WEST SIDE — A crowd of eight candidates, including sitting Ald. Jason Ervin, have filed to run for 28th Ward alderman.
The 28th Ward includes parts of a diverse collection of West Side neighborhoods: Austin, East Garfield, West Garfield, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Little Village, Pilsen, Tri-Taylor, University Village and the West Loop.
The candidates are:
• Incumbent Jason C. Ervin was appointed to the post in January 2011 by Mayor Richard Daley. A month later, he was elected to a full term as alderman. Ervin formerly served as Maywood's village manager. Ervin lives in East Garfield Park.
• Jasmine Jackson, an early childhood special education teacher at William Penn Elementary School in North Lawndale, was the second candidate to file in the race. Jackson lives in East Garfield Park.
• Elliot Thomas, a third candidate, lives in West Garfield Park.
• Tammie Vinson is a special education teacher at Oscar DePriest Elementary School in South Austin. Vinson lives in Austin. Vinson is an active member of the Chicago Teachers Union.
• Alex M. Lyons, founder of a real estate investment firm, also ran for the seat in 2007. Lyons, who has also served as the former executive director of the Greater Garfield Chamber of Commerce, lives in West Garfield Park.
• Marseil Jackson, founder of the Jackson Action Coalition, a community group, is also running for the seat. Jackson lives in West Garfield Park.
• William Siegmund, who ran for 28th Ward alderman in 2007 and 2011, lives in East Garfield Park.
• Willie McGill is a substitute teacher at Noble Network Charter Schools. McGill lives in East Garfield Park.
Ervin, an aide to longtime 28th Ward Ald. Ed H. Smith, was appointed to the seat Smith vacated. Challenged by Siegmund, Ervin won the 2011 race with nearly 85 percent of the vote.
Prior to Ervin's appointment, Smith held the seat for 27 years.
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