How To Be an Informed Voter
By Kathryn Baker
Guest Writer
A typical day for Chicagoans is often hectic and complex. It becomes difficult to find the time to get things done. One day runs into the next. Then it starts all over again. And every four years there is an election. Ana Guajardo is running for a seat on the City Council from the 10th ward. Peter Chico, Óscar Sanchez, Yessinia Carreón, and Jessica Venegas are also running. There are 11 candidates competing for the 5th ward seat. 50 wards will change the face of the city’s governing body on February 28. Eight candidates are vying to unseat Mayor Lightfoot.
The number of candidates is overwhelming for one first-year student at Harold Washington College who wished to remain anonymous, and doesn’t plan to vote because of it. The large number overwhelms fourth-year student Christian Villalobos as well, but still he plans to cast his ballot. While there is no shortage of resources to help voters evaluate candidates, time constraints remain a challenge for many.
Two veteran political insiders offer a framework to make candidate evaluation more efficient, providing a clearer path to candidate performance if elected to office:
Public safety, including policies for both preventing violence and enforcing the law, is at the top of candidate and voter agendas, according to Arnie Rivera. Rivera worked in city government for 15 years under both Rahm Emanuel and Mayor Lightfoot. To make significant progress during this pivotal moment in Chicago history, the next mayor must have command of these dual issues.
Policing encompasses both public safety and law enforcement funding and is the largest line item in the city budget. Candidates who want to reduce funding for either area must do so carefully to avoid negatively impacting the other, according to Rivera.
Police-community partnerships are vital in promoting safety and are a community-by-community issue, according to Rivera: “There is not one plan that will fit all of Chicago’s diverse communities.”
In the context of policing, violence is a two-way street, with both law enforcement and the individuals they are policing at risk of harm. Police are given the authority to behave inhumanely because they believe that’s the perception the people they’re policing have of them, according to Coy Pugh. Pugh was a state representative from 1993 to 2001, serving communities on the West Side, North Lawndale, East Garfield and North Austin. Community involvement seems to be the only effective way to push back on that authority. Pugh suggests voters look for a candidate with grassroots community knowledge.
Education has taken a back seat to public safety, but is no less important. Students from all communities are leaving the Chicago Public School system in droves. Rivera suggests voters look for a candidate who understands those root causes and has a plan to rebuild over time. How will a candidate address the diverse needs of education stakeholders? There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this complex issue.
To solve Chicago’s problems, including education, advocacy is key, according to Pugh: “The most important thing is advocacy. Do you have a hope? How is your voice being heard?”
“It’s the finances, how taxes are levied,” said Pugh. While lobbyists in Springfield can secure tax breaks for suburban communities, inner city communities often lack access to such resources.
Creating an attractive business environment is key, according to Rivera, who believes they bring tax revenue, jobs, and improved city services, to name a few. Rivera suggests voters look for a candidate who understands both stakeholders.
Both Pugh and Rivera agree that the people or organizations who support a candidate play a major role in determining their actions once in office.
Follow the money: To find information on a candidate's financial supporters, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website and navigate to the Campaign Disclosure and Committee Search sections. Be sure to select “Active Committees Only” and choose “contains” for the candidate's last name. Search for active entries to see who is funding a given campaign. For inquiries, contact the Illinois State Board of Elections Chicago office at (312) 814-6440.
In 2019, 14 candidates vied to replace Rahm Emanuel as Mayor of Chicago. To help make sense of the crowded field, an enterprising individual hosted a mayoral party at which each guest was assigned a candidate to research and on which to report back. With just 10 days left before the upcoming municipal elections, you can do the same. Gather some friends, assign candidates, and examine their platforms through the lens provided by Pugh and Rivera. Although life's frenetic pace may not let up anytime soon, you can make an informed decision about who will govern Chicago for the next four years, while having a little fun.
TAP THE BUTTON FOR VOTING INFORMATION!
