HYDE PARK — Candidates for alderman in the 4th and 5th wards will be grilled by Hyde Parkers on their positions on affordable housing and economic development at a Saturday forum.
The Coalition for Equitable Community Development will host a question-and-answer session with the candidates at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5500 S. Woodlawn Ave., after the 10 a.m. annual meeting.
The 4th Ward, which incorporates Kenwood and areas of Hyde Park north of 53rd Street between Woodlawn and Lake Park avenues, currently has three candidates.
Incumbent Will Burns is fending off challenges from Tracey Bey, CEO of Bey Financial, and Norman Bolden, owner of the Room 43 venue and Norman’s Bistro restaurant.
Bolden’s petitions to appear on the ballot have been challenged, but a hearing officer for the Board of Election Commissioners has recommended he remain on the ballot.
Candidate Jeffery Booker was tossed off the ballot on Dec. 29 after 434 of the 618 signatures on his nominating petitions were deemed invalid and he failed to reach the minimum of 473 signatures to get on the ballot.
Incumbent Leslie Hairston is facing five challengers for the 5th Ward, which incorporates areas of Hyde Park as far north as 47th Street and stretches south along the lakefront to incorporate areas of Woodlawn, South Shore and going as far south as 79th Street in parts of Grand Crossing.
Attorney Anne Marie Miles is running again against Hairston, joined in the race by Robin Boyd Clark, Jocelyn Hare.
Tiffany Brooks' ballot position has been challenged, but a hearing officer has recommended she remain on the ballot.
South Shore pastor Jedidiah Brown’s position on the ballot has also been challenged and is scheduled to next appear before the Board of Elections on Tuesday.
The Board of Elections is expected to remove Loretta Lomax from the ballot at its next meeting based on the hearing officer’s recommendation. Sue Purrington, a former employee of Hairston, claimed Lomax did not get enough signatures from registered voters.
The candidates will take questions from the audience at the forum.
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