OLD TOWN — Six candidates are seeking the Near North (18th) police district council seats. The district includes parts of Old Town, Lincoln Park, Near North Side, River North and Streeterville.
Credit: Kirk Williamson for the Chicago ReaderKaren Kane
A CPA, Kane says crime has increased significantly and CPD staffing decreased significantly in the 18th District. “The police department should listen to the community and the residents should listen to the police department,” she says. “Working together, our community will become safer.” Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), former Ald. Michelle Smith (43rd), 2nd Ward democratic committeeman Tim Egan, and 43rd Ward democratic committeeman Lucy Moog have endorsed.
 Supports more police accountability |  Political endorsement |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? No
- 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? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? No: funding should be increased.
- 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?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Helping the police do a better job.
- Other: The Police Department should listen to the community and the residents should listen to the Police Department. Working together, our community will become safer.
Why are you running for Police District Council?
In the 18th Police District, crime has increased significantly and 18th police staffing has decreased significantly. While the citywide violent crime statistics have improved slightly in 2022 (although still alarmingly higher than pre-COVID years), crime in the 18th District has increased.
I am born and raised in Chicago and I love our city!! I am a passionate advocate of Chicago as a world class city, while also agreeing we have significant problems to solve. My central campaign theme is “Public Engagement = Public Safety.” In other words, neighbors and residents need to become more deeply involved in crime prevention, sharing ideas, comparing results of new initiatives and brainstorming.
Additional public engagement and increased communication with the 18th CPD will create a stronger relationship between the residents and the 18th Police Department, and thus improved public safety. I believe my organizational skills from my professional career and involvement in nonprofits will create a successful emphasis on public safety in the community.
Amy Cross
An attorney, Cross has consulted with city, county, and state agencies around the country on issues of public policy and justice reform for more than a decade. “I believe that safety and justice are intertwined,” she says, “and my experience and policy expertise has shown me that it is possible to achieve both.”
Northside Democracy for America has endorsed.
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? No
- 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 accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.
What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Helping the police do a better job
- Establishing civilian control of the police department
- Other: The primary role of the district council is to liaise between residents and the Commission, to better guide the Commission’s investigations into key policy areas, and to understand how CPD policies will have an impact at the local level.
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I am a Chicago native and an attorney with over a decade of experience advising and working across the justice system on a national level. I’ve built effective collaborations with law enforcement and communities to build trust, reduce gun violence and improve public safety and want to bring that experience to this role. I am committed to elevating the safety concerns of residents of the 18th District to advance effective, equitable safety initiatives and support the work of the Commission. I believe that safety and justice are intertwined, and my experience and policy expertise has shown me that it is possible to achieve both.
Kimberly Lynn Bowman
As her condo association’s president, Bowman developed a safety committee and worked with police and local businesses “to proactively address crime in the area.”
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) has endorsed.
Political endorsement |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? No
- 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? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? No: funding should be increased.
- CPD reform: The police are doing a good job, and need more resources.
- 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?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
Why are you running for Police District Council?
As a liaison between our community and police district I would like to facilitate positive interactions, and increase communication, support, and morale.
Robert Johnson
A former Ohio police officer, Johnson is the chair of the safety and security task force for the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents. He graduated from CPD’s Citizen Police Academy and is the CAPS beat 1833 facilitator.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) have endorsed.
 Ties to police or FOP | 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? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
- 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?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Helping the police do a better job.
Why are you running for Police District Council?
This position would enable me to be a liaison for area residents with our local law enforcement.
Lisa Seigneur
An active governing board member of Youth for a Better Future, Seward Park Advisory Council participant, Near North Unity Program participant, and River North Residents Association (RNRA) Safety Committee member, Seigneur graduated from CPD’s Citizen’s Police Academy. She told the Reader, “I am pro-police and pro-community advocacy.”
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) has endorsed.
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? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? No: funding should be increased.
- CPD reform: The police are doing a good job, and need more resources.
- 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?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
Why are you running for Police District Council?
My role on this Council is to help orchestrate a seat at the table, be the voice of us all, and be an advocate for realistic change and transformation while making each of us OWNERS of OUR collective SOLUTION.
I will always be a loyal supporter of the Chicago Police Department! I am equally respectful and supportive of the security and order they provide everyday in the face of numerous local and national challenges that risk their personal safety. No person nor organization is perfect, however it’s the openness to listening, process varying pieces of feedback, and aim towards consensus that perfects partnership and successful business continuity.
In this role I will bring my personal aspirations for immediately improving safety and esteem back to the 18th District of Chicago by deeply understanding current initiatives, processes, blockers, and challenges for CPD to deliver their best work and for the residents of our 18th District to feel the safest. I will personally act as a listening mechanism (while enhancing/developing the automated ones) to collect and assess feedback, action solutions, and ensure status updates are provided to the community.
I will share our District’s top ten pain points and priorities with the community after spending time in the field with our District’s residents, CPD Beat Officers, CPD internal divisions & stakeholders, and local political officials. In partnership with the two other 18th District Councilpersons that will make up this council, I will foster transparency, collaboration, authenticity of our solutions presented, and community accountability for our Council, our oversight, and all it serves. https://voteforlisa.com/
Brad Kessler
An attorney, Kessler led Chicago Public Schools’s anti-gang task force and helped launch its Safe Passage program. He also serves on Lincoln Park High School’s local school council and on the advisory board for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. Kessler says, “The city does not provide CPD with the necessary number of officers, resources, partnerships, and training that is needed to effectively (and safely) police the city.”
Rep. Margaret Croke, Alds. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) and Brendan Reilly (42nd), former Alds. Michelle Smith and Vi Daley, and 43rd Ward committeeman Lucy Moog have endorsed.
 Activist or organizer |
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? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? No: funding should be increased.
- 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?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Helping the police do a better job
- Other: A successful Police District Council member will need to effectively provide civilian oversight of the police department.
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I believe that all Chicagoans have the right to live in communities that prioritize the safety and well-being of their residents. I also believe that the current law-enforcement landscape in the city does not provide CPD with the necessary number of officers, resources, partnerships, and training that is needed to effectively (and safely) police the city.
Resolving the issues facing the 18th will take intimate knowledge of the way Chicago operates and a willingness to collaborate with city-wide organizations like the CTA, CPS, and the many local organizations and community associations that make the 18th such a special place to live.
My professional and personal experiences have been connected to the 18th for as long as I can remember. I was raised here, I co-lead my company here, and I could not imagine raising my two adorable children anywhere else. Growing up and working in a city with so many moving parts has given me the humility and insight needed to both plan and execute successful community safety initiatives in our District.
For those interested in supporting my vision for the 18th Police District, I more extensively describe my answer to this question on my website in my letter to voters.
