Andre Smith is making his fourth run for the 20th Ward aldermanic seat. In his last campaign in 2019, Smith finished in fifth place. Smith is a pastor and entrepreneur who founded the group Chicago Against Violence,   In 2018, Smith’s campaign faced accusations of trying to buy petition signatures by offering people free turkeys for Thanksgiving and rumors existed about his campaign volunteers “bullying voters,” according to the Reader. But, the Reader further reported, Smith has been popular in his ward by taking on the jobs typically expected of the alderman’s office when service has been lacking, such as addressing potholes, organizing toy drives or interceding on residents’ behalf to contact ward staff.

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