LITTLE VILLAGE — Six candidates are seeking the Ogden (10th) police district council seats. The district includes parts of Little Village, North Lawndale, Heart of Chicago and Marshall Square.
Meet them below.
Credit: Kirk Williamson for the Chicago ReaderElianne Bahena
A Little Village resident, Bahena has worked in nonprofits advocating for domestic violence survivors and for immigrant rights. She serves as the director of policy and community outreach for the 22nd Ward Public Service Office.
Bahena also serves the boards of Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Enlace Chicago, and HACE Chicago.
Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd) and the 22nd Ward IPO have endorsed.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
 Supports more police accountability |  Political endorsement |
Rosemarie Dominguez
A lifelong Little Village resident and longtime community organizer, Dominguez has a master’s in Latin American and Latino studies from UIC. In her ECPS bio she says, “residents and CAARPR were the ones that prompted me to run, and they are the ones that are going to shape me and my campaign.”
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
 Activist or organizer | Supports more police accountability |
Simeon Henderson
A Chicago Public Schools educator for the past 27 years, Henderson was also a Chicago police officer from 1998 to 2004, during which time he garnered six complaints, one of which was sustained. He says that his experience as an officer can help “bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and the police officers,” adding, “it starts block-by-block and district-by-district.”
 Ties to police or FOP | 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? 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
- Other: “Helping to put the right people in the right places in different communities.”
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I strongly believe with my experience as an officer as well as my continued work with the community I can help change the narrative and bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and the Police officers [by] holding meetings and getting to know each other better to make things better and put incentives in place.
Larry Lawrence
A lifelong west-sider, Lawrence is the senior pastor of Praise Temple of Restoration in Austin. He works with youth at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, and says he’s running “to help [bridge] the divide between our police and the communities in which they serve.” SEIU has endorsed.
Supports more police accountability |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? No
- 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 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
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I am running for Police District Council because I am a firm believer that out police should do what they were hired to do in protecting and serving the community. Our police should obey the laws they say they enforce. We need the police to help not hurt or kill in our communities.
Leo Guzman
A lifelong Little Village resident, Guzman started the Little Lawndale Neighborhood Studio, a community gathering space that has invited police officers to host and participate in events in order to interact with community members.
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Kiisha Smith
A youth and community advocate from Lawndale, Smith says she knows “exactly what it’s like to be harassed by the police as well as to call them and NOT receive the help, assistance, or protection I needed.”
The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.
Supports more police accountability |
