Deering (9th) Police District Council Candidates

BACK OF THE YARDS — Eight candidates are seeking the Deering (9th) police district council seats. The district includes parts of Back of the Yards, Brighton Park, McKinley Park and Bridgeport.

Erin Vogel

A former co-executive director of I Grow Chicago (now We Grow Chicago), an Englewood community organization, Vogel has participated in gun-violence prevention and criminal justice reform since 2016.

She has completed the CPD’s Citizen Academy and has trained officers in restorative justice practices. She believes in “keeping the integrity of the ECPS ordinance and connecting communities through healing.”

Vogel is running on a slate with Abe Matthew and Monserrat Ayala.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
CPD reform: The police should be defunded or abolished.
Mental health crises: Police should not be involved in mental health crisis calls at all.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I’m running for Police District Council because I believe my team (Montserrat “Monse” Ayala and Abraham “Abe” Matthew) and I are the best people to serve the 9th Police District. I am personally running because I believe in keeping the integrity of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance and connecting communities through healing.

Carlos Sanchez

A resident of McKinley Park, Sanchez did not respond to requests for comment.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Nolberto Casas

A political liaison at Chicago Gig Alliance, Casas describes himself as a community activist and organizer for environmental justice, living wages for ride-share drivers, and public safety. He attended Brother Rice High School and DePaul University.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Denise McBroom

A CPS teacher who was the last chief of staff for former alderperson Patrick Daley Thompson (who was convicted on federal charges related to an alleged bank-loan fraud in 2022), McBroom applied to be appointed to replace him but was not selected by the mayor.

The Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Evelyn Razo

A resident of Back of the Yards, Razo unsuccessfully challenged the ballot petitions of Vicko Alvarez, a socialist candidate who is running for alderperson of the 15th Ward. Alderperson Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) and the Fraternal Order of Police have endorsed.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Abe Matthew

A Bridgeport injury attorney, Matthew says he’s “a firm believer that transparency and community input into public safety decision-making will improve outcomes and protect both officers and our neighborhoods.” He ran for Congress in 2020 before withdrawing and endorsing Marie Newman, and recently testified before the Illinois General Assembly.

“My passion for my community is evident in the wide range of civic organizations I participate in,” Matthews says. “Most recently, I testified before the joint Redistricting committee of the Illinois General Assembly and asked the members to amend the proposed map to include all of greater Chinatown and Bridgeport within one subcircuit, so that our diverse community would be able to have a unified voice when electing judges to the bench.

“As an attorney representing injury victims, I interact with our courts on a regular basis. My role is to fight for the injured against those who have wronged them and attempt to recover for the harm suffered. Often this requires collecting evidence from city and state government entities and advocating for access to information.”

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No answer
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Other: “This office is brand new and will serve as a key intermediary between those who serve and protect and the community at large. If it is going to be successful, we will need council members who understand that we can only become safer if we work together. We can ensure the transparency and accountability among public safety and the public that this position was created to achieve by electing people who will advocate for the needs of our community.”

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I will work tirelessly to advocate for our community’s interests on the District Council of the Ninth Police District. Public safety is an issue that affects us all and about which people have strong and divergent opinions. I am a firm believer that transparency and community input into public safety decision making will improve outcomes and protect both officers and our neighborhoods. I am not afraid to press when pushback is required and have no qualms about standing up for what is right, even if it is not popular. In a job like this, when you are taking the community as your client, your duty is to the people alone. I will strive to live that every day I am in office.

Maggie Finucane

A Bridgeport resident, Finucane filed ballot petitions with the assistance of the FOP’s election attorney, Perry Abbasi, who told the Reader the FOP referred her to him. She did not respond to requests for comment. The Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Monserrat Ayala

An organizer from the southwest side, Ayala cofounded #IncreaseThePeace, an organization that promotes youth leadership, peace, and community organizing. She has also worked for the Southwest Organizing Project where she led get-out-the-vote efforts in 2019.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.