2 Challengers File To Run Against Ald. Scott Waguespack In 32nd Ward

BUCKTOWN — Two candidates are hoping to run against Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) in the February aldermanic election, although one is facing challenges to the validity of his nominating petitions. Waguespack has represented the 32nd Ward since 2007, making him one of the longest-serving members of the City Council. The ward’s boundaries have shifted over the years, but they now encompass all of Bucktown plus parts of Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Roscoe Village — some of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. Notably, the ward includes the former Lincoln Yards site along the Chicago River between Bucktown and Lincoln Park. While the Sterling Bay-backed mega-development never got off the ground, its northern section is currently being redeveloped as Foundry Park, which broke ground last month . Plans for Foundry Park call for thousands of apartments and other housing units, plus retail, office space and several public parks and other amenities to be built on the site. Waguespack was first elected as a progressive and critic of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. He’s one of a handful of alderpeople who in 2008 voted against the widely derided sale of the city’s parking meters, the ramifications of which are still playing out decades later . He’s since served as former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s finance chair and has become known as a moderate on the City Council. He frequently opposes Mayor Brandon Johnson on most issues, including the mayor’s recent budget proposals. Patrick Gilsenan and Jonathan Stevanovich are seeking to take on Waguespack on Feb. 23. A fourth potential candidate, Don Riley, filed nominating petitions to run last month but has since dropped out of the race, he told Block Club on Monday. Gilsenan is a financial regulatory lawyer who lives in Bucktown. One of the central pledges of his campaign is to make it easier to build housing, especially more “missing middle” units like two-flats, three-flats and courtyard buildings, according to his website . He also wants to do away with aldermanic prerogative — the de facto practice that gives City Council members essentially unilateral power to approve or reject developments in their wards. Gilsenan is also in favor of adopting a participatory budgeting process, which would allow neighbors to vote on how to spend a portion of the ward’s “menu money.” That’s the annual pot of funds alderpeople get to spend on street resurfacing, lighting or other infrastructure projects. Stevanovich works as a transportation consultant and lives in Lakeview. His campaign priorities include building more housing, improving public transit and bike and pedestrian infrastructure and offering responsive ward services, according to a Substack he publishes. In a blog post last week , Stevanovich said environmental stewardship would also be a “defining priority” if elected 32nd Ward alderperson. He wants to plant more trees, build green infrastructure and even ban gas-powered leaf blowers. Stevanovich, however, could still be kicked off the ballots thanks to two challenges to the validity of his petition signatures. Hearings for petition challenges, which include those lodged against numerous mayoral hopefuls as well as aldermanic candidates, are ongoing through the elections board. The board is expected to certify the Feb. 23 ballot by mid-December. Stevanovich told Block Club on Monday he’s confident he gathered enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. ______________________________________________________________________ Support Local News! Subscribe to Block Club Chicago , an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription , or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon Should Chicago Have Public Festival Grounds? It’s On The Ballot. Episode play icon Need A Halloween Costume? A Chicago Thrifting Expert Shares Her Secrets Load More Search Results placeholder Previous Episode Show Episodes List Next Episode