The re-election campaign of Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th) received a boost last week when the nation’s largest retailer announced it would build two stores in the South Side ward over the next two years.
“I am
extremely pleased that Walmart has chosen to invest in the Auburn Gresham and
West Englewood neighborhoods,” Thomas, 45, said during a March 16 news
conference with Walmart officials announcing plans to expand to the ward.
The
three-term alderman captured 49 percent of the vote in the February 22 election
so a nudge is all that is needed to win the April 5 runoff election, she said.
“I ran
against seven people and voter turnout was low. Those two things prevented me
from winning but now with only two candidates I am confident I can win,” she
told the Defender.
Candidates
needed 50 percent plus one vote to win the February election but only need a
simple majority to win a runoff.
“Depressing.
That’s how I would describe the current condition of the 17th Ward,” said David
Moore, who received 19 percent of the 9,900 votes cast. “The leadership voices
of the 17th Ward have been silent for too long.”
A
longtime resident of the ward, Moore, 45, sees Thomas as a figurehead and not
an alderman.
“She does
more of what Mayor Daley wants and less of what an alderman should be doing to
improve the ward,” he said. “All areas of the ward need to be served and that
is not happening.”
Thomas
was first appointed alderman in 2000, the overwhelmingly re-elected to her
first full term in 2001. She said if re-elected this time around, she plans to
continue tackling three major challenges the ward faces: jobs, economic
development and crime. She is hopeful that her 18-month pursuit to lure Walmart
to the area will pay off with more economic development to follow.
“I have
had discussions with Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s and other big box retailers.
Walmart is just the beginning,” Thomas said.
She
believes the schools in her ward and citywide can improve with the right
leadership, which is why she favors an educator to head up Chicago Public
Schools.
“The next
CEO/superintendent of Chicago Public Schools needs to have management
experience but also someone who has taught in the classroom,” said Thomas. “Now
surely with Chicago having the third largest school district we also need a
chief financial officer to work closely with the superintendent to manage the
finances.”
Fundraising
is a big part of public office and Thomas said she was fortunate to have a
small war chest prior to the February election.
“I am not
sure of the exact amount but I know we had a budget of $100,000,” she
disclosed. “My donors include unions and Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, who paid
$4,000 to have a poll conducted on my behalf.”
Thomas also
is interested in becoming the new chairman of the city’s Black Caucus, which
currently consists of 17 Black aldermen, after Ald. Walter Burnett (27th)
resigned earlier this month.
But if
not re-elected Thomas said she has yet to determine what her next step would
be.
“I am not
even thinking along those lines. My focus is winning and serving my
constituents,” she said.
Her
opponent in next month’s runoff said he is working hard to make sure she does
not win.
The three
major areas needing improvement, according to Moore, are economic development,
jobs and schools. He would help boost economic development by working with
small businesses to secure small business loans, which would enable businesses
to expand and do more hiring.
Currently
Moore is on leave as an administrator with the Cook County Board of Review and
previously worked in the private business sector as an accountant. As alderman,
Moore plans to work closely with residents to “get immediate results.”
He is
happy to see Walmart’s expansion plans include the 17th Ward, he said, but
hopes the retail giant pays employees “a livable wage that exceeds minimum
wage.”
For his
part fundraising “has been coming along good,” although he could not give an
estimate of how much money he has raised thus far. Emanuel is not among his
donors but Moore said he welcomes an opportunity to meet with him to discuss
the city’s future.
The
single father of one daughter Moore is a deacon at Fellowship Missionary
Baptist Church on the South Side and added that if he is not elected next month
he plans to return to his county job and continue working with the residents of
the 17th Ward to improve the community.
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
