Prioritize residents in choosing a new 2nd Ward Council Representative

Lesley WilliamsUncategorized

To: May or Daniel Biss

Date: August 26th 2022

On Tuesday September 6th, the community will be introduced to 9 candidates for the vacated 2nd ward council seat. The applicants represent a range of talents, experiences and demographics: a former school board president, the treasurer of a Latino advocacy organization, a housing advocate, a media strategist, a veteran of the parks and rec board. However only one of them, Darlene Cannon, has already run a campaign for the position and garnered 47% of the 2nd ward’s vote. It is for this reason, as well as Darlene’s lifelong connection to the ward, her years of advocacy, and her endorsements from numerous Evanston organizations and leaders, that CABG has endorsed her.

However, it is not for us to choose who will represent the 2nd ward; that should be up to the ward residents. As we stated, we support Darlene because we believe she truly has the support of her ward. Yet the decision does not rest with 2nd ward residents but with one person: Mayor Daniel Biss.

For this reason we urge you to prioritize the wishes of the ward in making your selection. The form for submitting questions at the town hall correctly asks if the respondent is a 2nd ward resident; we hope that the evaluation response form will do so as well. In addition, to ensure that all hard working residents of the ward can thoughtfully review the candidates, we ask you to allow more time between the forum and your selection.

Most importantly, we expect that when announcing your choice, you will explain how  the candidate best represents the values, concerns, and wishes of the 2nd ward, not those of any outside forces or organizations, including CABG. The choice should not be made in order to shape the tenor of

Council discussions or a perceived balance of power but simply to represent 2nd ward residents in the way they deem best.

Sincerely,

Lesley Williams

President, The Community Alliance for Better Government (CABG)

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