By Santos Baez ’25 and Payton Zohfeld ’23

The 10th Ward, whether Hegewisch, the East Side, South Deering,Slag Valley, or South Chicago, is the place most of us call home, and moreover has an important election coming up next Tuesday, February 28. For the past 8 plus years, Sue Garza  has been our alderwoman,  before surprisingly announcing this past September that she would not seek reelection. Now 5 candidates are running to try and fill her shoes, presenting a variety of ideas and visions,  all in the name of helping build our community. Here is a breakdown of the candidates:

Yessenia Carreón

https://yessfor10.com/

Public safety, educational funding, infrastructure and economic development are among Carreón’s main goals if she’s elected. She’s an “an advocate for local artists” who helped organize summer festivals as chief operating officer of local media outlet ONT and helped secure funding for Roman Villarreal’s sculpture in Steelworkers Park. Carreón served as a staffer in the Pope’s office from 2006 until the his 2015 election loss to Sadlowski Garza. She campaigned for 10th Ward alderperson in 2019, but was booted from the ballot after a challenge to her nominating petitions. She has John A. Pope and Independent voters of Illinois-independent Precinct Organization supporting her.

Peter Chico

https://www.chicofor10.com

A resident of Hegewisch, Chico is a police officer working in the South Chicago (4th) District. He’s also a community representative on George Washington High School’s local school council. Chico supports economic development, an increased police presence, increased funding for education and a streamlining of city services as he runs for the 10th Ward seat. Chico received his master’s in public service from DePaul University. He’s the grandson of John Chico, a former South Works steelworker who was an early supporter of Ed Sadlowski, a labor activist and Sadlowski Garza’s father. He is supported by the Polish American Police Association,  Jim Betkowski, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Police Sergeants Association and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7.

Ana Guajardo

https://www.anafor10.com/

Guajardo announced her run for Alderman in September with the backing of mayoral candidate Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, two days after Sadlowski Garza announced she would not seek reelection. The South Deering resident has called for equal funding for Chicago schools, “fair property taxes,” upgraded infrastructure, “modern institutions” like parks and libraries, and environmental and social justice during the campaign. She co-founded the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos or the United Workers’ Center in the East Side, an organization that advocates for immigrant workers rights and needs. Guajardo served in the Army National Guard and is a doctoral candidate. Garza and the U.S. Representative Jesus Chuy Garcia is supporting her

Oscar Sanchez

https://oscarfor10.com/

Sanchez, an environmental activist and youth organizer, announced he would challenge Sadlowski Garza before she decided not to run for reelection. The East Side resident is running on a platform that centers on “clean air, equitable education, walkable and accessible communities, affordable housing, sustainable and resilient workforce development and collective community safety”. Sanchez participated in a hunger strike in February and March 2021 as part of a successful campaign demanding the city’s health department deny a permit for North Side metal scrapper General Iron to move its operations to Southside Recycling at 116th Street and Burley Avenue. Sierra Club Illinois, Rossana Rodriguez (33rd Alderwoman), and the Democratic Socialists of America are supporting him.

Jessica A. Venegas

https://community4venegas.com/

Venegas is a police officer who has worked in several districts and an attorney with a private practice in family law. Her platform calls for more police; more funding for education, mental health and behavioral services; and economic and environmental policies, according to her campaign website. The East Sider graduated from George Washington High School and received degrees from DePaul University and the University of Illinois Chicago’s law school. She also founded the nonprofit Tia and Gramma Organization, which aims to open a community center in South Deering. Supporting her is Bobby Loncar.

Now that you have a better idea who is vying for this all important position, please make your voices heard next Tuesday, the 28th. The future of our Ward and families is at stake, and this is your way of playing a part in building a better tomorrow.