Ald. Stephanie Coleman Faces 3 Challengers In 16th Ward Race

ENGLEWOOD — Ald. Stephanie Coleman faces three challengers vying for her seat representing the 16th Ward — though her opponents could be knocked off the ballot ahead of the election. Coleman is seeking a third term in office. Three other candidates also filed to make the ballot for next year’s municipal election: small business owner Shenina Fletcher, nonprofit co-founder Cheryl Blackmond and Coleman’s previous opponent Eddie Johnson III. All three of Coleman’s opponents, however, face petition objections filed by a woman with past associations to Coleman’s campaign, Chicago Board of Elections records show. Jacqueline Slaughter filed objections to the nominating petitions submitted by Fletcher, Blackmond and Johnson as part of the process to make the ballot, according to the Chicago Board of Elections . Slaughter, along with Curly Hall, also submitted petition objections against Coleman’s opponents in 2022 , which successfully kicked candidate Otis Woods off the ballot . Slaughter’s relationship to Coleman is unclear. Coleman’s campaign could not be reached for comment. Slaughter could not immediately be reached. The challenges will be heard by hearing officers, who will then issue decisions in each case by mid-December. The Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the ballot Dec. 17. Coleman became the youngest member of the City Council with her 2019 victory, when she was 30. She is the daughter of former 16th Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman and a lifelong Englewood resident. In her first reelection campaign, Coleman cruised to victory in 2023 against two challengers. Over the course of her two terms, Coleman has been a proponent of development across her ward that includes some of the most historically disinvested communities in the city. The alderwoman has backed the construction of several affordable housing projects , invested in public arts spaces and spearheaded the Englewood Music Fest , which is now a yearly tradition in the neighborhood. Among those seeking to unseat her is Fletcher, a small business owner running on a platform of safer streets, small business investment and responsive ward services. “I have spoken to hundreds of you regarding gun violence, domestic violence, mental health, educating the youth of our future, economic development delivery and transparency, and vacant lots, buildings and dangerous alleys,” Fletcher wrote in a social media post announcing her candidacy. “I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR!!! Today I officially filed petitions due to your support and dedication to righting the wrong that exist on our blocks and outside our doorsteps.” Fletcher did not respond to a request for comment. Blackmond co-founded violence prevention non-profit Chicago Peace Initiative with Jeffrey Maxwell in 2021. There is limited information about her campaign online; Blackmond could not immediately be reached for comment. Johnson, a lifelong Englewood resident, is running for a third time to serve the 16th Ward. He lost to Coleman in both the 2019 and 2023 races. Johnson serves as executive director of the Antioch Community Social Service Agency, the nonprofit division of the Englewood Church that was destroyed in a 2022 fire . As the leader of the 16th Ward, he would “restructure tax-increment finance (TIF) districts with an advisory council that requires input from residents,” Johnson told Block Club during his 2023 campaign. That way, people who live in the community can decide how the public money is spent and businesses or industries come to their neighborhood, Johnson said. Johnson could not immediately be reached by Block Club. The 16th Ward encompasses portions of Chicago Lawn, Englewood, West Englewood, Gage Park and New City. The election is Feb. 23. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held April 6. ______________________________________________________________________ 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