CHICAGO — Applicants for the city's vacant 7th Ward alderman position range from a retired police officer to a staffer for former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., according to applications released by the mayor's office late Friday
Crime and violence in the South Shore neighborhood are the top priority for many applicants vying for the 7th Ward seat. Many aldermanic hopefuls also cited the need for economic development, foreclosure relief and improving the ward's public schools.
There are a total of 48 applications posted on the city's data portal. Mayor Rahm Emanuel will choose a successor to former Ald. Sandi Jackson, who stepped down from the post last month, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.
Applications for the seat can be found here.
Lionell Martin and Gregory Mitchell, both of whom ran for the seat and lost to Jackson in 2011, have thrown their names in for consideration.
Joseph Moseley, the brother of former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun who ran for mayor against now Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2011, is also an applicant.
If chosen as alderman, one applicant said he'd work to call in the National Guard to "help law enforcement officers in dealing with urban terrorists." Another applicant said she would have a closer look at "questionable City of Chicago privatization deals," including Emanuel's recent installation of red light cameras.
A spokesman for the mayor said the applications will be reviewed by a four-person committee. The committee will then make recommendations to Emanuel who will name a replacement.
Emanuel said he hopes to have a replace selected by this month's City Council meeting.
