Jessie “Jessie” Fuentes is an openly queer activist from Humboldt Park running in the open 26^th Ward race following the decision by Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26) not to seek reelection and withdraw from the race. Fuentes’ work experience includes being the director of policy and youth advocacy for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Humboldt Park as well as the co-chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago group.

On her website, Fuentes says her “lived experience overcoming poverty, violence and generational trauma, coupled with her professional accomplishments,” make her best suited to lead the ward. Fuentes is endorsed by United Working Families.

Attorney Larry Lloyd owns a legal practice with his wife called The Lloyd Law Firm LLC, which has offices in Illinois and Wisconsin. Lloyd lives in Washington Heights with his wife and children.

Preston Brown Jr. is a private practice attorney accredited with the Veterans Administration and the elected Democratic Committeeman of the 34th Ward. Before redistricting, Brown ran for alderman in what was then the 34th Ward in 2019. According to his campaign website, Brown also serves on the Local School Council at Percy L. Julian High School.

Daliah Goree is a Chicago Police officer who has served on the force for 24 years, according to her campaign website. Goree has been involved with several 501c3 nonprofits and was previously sergeant-at-arms for Morgan Park High School.

Ayana Clark works as a community advocate for the retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, who represents Illinois’ 1st District, and is an alumnus of the Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corp and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Clark earned a master’s degree in communications from Purdue University Northwest and works with the organizations Project H.O.O.D. and Hustle Mommies — the latter of which she serves as an advisory board member.

Kweli Kwaza is founder and executive director of the Talented 10th College Prep and CareerMentoring organization. Kwaza obtained a political science degree from Northern Illinois University and serves on the NIU Black Alumni Council. Kwaza also founded the 21st Ward Block Club Network and the Young Inventors Program for 4th to 8th-graders. Kwaza also studied at the University of Chicago and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Community Psychology at National Louis University, according to his website.

As Mayor Lori Lightfoot's second hand picked nominee to fill an aldermanic vacancy, now-Ald. Monique Scott (24) replaced her brother Michael Scott as the 24th Ward alderman in June 2022. Scott previously worked as a health consultant for North Lawndale Christian Health Center and served as a park supervisor of recreation for the Chicago Park District just before her aldermanic appointment. She owned the Eclectic Chique Clothing Boutique in Chicago from 2010 to 2014, according to her resume. She was among more than a dozen applicants to fill her brother’s old post.

Vetress Boyce is a business owner making her third run for 24^th Ward alderman after unsuccessful campaigns in 2011 and 2015, though she competed in a run-off in the latter. According to her resume, Boyce has lobbied in favor of reparations and campaigned on behalf of Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her 2019 run as well as for Willie Wilson’s 2019 mayoral run.

In 2022, Boyce was one of the many applicants to toss her name into the ring to replace outgoing Ald. Michael Scott, though his sister, now-Ald. Monique Scott (24), was the one tapped to succeed him. Boyce owns and operates a medical supply business and beauty supply store.

Larry Nelson has worked as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and in 2022 applied to fill the 24^th Ward seat vacated by former Ald. Michael Scott, though the seat would eventually go to his sister, current Ald. Monique Scott (24). According to his resume, Nelson previously worked for former 24th Ward Ald. Michael Chandler and later worked as a project coordinator for the Chicago Department of Human Services.

Traci “Treasure” Johnson is making another run for the 24^th Ward aldermanic office after a run for the seat in 2019. Johnson is a community activist who has worked in pest control, has served as secretary of the Midwest Community Council and worked for political campaigns at all levels, according to a 2019 Sun-Times article.

Creative Scott ran for 24^th Ward alderman in 2019 and finished in second place behind former Ald. Michael Scott, though the two are not related. Creative Scott is a firearms instructor and works as an armed security guard, according to his resume. Creative also is a licensed barber and runs his own salon, according to his resume. He was among applicants to replace the former 24^th Ward alderman in 2022, though the job ultimately went to Michael Scott’s sister, current Ald. Monique Scott (24).

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27) grew up in the Cabrini-Green public housing complex and in his late teens served two years in prison for bank robbery, though he was pardoned in 1998 by then-Gov. Jim Edgar. Burnett pursued an education in political science from prison, earning an associate’s degree and a certificate in drafting. His father having worked in party politics under 42nd Ward Committeeman and Cook County Democratic Chairman George Dunne, Burnett got his start with the county’s Young Democrats in 1989. Burnett, who has served as alderman since 1995, previously worked in the office of then-Recorder of Deeds Jesse White and later ran White’s successful campaign for Secretary of State in 1998. While on the council, Burnett guided the creation of the 2007 Affordable Requirements Ordinance and was a main driver for revisions to the ordinance in 2015, 2017 and 2021.

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) was first elected to the City Council in 2007 after defeating Theodore Matlakin in a runoff. Waguespack is a founding member of the City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus and early in his career built a reputation as a proponent of good government in Chicago. The 32nd Ward alderman frequently made news during the Rahm Emanuel administration by butting heads with the former mayor over topics ranging from tax-increment financing to billboards.

Waguespack rode Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s successful election in 2019, moving from a staunch progressive council member to one of the mayor’s top allies and enforcers. As chair of the City Council’s Committee on Finance — one of the three most powerful committees — Waguespack plays a prominent role in council operations convening monthly meetings to regularly consider measures related to tax-increment finance agreements and police settlement payouts. Additionally, Waguespack has steered the committee toward environmental issues, such as a ban on the use of single-use plastics.

Waguespack is a proponent of aldermanic prerogative, a break from Lightfoot’s stance. Waguespack is running unopposed this year, just as he did in 2019.

Elected: 2019

Twitter: @MattMartinChi

Campaign Site: https://www.matt47.com/

Bio: A former civil rights lawyer with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, Matt Martin ran on a progressive platform of affordable housing, police oversight and TIF-reform efforts in 2019. Beyond his legal work, Martin served on his local school board at McPherson Elementary and co-founded the Heart of Lincoln Square Neighborhood Association. In 2019, he handily defeated opponent Michael Negron, who formerly worked as a policy advisor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with 62 percent of the vote. He’s maintained his progressive stances, as he was one of more than 20 aldermen to vote against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2021 pandemic budget as well as her $94 million property tax increase that year. Martin also voted against her 2020 budget and called it a step in the right direction, but not quite enough. More recently, Martin voted “no” on Lightfoot’s 2023 spending plan. Martin was one of several aldermen who pushed for the mayor to bring back the Department of Environment in the 2023 budget. Lightfoot instead included an Office of Climate and Environment Equity in her spending plan. Martin is currently the interim chair of the City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight.

Sources:

https://news.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2019/candidates/chicago-city-council/matt-martin

https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04/02/47th-ward-matt-martin-vs-michael-negron/

https://www.aldermanmartin.com/2020-budgetd

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) first joined the Chicago City Council in 2018 when she was appointed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Tabares won reelection in 2019 with a $500,000 war chest. During her first run for reelection, Tabares had the backing of the Chicago Teachers Union and throughout her time in office has emphasized the importance of involving Chicago Public Schools’ undocumented and immigrant parents in elections for a representative school board.

Tabares is one of several staunch pro-law enforcement aldermen, regularly introducing legislation to bolster resources and support for members of the Chicago Police Department. Tabares is a member of the City Council Latino Caucus, of which she serves in the role as vice chair.

The 23rd Ward alderman has used her position on the caucus to urge city officials to open additional employment and contracting opportunities to Chicago’s Latino population. During the fall of 2021, Tabares led an unsuccessful charge in the City Council to challenge the city's COVID-19 vaccination requirements for city employees. Mayor Lori Lightfoot rebuked Tabares’ campaign saying the aldermen was "carrying water" for the Fraternal Order of Police and its resistance to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees.

Eddie Guillen is former Chief of Staff to state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago) of the 22^nd District. A West Lawn resident, Guillen serves on Eberhart Elementary’s Local School Council as well as the board of the Children's Museum of Oak Lawn and on the Envision Community Services Events Committee, according to his campaign website. Guillen owns and operates an event lighting company which he founded and was among winners of NBC Chicago’s “Making A Difference” awards in 2020.

Ald. Felix Cardona, Jr. (31) is seeking a second term representing the 31^st Ward after ousting incumbent former Ald. Milagros “Milly” Santiago in 2019. Cardona got his start working for former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios; first when Berrios was on the Cook County Board of Review and then later in the assessor’s office, as well as for Berrios-backed political campaigns, though Cardona has since distanced himself from Berrios.

Cardona is a member of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus and while on council supported the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. Cardona has been the 31^st Ward Democratic Committeeperson since 2020.

Ald. Samantha Nugent (39) was first elected to the City Council in 2019. Before being elected alderman, Nugent worked for the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the British Consulate and former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Nugent earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and a Juris Doctor from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She has the backing of multiple labor groups and elected officials such as Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), City Clerk Anna Valencia and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin.