Once mentioned as a possible mayoral contender, Scott Waguespack did not choose to face Rahm Emanuel, and instead won two-thirds of the votes when he ran for re-election to be alderman of the 32nd ward for his second term in office this February. He's tried to maintain his independent reformer roots in City Council.
Background:
Waguespack's family has called the Wicker Park-Bucktown area their home for many generations and has lived in Bucktown for over 10 years. He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Colorado State University and got his juris doctorate at Chicago-Kent College of Law, IIT. After college, he served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Kenya, Africa and worked with woman's groups to build health clinics and water supplies. After graduation, he worked with the Dean of Chicago-Kent on projects involving the U.S. State Department. In 2005, he managed Berwyn mayoral candidate Michael O'Connor's campaign and later served as Berwyn's city administrator.
The Ward:
Lincoln Park is located in the 32nd Ward and is one of the city's most popular neighborhoods. The Chicago History Museum is located in the neighborhood, along with boutiques, restaurants and mansions. Much of the neighborhood was lost in the 1871 Great Chicago fire, and the stone and brick buildings survived.
The Office:
Waguespack has been alderman since 2007, and during his first term in office he worked on reforming much of the old system. He implemented simple zoning and guidelines to help with development, passed legislation to make TIF spending more transparent and worked with police and residents to build better relationships between the two. He also worked with schools to improve education and fought for business infrastructure improvements.
Committees:
Budget and Government Operations
Committees, Rules and Ethics
Education and Child Development
Finance
Housing and Real Estate
Human Relations
Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation
