Ald. Monique Scott Faces 2 Challengers In 24th Ward Race

NORTH LAWNDALE — Ald. Monique Scott (24th) is facing two challengers in her reelection bid for a second full term in City Council. Jamesenna Anderson and Kiisha Smith both filed petitions to challenge Scott for leader of the 24th Ward in February’s municipal election, though both are facing challenges to the validity of those petitions, according to the Chicago Board of Elections . The 24th Ward includes North Lawndale as well as parts of South Lawndale, Garfield Park and Austin. Scott, a former Chicago Park District employee and supervisor of Ellis Park, was appointed by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2022 to replace her brother Michael Scott Jr., who resigned from the 24th Ward office that year and who currently serves as a Cook County Commissioner. The following spring, Scott won her first full term in a runoff after advancing out of an eight-candidate field. The Scott family has a powerful political legacy spearheaded by Michael Scott Sr., who served as president of the Chicago Park District board and president of the Chicago Board of Education and was a close ally of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Kiisha Smith is the chair of the 10th Police District Council , a civilian law enforcement oversight body, and one of the challengers seeking to run against Scott. For February’s municipal election, Smith filed petitions to both run for reelection for her council seat and in the 24th Ward race, according to the Chicago Board of Elections and Smith’s campaign social media . Smith was born and raised in North Lawndale and has experience in a variety of fields, including sales, marketing, customer service, housing and youth services, according to a Facebook post announcing her campaign. In her announcement, Smith described her desire to run for City Council as being motivated to provide “a seat at the table” for people outside the city’s political system. “I don’t come from a political family. I don’t have some big legacy behind me. What I have is grassroots — me out in these streets, going door to door, face to face, earning your trust,” said Smith. “The 24th Ward deserves leadership that’s accessible and transparent.” Jamesenna Anderson lives in Austin and does not have a campaign website or social media account, but a campaign flyer posted to Facebook said she volunteers on local homeless and food insecurity efforts and is looking to create a “stronger, safer and more vibrant” ward. Inglesa Toney and Pamela Morehead filed challenges to Smith and Anderson’s ballot petitions to run in February’s election, Chicago Board of Elections records show. Toney also challenged the petitions of an opponent to Monique Scott in the 2023 race and to Michael Scott Jr.’s challengers in 2019, according to Austin Weekly News . Hearing officers will evaluate the challenges and issue decisions in each case by mid-December. The Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the ballot Dec. 17. The election is Feb. 23. ______________________________________________________________________ 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