CHICAGO — Brian Hopkins, who is facing a runoff election in the 2nd Ward, picked up the endorsement of two former challengers this week.
Bita Buenrostro and Cornell Wilson, who were defeated in the general election last month, announced their endorsements of Hopkins claiming he "offers the most comprehensive vision."
Hopkins and his opponent Alyx Pattison are fighting for control of the city's most gerrymandered ward.
Both candidates fell well short of the required 50 percent plus one vote required to avoid a runoff in February.
Hopkins won 29 percent of the vote while Pattison trailed him at 24 percent.
The redrawn ward, which squiggles through seven neighborhoods stretching from the lakefront to as far west as Ukrainian Village, drew a diverse group of six candidates for the general election.
Hopkins' new supporters, Buenrostro and Wilson, won a combined 23 percent of the vote in February.
Buenrostro is the wife of a Chicago police sergeant, and Wilson is an attorney and Marine Corps veteran.
The remaining two candidates, Steve Niketopoulos and Stacey Pfingsten, have not yet determined whom they will back in the race.
Niketopoulos has helped organize a debate between the candidates set for March 24, and he plans to make his decision after the debate.
Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business and Hal Dardick of the Tribune will moderate at Columbus Elementary School, 1003 N. Leavitt St. at 7 p.m.
Hopkins endorsements came following sit-downs over dinner with both former candidates.
Buenrostro has been seen with Hopkins on the campaign trail, attending a meet and greet at a Gold Coast condo building Monday night.
In a statement announcing the endorsements, Buenrostro said she agreed with Hopkins that crime in the main concern in the ward and joined him in calling for the return of 1,000 police officers to the street.
"I have always been a coalition builder," Hopkins said in the statement. "I welcome the support of these impressive candidates who now want to help secure strong representation for the 2nd Ward."
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