18th Ward - 2023 Aldermanic Race
Heather Wills - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Heather Wills has worked in community organizing for over two decades, according to her campaign website. Her professional background began as a Senior Customer Service representative for Marquette Bank, then as a Senior Disability Representative for Sedgwick Claims Management Services and most recently as a Campaign Organizer for the Service Employees International Union Healthcare. Wills also founded POW3R, a Chicago-based non-profit dedicated to empowering and educating the inner-city kids through positive programming. The organization has held a slew of expos and workshops, focused on teaching participants “self-love, self-care and self-expression.” Wills said on her campaign site that she decided to join the race based on the belief that “all communities should have: developing residentia and commercial infrastructure, advancing community resources for all and community engaged public safety.”
Derick Curtis - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate, Incumbent
Ald. Derrick Curtis (18) has represented the 18th Ward on the City Council since 2015 and since 2012, Curtis has served as the 18th Ward Democratic Committeeman following his service as Ward Streets and Sanitation Superintendent. Curtis, who is a concealed-carry firearm license instructor, has been involved in two accidental shootings in the last several months — one in which he was injured and another in which his daughter was injured.
In January 2023, Curtis told the Sun-Times he was “having second thoughts about his support for Mayor Lori Lightfoot — and his role as her “No. 1 cheerleader” — because of the mayor’s ‘coldness,’ including her failure to reach out to him after he accidentally shot himself.” Before serving as alderman, Curtis was a local school council member, little league coach and was known for being active in his neighborhood.
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