuesday, April 4.
In the 18th Ward, Ald. Derrick G. Curtis defeated challenger Heather Wills by a comfortable margin, With all 26 precincts reporting, Curtis amassed 6,982 votes (61%) to 4,372 (39%) for Wills.
Curtis also serves as Democratic ward committeeman.
Also winning comfortably was 22nd Ward Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez. With all 19 precincts reporting, Rodriguez finished with 2,942 votes (66%) to 793 (18%) for Kristian R, Armendariz and 692 (16%) for Neftalie Gonzalez.
The 22nd Ward has long been the heart of García’s political base, and Rodriguez is his Democratic committeeman.
Finally, 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares brushed back a challenge from West Lawn resident and business owner Eddie Guillen. With all 33 precincts reporting, Tabares had 6,305 votes (73%) to 2,317 (27%) for Guillen. The race saw Guillen surrogates try to portray the race as an “us versus them” struggle between Garfield Ridge (where Tabares lives) and neighborhoods east of the airport. But apparently, not enough people in West Lawn and West Elsdon bought the argument.
Tabares remains Democratic committeeman of the ward.
In the race for the newly created police council in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District, the top three finishers won. With 127 of 129 precincts reporting, Al Cacciottolo led the pack of four candidates with 21,090 votes (30%) to 18,449 (26%) for Jason Huff, 16,436 (23%) for Mark Hamberlin and 14,018 (20%) for Letina K. Brady Pettis.
The mayoral race results were clear. With 1,277 of 1,291 precincts reporting, Paul Vallas led with 172.093 votes (34%), 103.387 (20%) for Brandon Johnson, 86,952 (17%) for incumbent Lori Lightfoot, 70,006 (14%) for Jesús “Chuy” García, 48,658 (10%) for Willie Wilson, 10,845 (2%) for Ja’Mal Green, 9,111 (2%) for Kam Buckner, 6,344 (1%) for Sophia King and 2,160 (1%) for Roderick Sawyer.
Vote totals released Tuesday night by the Chicago Board of Elections are unofficial and will change slightly as mail-in votes are counted. But it is not expected to change any of the Southwest Side or citywide results.
Local News
Baseball | Stagg tops Chicago Christian in season-opener
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Spring has a different set of challenges for high school sports compared to those played in the winter and fall. The most common and most unpredictable hurdle is the weather, without fail. The start of 2024 high school baseball season lucked out, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s and…
Hoops team featuring De La Salle players wins 2nd straight Unified Basketball state title
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent For the second consecutive season, the team comprising students from De La Salle and Southside Occupational Academy are IHSA/Special Olympics of Illinois Division II Unified Basketball state champions. The De La Salle-SOA unified team etched its name into the state annals via a 64-59 victory over St. Patrick-Vaughn Occupational…
Softball | Mother McAuley seeks to right ship
Spread the loveFrom Staff Reports The 2024 season is off to an uneven and somewhat rocky start for Mother McAuley. The Mighty Macs opened the spring with consecutive losses — 9-3 to Oak Forest on March 11 and 18-1 to Benet on March 13 — before getting off the schneid with an 18-1 win over…
Boys Basketball | Players from Evergreen Park and Brother Rice to ball at prospect showcase
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Five players from the area have been invited to play on the South Suburban Team at the Illinois Hoop Prospect Senior All-Star Games scheduled to be played March 24 at Joliet Junior College. Brother Rice’s Zavier Fitch and Ty Wooten join Evergreen Park’s Nolan Sexton, Marist’s Darshan Thomas and…
Girls Basketball | George Shimko takes reins for Mustangs
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent One longtime area basketball coach will succeed another at Evergreen Park. George Shimko, who brought success to the girls basketball programs at Queen of Peace and St. Laurence, has been named the new girls hoops coach at Evergreen Park. He will succeed Bruce Scaduto, who retired after 27 years…
De La Salle tabs Harold Blackmon as next football coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A pair of familiar coaches from the area have landed in new spots. Harold Blackmon, who has been head football coach at St. Laurence and Oak Lawn, has been named coach at De La Salle. George Shimko, a former girls basketball coach at Queen of Peace and St. Laurence,…
Red Stars, rugby will highlight big weekend at SeatGeek
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Things will get busy in Bridgeview this weekend. The Chicago Fire II will host its season opener against Toronto FC II at 6 p.m. Friday, March 22 at SeatGeek Stadium. The following day, the Chicago Red Stars make their 2024 home debut against Seattle at 3 p.m. Rugby invades…
Red Stars Report | Cooks provide recipe for success in Red Stars’ win over Utah
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Lorne Donaldson era is already Cook-ing. The new Chicago Red Stars coach enjoyed a victory in his debut with a 2-0 triumph over Utah in the NWSL season-opener for both teams on March 16 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. The game was the first in franchise…
College Sports Wrap | Morton College OF Angelo Luna slugs two grand slams in one day
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area college baseball sluggers had a grand time on March 16. Former St. Laurence standout Angelo Luna, a sophomore outfielder at Morton College, hit two grand slams and drove in 10 runs over two games as the Panthers beat Highland, 7-3 and 18-5, in a doubleheader at home. Luna…
College Notebook | Ex-Mount Carmel wrestler Sergio Lemley takes fourth in Big Ten
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent One reason the Michigan wrestling team has been successful this season is freshman Sergio Lemley. At the Big Ten tournament, Lemley won three of his five matches to finish fourth at 141 pounds. The Wolverines placed second with 123.5 points behind conference champion Penn State (170.5). In the consolation…
Neighbors
DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…
Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance
By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…
Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact. That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…
Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal
COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval. Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…
Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…
Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement. Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…