ENGLEWOOD — Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th) said her April 7 runoff opponent, 27-year-old Stephanie Coleman, does not have a clear platform.
“I have been in this community, in Englewood, for almost 45 years,” Foulkes said. “I don’t know [Stephanie’s] platform. ... I think she is on her way, but I don’t know what she wants.”
Coleman, who is the daughter of former 16th Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman, said no one comes into the position knowing everything, and her age shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
“No alderman knew what they were doing,” Coleman said. “You know we had some candidates who went from baking cupcakes or designing cupcakes to being an alderman.”
Foulkes worked in a Jewel bakery for 25 years.
“Working in retail gave me a lot of experience and a lot of patience in dealing with people,” she said.
Foulkes said that for anyone to grow, they must listen to wisdom, but Coleman said she has “wisdom all around” her.
Coleman said she listened to advice from her mother, but wanted people to know that she was in full control of her own campaign.
“I know the perception — ‘A vote for Stephanie is a vote for her mom,’ but that’s not the case at all because when you look at me out in these streets, you see me, you don’t see retired Ald. Coleman,” she said.
“She’s mom no matter what, but she reminds me all the time that she is very retired,” said Coleman.
With April 7 less than two weeks away, neither candidate has changed her platform, but the campaigning strategy has shifted.
Incorporating more social media is what Foulkes said was needed to reach voters ages 25-35 in the ward.
Bringing more jobs to the ward is a priority, Foulkes said, but with it must come a workforce development component. The alderman said that young people needed to learn customer service skills.
Foulkes cited public safety as another top concern. In the 15th Ward, she attends CAPS meetings and said she would do the same in the 16th Ward. Building relationships with the beat officers and sergeants would allow her to be that liaison that the community needs, Foulkes said.
Finding ways to bring affordable housing is also on her list.
Coleman, who has been knocking on doors and meeting people, said that her platform focused on education, public safety and jobs.
When asked if she supported charter schools, she said that she was for “quality education,” avoiding a "yes" or "no" response.
Coleman acknowledged that Gov. Bruce Rauner wanted to expand charter schools, but she wouldn’t say if she agreed with him.
“I think it’s a case-by-case [situation],” she said. “As a product of public and private [school], I had that option, and I feel that parents should have options" for their children.
Public safety in the community starts with block clubs, Coleman said, an initiative that she wants to strengthen.
“I’m a supporter of and will be an advocate for block clubs again, where we know our neighbors,” Coleman said.
“There will be relationships there so it’s not just a party, we’re actually going to form block clubs so there’s some accountability being held.”
Also, having more beat officers who know the residents will make a difference, Coleman said.
“Let’s take charge of our own block and see if we can get Officer Friendly back, where our officers stop just to talk to us, and we will talk to them, but again, that disconnect is there, so we end up feeling more intimidated than helped.
Economic development is another issue Coleman said she will address if elected. The candidate already has identified the 63rd and Ashland TIF district, but wouldn't say if she would help small businesses or larger companies.
“I’m going to focus on what the constituents want,” she said.
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