- Credibility:
LINCOLN SQUARE — Matt Martin decisively won the race to succeed Ameya Pawar in the 47th Ward, grabbing more than 62 percent of the vote with 98 percent of precincts counted.
Challenger Michael Negron, who won about 37 percent of the vote, conceded the race, saying in a tweet, “I wish nothing but luck to him and his family.”
Before the runoff, Martin, a civil rights attorney at the Illinois Attorney General’s office, and Negron, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s former policy chief, were two of the nine candidates vying for the open City Council seat.
“It’s an exciting time for Chicago,” Martin said at his election night party Tuesday. “Across the city, people have called for change. They demanded independent leaders who will stand up for our communities.”
During the runoff campaign, the two candidates elaborated on how they planned to address the ward’s affordability if elected.
Martin supports a 25 percent affordable housing mandate for new developments built in the ward, and Negron said he would require a 15 percent affordable housing mandate and tax incentives would be tied to the maintenance of the new building.
Martin was also critical of the city’s reliance on property taxes, fees for city services and the ticketing of low-income communities, which he says are examples of Chicago’s tendency to use regressive taxes to fund the city’s budget gap.
To address this, Martin supports implementing a city income tax, would work to tax Downtown real estate transactions and would pursue new tax revenue from legalizing marijuana. The city’s TIF funds need reform, too, he said.
Pawar was first elected to City Council in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. After a failed run for governor, he announced he would be sticking to his self-imposed two-term limit as an alderman and instead run for city treasurer. He entered into a runoff for treasurer with Melissa Conyears-Ervin.
The 47th Ward includes all or parts of North Center, Lincoln Square, Lakeview and Uptown.
RELATED COVERAGE
Who Will Succeed Ameya Pawar? Matt Martin And Michael Negron Head To Runoff In 47th Ward
Hundreds Flock To Davis Theater To Hear 47th Ward Candidates Debate Affordable Housing, Taxes
Crowd Of 47th Ward Candidates Who Aim To Replace Pawar Share Plans For Development, Education
Candidates Weigh In On School Security, An Elected School Board At 47th Ward Education Forum
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