If Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th) has her way she will be representing the Southwest Side, which includes portions of the West Englewood community, at City Hall for a long time.
“I love
my job. Working for the residents of the 15th Ward is what I enjoy doing,”
Foulkes told the Defender. “I consider this community my family.”
Never
mind she was unsuccessful last month at garnering enough votes to avoid
Tuesday’s runoff. Foulkes, who faced six candidates in the Feb. 22 election,
received 44 percent of the 7,059 votes cast while her opponent in the runoff,
Raymond Lopez, received 15 percent. To win a candidate needed 50 percent plus
one vote, but for the runoff only a simple majority is needed.
Since
first being elected in 2007 Foulkes said the ward’s population has become more
diverse and includes Blacks, Hispanics, Polish, and Lithuanians. Lopez is
Hispanic but Foulkes, who is Black, said demographics would not work against
her.
“My
Hispanic counterparts tell me they are loyal to me. I have a tremendous amount
of Hispanic support,” Foulkes said.
In
addition to support from Hispanic voters Foulkes said she also has the support
of Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, who she said paid for one mail campaign.
With a
goal of raising $100,000 in order to put up a formidable race Foulkes said
fundraising has been good although she did not know how much money had been
raised so far. Her support, she said, also includes unions, such as the Service
Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers.
“Labor
unions have shown me a lot of love,” said Foulkes, who also received
endorsements from Secretary of State Jesse White and Cook County Board
President Toni Preckwinkle,
Crime,
foreclosure, education and economic development are the top challenges facing
the 15th Ward, according to the alderman.
Wal-Mart
Stores Inc., the nation’s largest retailer, plans to open several dozen stores
throughout Chicago over the next five years including two in the 17th ward,
which borders Foulkes’ ward.
But
residents living in the 15th Ward should not expect a Wal-mart to pop up
anytime soon because “we do not have the space for a big-box retailer,” she
said. “My ward is very dense.”
So
instead of relying on a big-box retailer to spur economic development Foulkes
is concentrating on bringing more small businesses to the area.
Each
month she meets with Chicago police, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office
and the FBI to discuss ways of combating crime in her ward. And Foulkes said
with foreclosure steadily rising in the ward she hopes in her second term to
identify more ways to help homeowners.
Lopez
said after four years it is time for Foulkes to step aside and allow new
leadership to take a stab at improving crime, education and foreclosures.
“She’s
had four years to make improvements and not much has been done,” Lopez, 32,
told the Defender.
“We have a 25 percent unemployment rate in our ward. We have potholes all over
the place and no sign of economic development.”
If not
re-elected next month the former Jewel grocery store bakery employee said she
has not decided what to do next. “I am not even thinking along those lines. I
am thinking about how I can improve my ward over the next four years,” added
Foulkes.
Lopez
said Foulkes should be thinking about an exit plan because he plans to win
Tuesday.
Under his
leadership Lopez said he would deliver better city services to the ward. A
resident of the ward for the last five years and currently employed as a skycap
with Southwest Airlines, Lopez is mostly self-financing his campaign.
“No, I
never met Rahm Emanuel and I do not have union support or endorsements from big
name politicians either,” he admits. “But I do have the support of the 15th
Ward and that’s all the support I need to win this race.”
One thing
that Lopez said would help him win is low voter turnout.
“If voter
turnout is low like last month I think that will play in my favor because 65
percent of those who voted in the Feb. 22 election voted for someone other than
Toni Foulkes,” he said. “We have seen the leadership she provides and it has
not been good. The residents of this ward expect more and deserve better.”
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
