When an alderperson or other elected official fails to hold himself or herself to high levels of ethical behavior and personal and professional decorum and is under multiple investigations by the FBI, the Chicago Board of Ethics, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General, the public loses confidence in them, they become ineffective leaders, and new leadership is needed. I believe this type of aldermanic change is necessary in Chicago’s 45th Ward.
There are several strong challengers for the position of alderperson of the 45th Ward. These candidates have long track records of community service and activism, and some have deep roots in the ward. They are candidates who I believe could provide ALL of the constituents of the 45th Ward with honorable, competent leadership. I can’t look into their hearts, but I believe that they want to become alderman for the right reasons. Not for power, but to help others and make the world a better place.
I lived in the 45th Ward for 15 years (until 2020). During my time there, Patrick Levar, John Arena, and Jim Gardiner (the current alderman, who was elected in 2019) have served as alderman. I voted in every aldermanic election because I believe that no one should complain about their leaders unless they vote. My goal with this article is not to tell you whom I would vote for if I still lived in the 45th—although I have my favorite candidate—but to give you the information you need to make an educated choice that helps to elect a strong moral, competent, and even-keeled leader.
Five candidates are currently running to replace Alderman Gardiner. I want to thank them for participating in this election and trying to make change in a world that has become more coarse, corrupt, mean-spirited, and, at times, crazy. I attended the aldermanic forum at the Copernicus Center on February 2, and it was wonderful to see these candidates (amidst the occasional circus-like atmosphere) share their visions of how they would improve the ward if elected. But the candidates only received a few minutes to respond to each policy question. I decided to contact all of the challengers to ask them to complete a questionnaire regarding their backgrounds, their goals for the ward if elected, their favorite nature spots, and what they will do to address the major environmental issues facing Chicagoans. Several candidates replied, and I will publish their questionnaire responses in the order in which they were received. In addition to reading these interviews, I encourage you to visit the candidates’ websites to learn more about them (see the end of the article for a list of the candidates) and attend candidate forums (even if they’re an imperfect method of sharing one’s ideas with voters).
The election is February 28, and early voting is ongoing. Unless one of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will go to a runoff on April 4.
My second interview is with Susanna Ernst. She is the co-founder of the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, Northwest Chicago Historical Society, Jefferson Park Forward, and the 45th Ward Participatory Budgeting Committee.
Q. Can you tell me about your personal and professional background? How long have you lived in the 45th Ward?
A. As an active and deeply invested resident of the ward for over 20 years, I have a strong track record of leadership and service that connects me to the vibrant communities across the ward and to the entire city of Chicago. Through my work as a leader and volunteer in numerous Northwest Side nonprofit organizations, I am well poised to bring the community together as the first alderwoman of the 45th Ward.
My history of community engagement speaks for itself. In 2001, I co-founded the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, going on to serve as president and leading the organization through its formative years. I went on to play key co-founding and leadership roles in the Northwest Chicago Historical Society, Jefferson Park Forward, and the 45th Ward Participatory Budgeting Committee. Additionally, I orchestrated the inclusion of the Northwest Side in Open House Chicago and brought the community together to provide input on ward redistricting through CHANGE Illinois.
My volunteer leadership experience and professional achievements in the market research industry have given me strong skills in organizational budgeting; fundraising; strategic planning; policy development and analysis; historical research; the participatory budget process; public speaking and community education; and so much more.
Coupled with my professional background in finance, market research, and information services, I bring an informed, experienced, and collaborative professional and volunteer background to the table. I am a proven leader, bringing vision, teamwork, and drive to not only launch, but complete, every project I touch. As a fierce advocate for positive change, a lead-by-example collaborator, and a staunch proponent of preserving heritage, I am uniquely qualified to lead the 45th Ward.
Hailing from a proud union home in the Rust Belt, my parents were both school teachers. My mother grew up in grinding poverty in Appalachia, and my father was the son of a postal worker. Being a union family, hard work and civic engagement were considered essential to personal success and part of the path to building a flourishing community.
Living in a historic 109-year-old bungalow in the heart of the 45th Ward, I am fervently engaged in local goings-on from historic preservation, parks programs, socializing at local events and festivals, dining at neighborhood restaurants, and biking or walking in the amazing nearby forest preserves and parks.
Q. Why do you want to become an alderperson, and what are three issues in the ward that you believe need to be improved?
A. I want to become alderperson to ensure that we have strong leadership moving forward and every community group and business organization is invited to the table; not all residents are engaged today and this needs to change moving forward.
The 45th ward is a very diverse area, with a length of over six miles. It extends from the dense urban area around Independence Park (all the way to Elston/Irving) to the more bucolic edge of the city in Edgebrook that abuts Niles. Because of this, different issues are of concern dependent on location. Overall, residents throughout the ward are concerned with safety, economic development, and inequitable services.
Public safety has been cited as a large concern, and it will continue to be a concern with no changes. Much of what needs to be accomplished will need to happen at the city level, including new ways of enticing people to serve as police officers and finding ways to retain their valued services for as long as possible. Long response times in the 16th and 17th District (and throughout the city) are problematic. The force is understaffed and overworked. In the meantime, we must have constant open communication with our residents about safety, ensure that cameras are placed and used effectively, and have a proactive, vigilant partnership between citizens and our police force. This means more community involvement in CAPS meetings, more citizen/officer engagement, and continued solicitation for additional resources in our districts. I will also work closely with our new police district councils to help facilitate engagement between our police force and local residents.
To encourage economic development, I would ensure that our local chambers of commerce are funded, enabling them to get resources and oversight from proven professionals. I would also ensure that our Special Service Areas have effective management and that small businesses have an understanding of the assets and assistance available to them. Additionally, I would initiate conversations with our state lawmakers regarding ending the policy of tax breaks for empty storefronts unless there are extenuating circumstances and good faith efforts to rent. In collaboration with all local business organizations, the 45th Ward would be marketed as a place to establish new and diverse businesses, as we are on the verge of a trajectory of growth. We should also be thinking about marketing our Northwest Side communities as arts and leisure destinations, with our many museums, theaters, and award-winning restaurants. We also have more on the way!
To address equitable servicing, community nonprofits would be invited to participate in a collaborative working environment. We would facilitate meetings that occur on a regular basis, including representatives from each local neighborhood group. Anyone who is working for the betterment of our community will be treated respectfully and will have unequivocal support. As a person who has already been working in multiple community groups throughout the ward, I have an understanding of the best ways of working with people of diverse needs and backgrounds. In addition, residents would be able to come to the office for “Ward Nights,” where we can have an open conversation about concerns.
Q. What qualities do you think the ideal alderperson should possess, and why?
A. An alderperson should possess the following:
- a solid knowledge base of the communities, key players, and history of their ward; this knowledge can all be utilized to make sound decisions moving forward
- a deep understanding of broader issues in the city of Chicago, to help craft legislation and policy for a better future
- an understanding of finance, budgeting, and negotiation, which will help at the ward and city level when making decisions as well as during important discussions with developers and constituents about development and zoning
- a collaborative leadership style and a talent for leading cross-functional teams to functional, satisfying solutions; this style should include an involatile temperament
- administrative and strong people and project management skills, for a functional office with definitive plans, high-performing teams, and low turnover
Q. Let’s change direction. Are you a nature lover? If so, can you name a few favorite local nature destinations that you enjoy?
A. I am definitely a nature lover, and I enjoy spending time at LaBagh Woods, Caldwell Woods, and Busse Woods in the nearby northwest suburbs.
Q. What are three or four major environmental issues that are affecting Chicagoans, and how will you as alderperson work to address these issues?
A. Chicago has the largest network of lead lines in the United States, and we have been markedly slow in our efforts to replace them. While state law will force us to replace any broken lead lines, it still will not move quickly enough, particularly where lead levels are higher. While Chicago is compliant with federal law, many are critical of the thresholds established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), saying that they are too low.
The biggest obstacle to replacement of all the lines are the steep costs involved. To expedite these replacements, we need to continue our pursuit of low-interest loans from the EPA as well as put pressure on the state to secure more federal funds for our desperate needs in Chicago. Since it will be a challenge to replace the lines for 400,000 homes in a very short period of time, priority should go to those who are testing at the highest levels and those who financially qualify (this program is already in place). To understand where the lead piping is the most dangerous, we need to ensure that our residents are aware of the lead issues and that they are easily able to obtain home testing kits.
Also, we need to get people back on the CTA again. The CTA has reduced the cost of passes to make access to employment, education, medical care, and other critical resources more affordable for our residents. That’s a good start. However, if people are afraid to ride, it does no good. Crime is an obvious deterrent to bringing passengers back to transit, and we need to find a way to combat it more effectively. As an example of a strategy to address this issue, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is spending $3.6 million on social service specialists to team up with police officers and to work in high-volume stations. We know that our police force is understaffed now, exacerbating the problem.
Christopher B. Leinberger, an emeritus professor of business at George Washington University who studies urban spaces and transit, says that the most effective way to reduce violence on public transit systems is to get more people back to riding them. “Having lots of folks from all different incomes riding mass transit is the best way to suppress crime,” he said in an interview about the issue in the New York Times. “Obviously the police have a major role to play, but it really comes down to having people, lots of eyes, on different people.” Ultimately, this means that the best way to reduce crime is to find ways to entice people to ride the CTA again. This may be through financial incentives and through partnerships with businesses and organizations that offer discounts to those who use transit.
Finally, across the globe, we are getting ready to experience [environmental] disaster unless we take action now. While we have collectively been aiming to limit global warming to just below 2 degrees Celsius [by 2100], even this brings about a certain calamity. We don’t even know if we can get there. Every action to improve our environment starts at the local level. We should be emphasizing this in Chicago before it is too late. We should re-establish a Chicago Department of Environment.
THE OTHER CANDIDATES
Here are the websites of the other candidates who are running to unseat 45th-Ward Alderman Jim Gardiner.
Attorney Megan Mathias
Activist and library page Ana Santoyo
Business owner James Suh (his campaign site); James Suh interview (my interview with him)
Financial consultant Marija Tomic
Copyright (main article text) Andrew Morkes; interview text (Susanna Ernst)
Copyright (photos): Susanna Ernst (personal photos and campaign event photos); Andrew Morkes (all neighborhood photos)
If you’re looking for more stories about Chicago’s Northwest Side, you might want to check out:
Saying Goodbye to Our Lady of Victory and Hoping to Save an Architecturally Significant Building
Elegy for a 100-Year-Old Red Brick House
Neighborhood Walks During the Pandemic Bring Back Memories and Encourage a Bit of Hope
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Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, I just published Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations (including for birding) in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book (306 pages, 210+ photos) is only $18.99. Click here to learn more and purchase the book.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the editorial director of the CAM Report career newsletter and College Spotlight newsletter; the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school. Stories about my work have been published in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, Beverly Review, and Practical Homeschooling.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 40 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
My poetry has appeared in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review.
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