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Alyx Pattison, Brian Hopkins to Face Off in 2nd Ward Debate March 24

By Alisa Hauser | March 3, 2015 9:16am
 Alyx Pattison and Brian Hopkins.
Alyx Pattison and Brian Hopkins.
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UKRAINIAN VILLAGE — Two candidates for alderman of the 2nd Ward will square off in a debate March 24.

Vying to represent the city's sprawling and most gerrymandered wardAlyx Pattison and Brian Hopkins topped four others in last week's election to battle each other in the runoff on April 7th.

Pattison, a lawyer, and Hopkins, a former chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner John Daley,  are scheduled to participate in a debate set for 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. March 24 at Columbus Elementary School, 1003 N. Leavitt St. in Ukrainian Village, two weeks before the runoff.

In last Tuesday's election, 9,828 votes were cast in the 2nd Ward. Hopkins won 29 percent or 2,850 votes, while Pattison trailed him with 24.15 percent and 2,373 votes. 

"The runoff will allow us to talk about the issues more in-depth, in a way we couldn't with four other candidates," Pattison said last week.

Hopkins said, “An open seat in a brand new ward and people wanted to talk about the issues. I am honored to be the first place finisher and that gives me a great deal of momentum going into the runoff."

The pair faced four other challengers in a wide open race with no incumbent. The boundaries of the 2nd Ward make their way west from the lakefront through at least seven neighborhoods, weaving and snaking through, at times, single blocks of Streeterville, the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park and Bucktown.

Greg Hinz, political editor from Crain's and Hal Dardick, a City Hall reporter from the Tribune will be moderating the 75-minute forum, which is co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, the East Village Association and the Wicker Park Committee.

Hopkins' campaign fund had $76,894.28 at the close of the third quarter on Dec. 31.  Since then, he had raised $134,186.26 from 50 individual contributions, records show.

Some of Hopkins' largest supporters are Citizens for Reilly, which contributed $37,281.14 for two mailings and the Chicago Association of Realtors, which contributed $5,000.

Pattison had $134,921.08 in her campaign coffers at the close of the third quarter on Dec. 31. Since then, her campaign has raised an additional $47,110 from 31 individual contributions.

Some of Pattison's biggest backers are Classic Tickets, Inc., which gave $10,000; Leo Smith, president of Differentiated Instructional Technologies, who gave $3,910; and @properties, which contributed $2,500, records show.

The debate will allow the candidates to ask each other direct questions and follow up on comments about their plans for what they will do in office, according to the event page.

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.

The redevelopment of the A. Finkl & Sons Co. steel plant site, roughly 28 acres of prime real estate along the river bordering the western edge of Lincoln Park, is the largest project in the "New 2" as some folks have been calling the ward.

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