HYDE PARK — Hand picked to serve on the City Council by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King Thursday joined the council's Progressive Caucus — which frequently opposes the mayor's initiatives.
King, the founder of the nonprofit Harriet’s Daughters, faces five challengers in the special election set for Feb. 28 to replace former Ald. Will Burns, who resigned to take a job with home-sharing service Airbnb.
King said in a statement that she joined the caucus because of her "commitment to high quality neighborhood public schools."
King, a former teacher and Chicago Public Schools administrator, is a friend of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
King said she would also join the caucus' fights to ensure city contracts are awarded to women and minorities equitably, and to make sure city streets are safe.
Caucus chairman Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said in a statement that King "would bring fresh energy and experience to our efforts. There is lot we can achieve together in moving the needle toward creating a more equal and just Chicago.”
King will be the 11th member of the caucus.
Earlier this month, Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) — one of the founders of the group — left the caucus, citing his declining health and a growing unease with several immigrant rights measures championed by the group.
King's opponents in the special election are attorneys Gerald Scott McCarthy, Marcellus Moore and Ebony Lucas as well as the Rev. Gregory Livingston and customer service manager Jack Taylor.
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