• Erin Hegarty
    NOV 28, 2022
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    Ald. Ed Burke won’t run for reelection after more than 50 years on the City Council

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    Ald. Ed Burke (14) during a City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    After more than 50 years on the Chicago City Council, Ald. Ed Burke (14) will not run for reelection next year.  

    Burke did not file petition signatures by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline for candidates seeking to run for election next year, Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Max Bever told reporters Monday evening.  

    Burke, who is the longest serving alderman on the Chicago City Council, was indicted in 2019 on 14 counts including bribery, attempted extortion and racketeering. 

    Despite the lingering charges, Burke was reelected in 2019 after garnering 54 percent of the 14th Ward’s votes in the general election, fending off challenges from Jaime Guzman and Tanya Patino. 

    In this election cycle, two candidates have filed petitions to be the next 14th Ward alderman — Jeylu Gutierrez and Raul Reyes 

    Gutierrez is endorsed by U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Chicago), who filed his petitions to run for mayor on Monday.   

    Related: U.S. Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia endorses Jeylu Gutierrez to challenge Burke, announces support in other ward races  

    Gutierrez told The Daily Line last week that the 14th Ward is ready for a new alderman.  

    “We are a community of hard workers. We deserve city services,” Gutierrez said. “We need a good voice in City Council that represents us and knows the interests and the needs of the community.”  

    “I’m ready to work for them and with them,” Gutierrez said.  

    In addition to serving as alderman of the city’s 14th Ward for more than 50 years, Burke served as the 14th Ward Democratic Committeeman from 1968 to 2020. 

    Burke is a member of six City Council committees — Environmental Protection and Energy; Education and Child Development; Finance; Committee and Rules; Pedestrian and Traffic Safety; and Transportation and Public Way. 

    Prior to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s successful election in 2019, Burke chaired the powerful finance committee, but Lightfoot plucked him from the helm after she took office. 

    Burke’s wife, Anne Burke in September announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court after serving on the state’s high court since 2006 and as chief justice since 2019. 

    Related: Burke to retire from Supreme Court, Theis to become new chief justice 

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