11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee heads toward runoff

As the mayor who appointed her conceded her race Tuesday night, 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee was pushed into a runoff to defend her job representing Chinatown and the Daley stronghold Bridgeport.

Lee enjoyed a major fundraiser hosted by former Mayor Richard M. Daley and one of his brothers in the hopes she’d retain the seat their nephew, Patrick Daley Thompson, was forced from when he was convicted of tax fraud.

The daughter of a Daley mayoral aide, Lee had words of thanks for the family that’s long ruled the 11th Ward: “Thank you to the Daley family for their faith in me, for their confidence, for their support, for taking this forward.”

But with four of every five votes counted in Bridgeport, Armour Square, Chinatown, Canaryville and East Pilsen, Lee had failed to garner 50% of the vote, and at times trailed ever so slightly behind Anthony “Tony” Ciaravino, a Chicago police officer and CAPS member. 

Early results showed both had attracted about 30% of the vote each. The next closest candidate was Chicago firefighter Don Don with 20%. Ambria Taylor, a teacher, had 13%. Chicago Public Schools civics teacher Froylan “Froy” Jiminez, business owner Elvira “Vida” Jiminez and attorney Steve Demitro had less than 3% each. 

Ciaravino, whose website describes him as a Chicago Police Department instructor, received donations from the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as from companies affiliated with Daley pal Fred B. Barbara.

At Ciaravino’s party Tuesday night at Stockyards Garage in Canaryville, and amid signs touting his slogan, “Your safety is my concern,” Ciaravino told supporters, “The best is yet to come.”

Facing an uphill battle in a ward that’s been a Daley family stronghold for decades, Ciaravino said 11th Ward residents want and need new leadership.

“I know what our community needs, I know we’re living in fear,” the Chicago police officer told the Sun-Times. “I’m the best qualified candidate for that top priority.”

Lee welcomed supporters in the dining room at New Furama Restaurant, which boasts a location “at the crossroads of Chicago’s South Side Chinatown and Bridgeport neighborhoods.” 

Sporting bright red Wonder Woman sneakers, Lee said she’s got her eyes set on April 4.

“I’ve always known, with a seven-person race, a runoff was likely,” she said. “You hope for the best, but you plan for contingencies.”

She pledged to find common ground with voters who had supported her opponents in order to earn their support — and to try to attract the many voters who, like elsewhere in the city, stayed home.

In the 12th Ward, another recent Lightfoot appointee, Anabel Abarca, trailed her challenger, Julia Ramirez, to represent the McKinley Park and Brighton Park neighborhoods. 

With all early precincts reporting, Ramirez, a social worker and restorative justice practitioner, had 56.5% of the vote, with 43.5% for Abarca, whom Lightfoot named as alderman after Abarca’s boss, former Ald. George Cardenas, won a seat on the Cook County Board of Review.

More established Southwest Side incumbents held firmly onto their City Council seats.

Incumbent Raymond Lopez (15th), elected from a crowded field in 2015, held onto a massive lead all evening, holding 64% of the vote with 100% of early results counted. In second place was activist Victoria “Vicko” Alzvarez, with 24% of the vote, and then Gloria Ann Williams with 12% in the ward which, following the 2020 remap, includes portions of Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Brighton Park, Canaryville, West Englewood, and the Stockyards. 

So did 16th Ward incumbent Stephanie Coleman, in her first chance to defend herself since winning in 2019. Coleman, the daughter of former Ald. Shirley Coleman, had 77% of the vote, with 92% of precincts reporting. Trailing her with 13% was Carolynn Crump, a Chicago police officer, and with 10%, Eddie Johnson III, a technology coordinator for Chicago Public Schools. Neighborhoods of the 16th Ward include Englewood, Chicago Lawn, Gage Park and New City. 

Ald. Derrick G. Curtis (18th), who’s held the seat since 2015, was leading community organizer Heather Wills with all early results in. Curtis, who made news last year when he accidentally shot himself, had 62% of the vote in the Ashburn, Scottsdale and Wrightwood neighborhoods and parts of Beverly, West Lawn and Chicago Lawn, to Wills’ 38%. 

Matt O’Shea, first elected in 2011 when he was an aide to longtime Ald. Virginia Rugai, also readily sailed toward victory over two challengers in the 19th Ward, home to many first responders and public sector workers in Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park. With all precincts reporting, O’Shea had 63% of the vote, Chicago Police Sgt. Michael T. Cummings had 32% and computer consultant Timothy “Tim” Noonan had just 5%.

Contributing: Robert Herguth