ENGLEWOOD — Seven candidates are seeking seats on the Englewood (7th) police district council. The district includes parts of Englewood and West Englewood.
Meet them below.
Dion Terrell McGill
A community outreach manager at Lurie Children’s Hospital, McGill describes himself as a “public health professional focused on gun violence prevention and public safety for more than seven years.” McGill formerly taught in CPS and was the program manager of the Student Voices Program, a youth gun-violence initiative at the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have spent the last decade of my life working as a gun violence prevention advocate and activist,” McGill says. “I’ve even had the pleasure of facilitating a program for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence entitled the Activist Institute, which engaged youth in developing their skills as community activists and having their voices heard on topics of public safety.
“Though I’ve never volunteered, of course I’ve had interactions with Chicago police officers. I’ve lived in multiple over-policed communities throughout my life. I’ve also interacted with officers professionally in experiences ranging from engaging in youth programming, interacting with school resource officers as a public school teacher, and attending both CAPS and beat meetings.”
 Supports more police accountability |
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 need significant reform.
- 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?
- Other: “All of the above!!! I think the role of a police district councillor (PDC) is a healthy combination of all of these. Additionally, I believe the PDC will be a thought partner alongside the district leadership to develop restorative justice and trauma-informed practices and programs for the district.”
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I am running for District Council because I grew up during a time when Chicago Police didn’t have any accountability for what they did or how terribly it impacted our communities. Now we can shut the door on that lack of accountability, while creating long lasting change in the way our communities are policed, as well as expand and encourage preventative, proactive, community-based and evidence-based approaches to public safety.
Teresa R. Chandler
A community outreach specialist at the Cook County Assessor’s Office, Chandler has a master’s in Inner City Studies and a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and Corrections. She is a volunteer for nonprofit organizations such as Voices of West Englewood and Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates. Ald. David Moore (17th) and Independent Voters of Illinois IPO (IVI-IPO) have endorsed.
 Activist or organizer | Supports more police accountability |  Political endorsement |
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 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?
- Establishing civilian control of the police department
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I decided to run for the Seventh Police District Council to help bridge the gap between the Englewood community and the Seventh District Police Department. I would like to see positive change, more police accountability, and transparency, and I would like to work with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) to help build collaboration and mutual trust.
As a council member and with the citizens of this community, I seek to explore effective approaches to public safety and help make effective police recommendations. Making effective police recommendations and empowering the community is crucial. Having a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Inner-City Studies provides me with the insight and knowledge on injustices, racial bias, and many other complexities that can plague the inner-city communities.
Cherli Montgomery
Cherli Montgomery is a member of Teamsters Local Union 727 (IBT) and served on the Local School Council for Charles W. Earle elementary school. Alderperson David Moore (17th Ward), State Representative Sonya Harper (6th District), and Congressman Danny Davis (IL-7) have endorsed.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Supports more police accountability | Political endorsement |
Joseph Williams
A resident of West Englewood, Williams is the founder and executive director of the Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club in 2017; the nonprofit brings fathers to read books to Chicago schoolkids. In 2020, he organized a GoFundMe to help Black-owned businesses damaged during that summer’s rebellions and looting, and in 2021 the Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club gave away 500 McDonald’s happy meals in Bronzeville to honor Jaslyn Adams, a seven-year-old killed by gunfire. The organization rganization recently passed out more than 2,000 coats to families in the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Police Districts.
Alds. Raymond Lopez (15th), Stephanie Coleman (16th) and David Moore (17th) have endorsed.
Activist or organizer | Political endorsement |
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? No
- Should the city hire more police officers? No
- Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
- CPD reform: The police need training and some 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?
- Helping the police do a better job
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Establishing civilian control of the police department
- Other: “Bring back the DARE program; officers walk beats and know the community they serve.”
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I am running for District Council to build on the work I am already doing, but also to help build stronger connections between the police and the community. I also plan to work with the community to get input on police department policies and practices.
Verna M. Swan
A resident of West Englewood, Swan did not respond to requests for comment.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Linda J. Austin Sr.
A resident of Englewood, Austin did not respond to requests for comment.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Krystal Peters
A member of the Workers Center for Racial Justice, Peters also serves as a district leader for the Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE). She criticized CPD’s proposed gang-database redux at a November meeting of the Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, and is “committed to advancing community public safety and police accountability practices [and] ensuring Black communities have a voice at decision-making tables.” CRGE has endorsed.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Activist or organizer | Supports more police accountability |