LITTLE VILLAGE — Four candidates vying for the seat being vacated by retiring Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) will face off in a forum in Little Village next week.
The 22nd ward aldermanic forum will take place at Little Village Lawndale High School, 3120 S. Kostner Ave. at 5:30 p.m Thursday, Feb. 21. Residents can RSVP online.
The four candidates — Neftalie Gonzalez, Richard Juarez, Lisette Lopez and Michael D. Rodriguez — will attend the forum.
Related: Ald. Ricardo Muñoz Says He Won’t Seek Re-election
The event is hosted by Enlace Chicago, League of Women Voters of Chicago and Univision. The candidates will discuss a range of local and citywide issues.
Simultaneous translation from English to Spanish will also be offered.
The forum was previously scheduled for late Jan. 31 but was rescheduled due to dangerously cold weather.
RELATED: Who Will Be The Next Alderman Of The 22nd Ward?
Last summer, Muñoz announced he would not be seeking re-election, leaving the race wide open.
Earlier this year, all of the 22nd Ward candidates called for Muñoz to resign after he was arrested after his wife said he hit her on New Year’s Eve.
RELATED: Ald. Ricardo Muñoz Arrested After Domestic Incident, Police Say
Muñoz, a leader in City’s Council’s Progressive Caucus, was first appointed to the 22nd Ward seat by then-Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1993 to replace Jesus “Chuy” Garcia after Garcia was elected to the State Senate.
Muñoz has offered his support to candidate Rodriguez, who previously worked as the executive director of Enlace.
The 22nd Ward includes all or parts of Little Village, Brighton Park, and Lawndale.
The municipal election is Feb. 26.
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