Chicago City Council: Joe Moore

One of the most progressive members of the Council, Joe Moore hails from one of the city's most racially and economically diverse wards

Jon Moore is an overwhelmingly popular politician in Chicago. The man who has represented the  49th Ward since 1991 won reelection with 72 percent of the vote last March. His tenure includes a host of accomplishments such as a massive improvement to the ward's schools and revitalization of some of its most depressed areas.

Background: Moore grew up in Oak Lawn and Evanston, graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1976. From 1984 to 1991, Moore worked as an attorney in the City of Chicago's Department of Law, first for the Appeals Division and later for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to serving in local government, Moore has often inserted himself into the national political conversation. He was a delegate for Bill Clinton at the 1996 Democratic National Convention and has served on the Executive Committee of the DNC. 

The Ward: Diversity is a buzz word in this Far North Side neighborhood. Encapsulating Rogers Park, West Ridge and parts of Edgewater, the 49th is home to a multitude of ethnic backgrounds while more than 80 assorted languages are spoken in the neighborhood. The dominant institution is Loyola University and the CTA Red Line cuts through the middle of the ward. While commercial areas around Red Line stops have been revitalized, various pockets of the ward still face a persistent gang presence.

The Office:
Many areas in the 49th continue to struggle due to a sluggish economy. Empty storefronts, the loss of affordable housing and the lack of economic development and jobs are the primary concern for an alderman who has been a reliable spokesperson for labor unions and activists over the years. For example, in 2006, Moore was the chief sponsor of a law raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour for big box companies such as Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot. Even though he had the council's support, he didn't have enough votes to override a Daly veto.

Committees:
Chairman of the Committee on Human Relations
The Budget and Government Operations
Rules and Ethics
Finance
Health and Environmental Protection
 

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