AFSCME-backed candidates prevail in local races

Local elections held throughout Illinois on Feb. 24 showed that candidates who stand with public employees remain popular with voters.

A large majority of the candidates endorsed by Council 31’s PEOPLE program in Chicago and Springfield either won their races outright or advanced to runoff elections to be held April 7. PEOPLE provided these candidates with not only financial resources, but also volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls and monitored polling places.

In Chicago’s aldermanic elections, AFSCME-backed candidates either won outright or advanced to a runoff in 18 of the 21 contests in which the union made an endorsement.

In the 38^th Ward, Ald. Nick Sposato was re-elected with more than 53 percent of the vote despite a new ward map that required him to introduce himself to scores of new voters. Sposato has a 100 percent AFSCME voting record.

The union also helped elect two new voices to the council: In the 35^th Ward, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa defeated incumbent Rey Colón. In the 17^th Ward, David Moore was elected to an open seat. Both candidates have pledged to be a voice for working families in their wards.

In two Chicago wards, incumbents endorsed by AFSCME are facing stiff challenges in the runoff.

In the northwest side’s 45^th Ward, Ald. John Arena – one of the few members of the City Council with a 100 percent AFSCME voting record – will face off against John Garrido in a rematch of their 2011 runoff, which Arena won by only 29 votes. Garrido has the backing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s political operation.

The contest in the south side’s 16^th Ward will pit AFSCME-backed Ald. Toni Foulkes against Stephanie Coleman, the daughter of a former alderman. Foulkes has an 83 percent AFSCME voting record. Though she is an incumbent, her ward map was changed greatly by redistricting.

To see how every one of the union’s Chicago City Council endorsements faired, read the list at the end of this article.

In the race for mayor of Springfield, AFSCME supported city Treasurer Jim Langfelder, who came in first place among five candidates, winning 40 percent of the vote. Langfelder will face Sangamon County Auditor Paul Palazzolo in a runoff.

Also in Springfield, former AFSCME member Teresa Haley, who serves as president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP, advanced to a runoff in the race for 2^nd Ward alderman. Haley finished second in a six-candidate field.

AFSCME members in Chicago and Springfield are already beginning to mobilize to ensure that union-backed candidates prevail in April. If you live in these cities and are interested in volunteering, contact your local leadership.

Chicago City Council results
(Only contested races in which the union made an endorsement are listed)