Bio
Outreach & Engagement Expert, Publisher - @TheDailyLineChi, Serial Hobbyist #Foodie #Hunter #AspiringAviator #Chicagoan #lightside #Advocate #ExplorerAngee Gonzalez Rodriguez is the 26th Ward’s current Democratic Committeeperson and attempted a run for alderman in 2019 but did not make it on the ballot following challenges, according to Block Club Chicago. Gonzalez Rodriguez has lived in Humboldt Park since the early 70s but was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico.
She sits on the local school council for Lowell Elementary School and is a member of both the National Association of Professional Women and the Association of Latino Professionals for America, according to her campaign website. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in legal studies, according to her website.
Angee Gonzalez Rodriquez - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Community activist Ronnie Mosley entered the race as a clear favorite, with the Chicago Defender reporting outgoing Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21) had endorsed Mosley the day of his campaign announcement.
The Defender reported Mosley has also secured endorsements from St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger, Ald. Michelle Harris (8), Cook County Comm. Stanley Moore (D-4), state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, state Rep. Justin Slaughter and Greater Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Comm. Chakena Perry.
Mosley’s advocacy work includes gun violence prevention, cannabis legalization, education reform and voting rights.
Ronnie Mosley - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Edward Ward has worked as a coordinator for Chicago Public Schools’ Sustainable Community Schools Program and has previous experience as a restorative practices specialist, coaching educational professionals in that capacity on how to hold talking circles and peace circles. Ward, a DePaul University graduate, was one of the candidates who applied to replace former Ald. Michael Scott, though the position ultimately went to Scott’s sister, Ald. Monique Scott (24).
Edward Ward - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
A former marine and lieutenant firefighter for over two decades, Drewone Goldsmith was one of 19 applicants to venture for the 43rd Ward seat when former Ald. Michael Scott resigned in June.
Goldsmith is a lifelong Lawndale resident and founded Chicago’s Classic Car Show, which has been held annually in the neighborhood since 2008. According to his campaign website, Goldsmith’s objectives as alderman would be: “uniting and protecting our seniors, promoting community investment, encouraging the Ward to work alongside law enforcement to combat our current crime issues, attract business and residential development, Involving our youth in correcting the wrongs that plague our community, and stabilizing the Ward by continuing to work on its infrastructure.”
Drew Goldsmith - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
A longtime employee of Chicago’s Streets & Sanitation Department, Luther Woodruff announced his campaign for the 24th Ward seat under a platform of restoring hope, rebuilding the community and reconnecting our neighborhoods, according to his campaign website. Part of this plan includes investing in the area's businesses to ensure they stay in the ward. He’s lived on the same block of Douglas Park his entire life, and said on Instagram that he’s dedicated to serving the community and he sees himself and his family as “pillars of positivity in the neighborhood.”
Luther Woodruff - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Jeylu Gutierrez is a Mexican immigrant who resides in Brighton Park and works as the district director for Cook County Comm. Alma Anaya (D-7), who has also endorsed her run for 14th Ward alderman. Gutierrez is one of two candidates running in the 14th Ward race to replace Ald. Ed Burke (14) who will not run for reelection after more than 50 years on the City Council. Gutierrez, who also serves on St. Bruno Catholic School’s school board, has secured the endorsements of mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Illinois) and state Rep. Aaron Ortiz (D-Chicago). Gutierrez previously worked as a community liaison, student advocate and assistant counselor for Chicago Public Schools, according to her website.
Jeylu Gutièrrez - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Raul Reyes has been a “one-time … political operative” for outgoing Ald. Ed Burke (14), . After more than 50 years on the City Council, Burke is not running for reelection. Burke was indicted in 2019 on 14 counts including bribery, attempted extortion and racketeering. Reyes ran for City Council in 2015 in the 15th Ward and placed fourth out of six candidates, garnering 7.1 percent of the vote. Reyes currently works as a staff assistant in the Chicago City Clerk’s Office
Rayl Reyes - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
A lifelong Chicago resident, Paul Bruton got his start in public service working for I-GO Car Sharing, a Chicagoland non-profit dedicated to car-sharing to protect the environment and curb high transportation costs. He then went on to get his public policy master’s degree at Northwestern University before working for the Chicago Inspector General’s Office. He said in his campaign bio that his work in the community in the Inspector General’s office made him realize “how often city workers were expected to get the job done without the right tools, technology, and training that they needed to effectively do their work.” He left the office in 2018 to raise his two children but decided to throw his hat in for the 13th ward “to fight Chicago’s legacy of corruption,” he wrote in his campaign bio.
Paul Bruton -2023 Municipal Election
Ald. Marty Quinn (13) has served as alderman since 2011 and served as an aide to indicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Quinn handily won reelection in 2019 against his opponent David Krupa with 86 percent of the vote, though Krupa filed a civil rights lawsuit against Quinn and Madigan ahead of the election, accusing them of trying to strong-arm him off the ballot. Krupa filed a defamation suit against Quinn and the Chicago Teachers Union as well.
In 2020, former Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson accused Quinn of putting his and Madigan’s names on an instrument meant to blast graffiti, which Ferguson called a “prohibited political activity.”
Marty Quinn - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate, Incumbent
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.”
Heather Wills - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
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.
Derick Curtis - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate, Incumbent
Esteban Burgoa Ontañon moved to Chicago from Mexico when he was 16, according to reporting from Block Club Chicago. For decades, he was involved in the local school politics in his community, and he served in the U.S. Navy overseas during the Iraq War. Ontañon landed in hot water in 2019 when he filmed inside the residence of 30th Ward aldermanic candidate Jessica Gutierrez — allegedly in support of Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30). Ontañon posted the footage on social media, revealing Gutierrez’s address, which led her to file a police report, Block Club Chicago reported.
Estaban Burgoa - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Denali Dasgupta is a progressive candidate and data researcher who has performed data work and analysis for New York City’s Citizens’ Housing and Planning Council and for the policy division of the city’ s Comptroller’s Office. Dasgupta earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Yale University and a master’s degree in urban planning, housing and economic development from New York University. She has lived in Chicago since 2011 and she has her own business called Higher Ground Data. Dasgupta has worked with 39th Ward Neighbors United, according to Block Club Chicago , as well as campaigned for Michael Rabbit, a candidate for Illinois’ 15th House District who lost to incumbent state Rep. Mike Kelly. Dasgupta is endorsed by the progressive group United Working Families.
Denali Dasgupta - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) has served in the City Council since 2015 and is politically independent, remaining one of the few aldermen not a member of any caucus.
Napolitano has an emergency responder background. He’s a former Chicago Police officer who worked both rapid response on the West Side and as a gang officer in the Austin neighborhood.
He is also a former Chicago firefighter. He has often supported pro-police policies and opposed police reform while on the council.
Anthony Napolitano - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Elected: 2007
Brendan Reilly began his career in Illinois politics in 1995 as a staffer for former state House Speaker Michael Madigan. He then served as communications director for the Illinois Democratic party, before taking a brief hiatus from public service in 2001. In the interim he worked as a vice president at AT&T prior to making his bid for the 42nd Ward seat, held by Ald. Burton Natarus for over 30 years. Reilly defeated Natarus with 55 percent of the vote, as Natarus’s constituents grew tired of his laser focus on development.
Reilly ruffled some feathers with the mayor’s office during his first term when he came out in opposition of former Mayor Richard Daley and the plan to relocate the Chicago Children’s Museum to Grant Park. Reilly flexed his political muscle on the Children’s Memorial Hospital development plan and was able to work out an agreement to add safety studies on the facility’s proposed heliport, a demand from Streeterville residents.
Since he was elected 2007, Reilly’s power in the Chicago City Council has only grown, as he was chosen to serve as the vice mayor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the president pro-tempore of the council under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. An illustrious fundraiser, Reilly has aided in the elections of dozens of state and county lawmakers, including former state Rep. John Fritchey and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2).
Brendan Reilly - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Bennett Lawson has served as chief of staff for the outgoing Ald. Tom Tunney (44) for 15 years, according to his campaign page, and is now seeking to replace his boss as 44th Ward alderman. Lawson, who previously worked for Tunney as community outreach director, is openly LGBTQ and heads outreach to the city’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS community in his 44th Ward capacity to help them launch programs and obtain funding. Lawson has been district director for Democratic state Sen. Carol Rosen. Just hours after Tunney announced his retirement, Lawson launched his own campaign with Tunney’s endorsement.
Bennett Lawson - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Bill Conway is a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney who unsuccessfully challenged Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx in the 2020 Democratic primary. Conway, who runs a solar development company that “helps schools and others develop solar solutions for their energy needs,” according to his campaign website, works as a professor of renewable energy finance at DePaul University and has also served as a reserve Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Bill Conway - 2023 Aldermanic Candidate
Bio
Outreach & Engagement Expert, Publisher - @TheDailyLineChi, Serial Hobbyist #Foodie #Hunter #AspiringAviator #Chicagoan #lightside #Advocate #Explorer