- Credibility:
ASHBURN — Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) has secured a third term representing South and Southwest Side neighborhoods.
With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Curtis held 61.5 percent of the vote to challenger Heather Wills’ 38.5 percent, sealing Curtis’ third term.
The 18th Ward includes parts of the Ashburn, Scottsdale, Parkview, Marycrest, Wrightwood and Beverly View neighborhoods.
Curtis will continue working to revitalize Ford City Mall and the Department of Planning and Development to revitalize the Ford City Condo Association apartment complex, he previously said.
Curtis also plans to bring businesses like Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and other businesses to the 18th Ward, he said.
Known for being one of the quieter City Council members, Curtis generated headlines in recent months because of gun-related incidents.
Curtis’ daughter was shot and wounded in a concealed carry class her father was teaching in January, WGN reported. The shooting came months after Curtis accidentally shot himself in his wrist while cleaning a neighbor’s gun, the Tribune reported.
Curtis, a West Side native, also made headlines after he told the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman he was considering withdrawing his support from longtime ally Mayor Lori Lightfoot because the mayor did not reach out to him after he was wounded in the accidental shooting. Lightfoot lost her reelection bid Tuesday.
Curtis and Wills didn’t face each other in a candidate’s forum, as Curtis said he did not plan to participate in one.
Wills, a community organizer and ordained minister, pledged to develop residential and commercial infrastructure, advance community resources for all ages and implement community-backed public safety strategies, according to her campaign website.
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