EDISON PARK — Voters headed to the polls Tuesday morning to pick an alderman to represent the 41st Ward.
Ald. Mary O'Connor's bid for a second term is being challenged by firefighter Anthony Napolitano.
Ald. Mary O'Connor (41st) campaigns outside the Roden branch library, where early voting took place.
During the six-week runoff campaign, O'Connor and Napolitano tussled over the city's looming pension crisis and the jet noise blanketing the Far Northwest Side.
While O'Connor accused Napolitano of having no real plan to address the pension issue, Napolitano said the reforms O'Connor said she supports would hurt city employees like himself and his family members who paid into their pension accounts twice a month for years.
Heather Cherone breaks down the race:
The 41st Ward, which includes Edison Park, Norwood Park, O'Hare and Edgebrook, is home to a large population of city workers, police officers and firefighters.
Napolitano criticized O'Connor for failing to make good on her promise to hold a City Council hearing on what can be done to reduce the racket made by planes using the newest east-west runway at O'Hare Airport.
Chicago Firefighter Anthony Napolitano campaigns during the runoff. (DNAinfo/Heather Cherone)
O'Connor said she has worked to have three new noise monitors installed in the 41st Ward and pushed airlines to phase out their oldest, noisiest planes.
O'Connor won won 47.7 percent of the vote on Feb. 24 and Napolitano won 42.5 percent, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Polls are open until 7 p.m.
Problems with voting can be reported to the Chicago Board of Elections online at chicagoelections.com or by calling 312-269-7870.
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