NOBLE SQUARE — Missed last month's lively 1st and 2nd ward alderman candidate forums in Wicker Park? Well, there will be two more chances to see the six 2nd Ward contenders and four 1st Ward candidates answer questions this week.
The new 2nd Ward looks like a horseshoe as it cuts through portions of the lakefront, covers parts of the Gold Coast, Streeterville, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park and Bucktown.
Not sure if you live in the 2nd Ward? Type in your address to see if you live in the 2nd Ward —or another ward — here.
Significant 2nd Ward development projects include the Northwest Hotel, a 12-story art deco tower that is being converted into a boutique hotel at 1600 N. Milwaukee Ave.; a proposed Audi dealership at 1521 W. North Ave.; and a 20-unit condo development, The Belfry, coming to the former St. John Church and School, 913-25 N. Hoyne St.
A 2nd Ward forum, sponsored by the Pulaski Park Neighbors Association, is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Near North Montessori School, 1434 W. Division St.
If you have a question you'd like to ask any or all of the candidates, email info@pulaskiparkneighbors.org
Tuesday's moderator will be Nick Locke, a Near North Montessori Alumni and debate teacher at North Montessori, Lane Tech High School, and Zapata Academy.
A 1st Ward debate is set for 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Wells High School, 639 N. Ashland Ave. in West Town. A 2nd Ward debate is set for 7-9 p.m. next Thursday (Feb. 5), also at Wells High School.
Thursday's and Feb. 5 debates are both organized by the East Village Association, Chicago Grand Neighbors Association and the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association. Both debates will be moderated by the Better Government Association. Email your questions to debate@eastvillagechicago.org
Elections will take place Feb. 24 and, in races where no candidate earns 50 percent of the votes cast, a runoff between the top two candidates will take place April 7.
2nd Ward Candidates:
Bita Buenrostro, 41, is a nearly 20-year resident of the Gold Coast who works as a senior executive with a Chicago-based restaurant corporation,
An Iranian immigrant, Buenrostro speaks five languages (English, Farsi, Swedish, Norwegian and Pashto) and became a United States citizen in 2004.
The wife of a Chicago Police officer, Buenrostro is involved in a neighborhood watch program and has placed safety address signs on residents’ homes and garages. Additionally, she volunteers to feed the homeless, cleans streets and parks on the weekend.
Buenrostro is endorsed by the Chicago Police Sergeants Association, Ukrainian-American Democratic Organization and Fraternal Order of Police: Chicago Lodge No. 7
Fun Fact: Bita is addicted to the “Golden Girls” television show.
Website: bitanow.com; Twitter @BitaBuenrostro
Brian Hopkins, 53, a 16-year resident of Streeterville, lives in the new 2nd Ward and most recently worked as Chief of Staff to Cook County Finance Chairman John Daley.
An avid cyclist and member of the Active Transportation Alliance, Hopkins previously served on the board of Working Bikes, where he helped to launch a partnership with Cook County to provide donated bikes to inner city youth.
Prior to his work for John Daley, Hopkins was a downstate campaign manager for Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch in her bid for governor and before that he was Director of the Illinois Coalition to End Homelessness, where he led the campaign to pass the nation’s first Homeless Voting Rights Act.
A CAPS participant and volunteer Court Advocate in the 18th Police District, Hopkins served two terms as president of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents.
Hopkins is endorsed by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.
Fun Fact: I once had dinner with Bruce Springsteen at a small café in Sag Harbor, NY.
Website: hopkinsforchicago.com; Twitter @HopkinsChicago
Steve Niketopoulos, 36, is a five-year resident of Ukrainian Village who previously lived in Rogers Park and Lincoln Square. He most recently worked as a public television producer for CAN-TV.
Niketopoulos serves as a local school representative and as a neighborhood group leader, a volunteer role he has taken a leave from in order to campaign.
Niketopoulos has helped to build several online local communities fostering a dialogue between neighbors about pressing issues on their blocks, from crime to organizing consumer complaints against the U.S. Post Office and reuniting lost dogs with owners.
Niketopoulos is endorsed by the United Hellenic Voters of America, RunClean.org and the Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women. He also has informal support from Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd).
Fun Fact: I come from a hockey family and play pickup ice and roller hockey games at McFetridge Park in Old Irving Park and Johnny's Ice House in the West Loop. When you are a goalie you have to buy a lot of equipment; it feels guilty to have it and not use it.
Website: Stevefor2ndWard.com; Twitter @SteveFor2ndWard
Alyx Pattison, 40, has lived in Ukrainian Village for seven years and in Wicker Park for five years before that.
Pattison most recently worked as a partner at a Downtown law firm, where she was recognized for her pro bono volunteer work.
A former aide to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Pattison focused on causes related to women, immigrants, and the LGBT community and helped to draft legislation to protect battered immigrant women.
Pattison is member of the Jose de Diego local school council and volunteers on the Cook County Commission on Women's Rights, the Board of the Chicago Bar Foundation. She has also tutored kids in reading.
Pattison is endorsed by Senator Dick Durbin, Schakowsky, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Fun fact: I love to make jewelry and garden. Both activities relax me!
Website: alyxpattison.org; Twitter @AlyxPattison
Stacey Pfingsten, 40, grew up on a small farm in rural Illinois and has resided for the last 18 years in Chicago, the most recent two in the Gold Coast.
A former Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) staffer who resigned from her community outreach post in September to focus on campaigning, Pfingsten also previously served as a political coordinator and fundraiser for Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd).
Pfingsten has been actively involved in Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy, Raise Your Hand, the Chicago Help Initiative, and Chicago Votes. She is the founder of No Foam Chicago, a grassroots effort to rid CPS of Styrofoam trays.
Pfiingsten is endorsed by Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME).
Fun Fact: I took a crime fighting class with CPD, and I'm pretty handy with a baton.
Website: staceyfor2ndward.com; Twitter @staceyfor2nd
Cornell Wilson, 33, has lived in the Near North neighborhood for the past six years and most recently worked as a civil litigation attorney for a Downtown law firm.
Born in Camp Lejeune while his father was on active duty in the Marine Corps, Cornell joined the Marines after college and was deployed to Iraq as a platoon commander in 2007 and again to Djibouti as a watch officer in 2009.
Cornell is endorsed by Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr., state Rep. Ken Dunkin, Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Art Turner Jr., and Northside Democracy for America.
Fun fact: I’m the biggest nerd in the race, but I refuse to read any Tolkien. The stories are great and the worlds are amazing. Reading the actual books? Boring.
Website: cornellwilson.com; Twitter @TeamCornellW
View 1st Ward Candidates below. More detailed bios — and fun facts — forthcoming.
1st Ward Candidates
- Ald. Joe Moreno (1st), incumbent.
- Ronda Locke, a former Moreno staffer during the first two years of his term.
- Anne Shaw, an East Village resident who ran against Moreno in the 2012 1st Ward Committeeman race and lost.
- Andrew Hamilton, a Ukrainian Village resident and lawyer.
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