Chicago

Aldermanic Runoff: 46th Ward

NBC Chicago and Ward Room bring you profiles on the 18 wards heading into a runoff election April 7. In this profile, learn all about the 46th Ward.

46th Ward – James Cappleman (incumbent) vs. Amy Crawford
 
Issues at Stake in Runoff:
Alan Mills, executive director at the Uptown People’s Law Center, says that affordable housing, crime, quality of city government and homelessness are issues the community are most concerned with. Mills thinks that voter turnout will be higher for the runoff because “there’s more at stake” and there being only two candidates for the mayoral and aldermanic races now.
 
 
James Cappleman (campaign website)
 
Education: Jane Addams at UIC (M.S.W.), University of Houston (B.S.)
 
Occupation: 46th Ward Alderman
 
Endorsements: Senator Dick Durbin, Former Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Mike Quigley, State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, State Senators John Cullerton and Heather Steans, State Representatives Sara Feigenholtz and Greg Harris, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association, Citizen Action, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action
 
Key Issues: Public safety, raising minimum wage, local economic development, improving Uptown’s entertainment district, rebuild of Wilson L Station, aldermanic accountability, social services, public education, housing
 
Amy Crawford (campaign website)
 
Education: University of Chicago Law School (J.D.), University of Notre Dame (B.A., economics and government)
 
Occupation: Litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP
 
Endorsements: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago NOW, Independent Voters of Illinois, Grassroots Illinois Action, Reclaim Chicago, People Over Politics 46, Illinois Herald
 
Key Issues: Public safety, local businesses, improving Uptown’s entertainment district, neighborhood schools, affordable housing, gun violence, city government accountability
 
 
General information:
 
Voter Turnout on Feb. 24: 37 percent
 
How did they vote in the mayor’s race?
  • Rahm Emanuel: 57 percent
  • Jesus “Chuy” Garcia: 31 percent
Demographics
  • Total population: 53,784
  • White: 57.24 percent
  • Black: 20.28 percent
  • Hispanic: 11.51 percent
  • Asian: 9.54 percent (Source: WBEZ)
Neighborhoods: Uptown, Buena Park and Lakeview
 
Adjectives that Describe the Ward: Historic, gentrifying, divided and low-income
 
How Ward Typically Votes: James Cappleman was first elected alderman of the 46th Ward in 2011. Prior to Cappleman’s election, Helen Shiller had been alderman since 1987. In 2007, Shiller won 53 percent of the vote, defeating Cappleman. In 2011, Cappleman won 55 percent of the vote, defeating Molly Phelan in a runoff. Shiller did not run that year.
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