BUCKTOWN — Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) has endorsed one of six candidates hoping to helm the 2nd Ward, the city's most sprawling, which is up for grabs because its current alderman is running against Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Stacey Pfingsten, a former Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) staffer who resigned from her community outreach post in September to focus full time on campaigning, also previously worked for Waguespack's campaign as a political coordinator and fundraiser.
A member of the City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus, Waguespack commented in a new release that, “Stacey has already been working with constituents in this ward. She is a strong independent voice like myself and others who are working on finding the best results for the constituents of Chicago, not just easy ones.”
Waguespack added, “I know that Stacey will make the tough calls on behalf of taxpayers.”
The new 2nd Ward is comprised of 38 percent of Waguespack’s former ward in the west end and central areas, neighborhoods including Ukrainian Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park and Lincoln Park. Fioretti gave up the aldermanic seat to run for mayor.
Pfingsten said she is "truly honored" to have Waguespack's endorsement.
“Scott and I have had a great working relationship through the years, which will only help us pass ordinances in council for the betterment of the entire city. I will be a strong ally," Pfingsten said.
On Thursday, Waguespack said that while he was officially endorsing Pfingsten, he had worked with another candidate, Steve Niketopoulos, and "both have great things to offer" the new ward.
"I think Stacey and Steve would make good aldermen with the ward and city interests at heart," Waguespack said.
Echoing Pfingsten, Niketopoulos, a producer of educational shows on CAN TV and an administrator of several private Facebook pages popular with neighborhood residents, believes that being an ally to Waguespack in a bordering ward would be a boon if Waguespack was re-elected. (Waguespack has just one challenger, Elise Doody-Jones.)
"Having a great relationship [with Waguespack] will help us coordinate efforts on city services and planning," Niketopoulos said.
Last week, both Pfingsten and Niketopoulos participated in a 1st and 2nd ward candidate forum that was hosted by the Wicker Park Committee. Read coverage here and watch the entire event on CAN TV.
The 2nd Ward Candidates:
- Steve Niketopoulos, a media producer and community organizer who is the administrator for several neighborhood group Facebook pages.
- Stacey Pfingsten, a former community outreach coordinator for Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd).
- Brian Hopkins, a former aide to Cook County Commissioner John Daley.
- Bita Buenrostro, a restaurant executive who previously ran for 43rd Ward alderman in 2011.
- Alyx Pattison, a West Town resident who works as an attorney and serves as a community representative on Jose de Diego School's Local School Council.
- Cornell Wilson, a Marine Corps veteran.
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