More than one week before deadline to file;
activist William Calloway announces run for 5th ward alderman
Newly re-elected Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza on Wednesday officially announced her run for Chicago mayor with one week to go before the deadline to officially file for the city elections on February 26, 2019.
“It’s time to make this city work for everyone,” the 46-year-old candidate says in a video advertisement, “This election is about the future of Chicago and I believe in that future. Yes, we have challenges. And the challenges people face in the city are my challenges too.”
The deadline to file is Monday, November 26. The seats up for grabs are the mayor, all 50 aldermanic wards, city treasurer and city clerk.
Candidates running for mayor, city treasurer and city clerk must obtain at least 12,500 signatures on petitions to officially enter the race. Candidates for alderman must obtain 473 signatures.
On Monday, November 12, Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, dropped out of the mayoral race, saying he was unable to gather the 12,500 signatures needed to get on the ballot.
LaRaviere was among 17 candidates seeking to replace incumbent Rahm Emanuel who announced on September 4 that he would not seek a third term. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Attorneys Bill Daley and Gery Chico and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown are some of the big names in the mayoral race.
Alderman Willie Cochran (20th) said last year that he would not seek re-election, but unconfirmed reports that he will seek a fourth term have resurfaced in the past several months. So far, several candidates have unofficially entered the race to replace Cochran. They are Chicago police officer and community activist Jennifer Maddox, Andre Smith, Kevin Bailey, Anthony Driver, Maya Hodi, Nicole J. Johnson, Denar Newell, Jeanette Taylor, and Quan- dra Speights.
Activist William Calloway, who helped force the release of the Laquan McDonald video, on Monday, November 12, announced that he will enter the race for 5th ward alderman, hoping to unseat five-term incumbent Leslie Hairston.
“While my activism work has been closely tied to criminal justice reform, I hope my role as alderman will allow me to address the additional issues the residents of the 5th Ward are facing,” Calloway said in a statement.
A resident of South Shore, Calloway plans to address education inequality, food deserts, while fighting against gun violence and police brutality. He promises to lead with transparency and bring key community stakeholders together to work towards solutions that positively impact residents across the ward.
“The 5th Ward needs an alderman who understands the struggles the community is facing and is willing to do what it takes to solve its problems. I hope to be that alderman.”
