LINCOLN SQUARE — Longtime Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th) and runoff challenger Andre Vasquez will appear at a forum next Monday at Amundsen High School, 5110 N. Damen Ave.
O’Connor has held the City Council seat since 1983. During the Feb. 26 election O’Connor faced four challengers and got 33.2 percent of the vote. Because he wasn’t able to get the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff. So he’s facing Andre Vasquez, who got 20.1 percent of the vote, in the April 2 runoff election.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The forum is set to start at 6 p.m. It’s free and attendees are asked to use Door #7 on the west side of the school to enter. Street parking is available in addition to the Amundsen High School parking lot that’s accessible from Foster Avenue.
O’Connor was first elected at the age of 28. He’s served as the unofficial City Council floor leader for Mayor Richard M. Daley and Mayor Rahm Emanuel and has continued to work as a private attorney during his three-plus decades in office.
Vasquez, his challenger, is a community organizer and Democratic Socialist of America member who currently works as a marketing account manager with AT&T.
The 40th Ward includes parts of Lincoln Square, Bowmanville, West Ridge, Edgewater and West Andersonville.
The runoff forum is being co-organized by the League of Women Voters of Chicago, Andersonville South Neighborhood Association, Bowmanville Community Organization, Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors Association, Indivisible Lincoln Square, MidWest Women Network, Neighbors of Edgewater West, South Asian Civic Engagement Coalition and Winnemac Park Neighbors.
Related 40th Ward coverage:
Ald. Pat O’Connor Slams Challenger Andre Vasquez Over Misogynistic, Homophobic Rap Lyrics
Ald. Pat O’Connor Called ‘Racist Troll’ By Moderator Of 40th Ward ForumAld. Pat O’Connor Called ‘Racist Troll’ By Moderator Of 40th Ward Forum
Housing, Environment And Crime On Their Minds: 4 Candidates Aim To Replace Pat O’Connor In 40th Ward
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