- Credibility:
DOWNTOWN — Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has secured a fifth term on City Council after running unopposed in Tuesday’s election.
Reilly, first elected in 2007, has never face an opponent in his four reelection bids.
The ward represents Downtown and River North.
Reilly did have a challenger initially, but Chris Cleary dropped out of the race earlier this month after failing to get donor support. He said he dropped his bid after meeting with Reilly for two hours to discuss the ward’s future.
The lack of opposition speaks to the work Reilly and his staff have done to earn the support of residents, he told Block Club in January.
Reilly is hoping a shakeup in the mayor’s race will help him turn back “bad decisions” made by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, he previously said. He and Downtown residents have pushed back on decisions like the upcoming Chicago casino and the three-year contract for NASCAR races through Downtown streets.
Reilly endorsed former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas for mayor and is hoping Vallas will be able to shut down the NASCAR deal if they so choose.
“A lot of this mayor’s initiatives will likely be undone by the next mayor, and NASCAR is one of those that could be on the plate,” Reilly previously said.
Also in his next term, Reilly will continue to roll out two pilot programs that would use cameras on city vehicles and other infrastructure to catch drivers parked illegally in bike lanes, bus lanes and loading zones and mail them a ticket.
The pilot program comes after Reilly successfully introduced an ordinance last year to hike fines for people caught drifting or drag racing and sponsored another boosting penalties for drivers parking or loading in a bike lane.
In terms of city-wide legislation, Reilly’s also banking on pushing through an ordinance he proposed to establish the Office of Legislative Council, which would clarify City Council’s investigatory powers and include a process for committees to subpoena individuals or evidence.
The alderman has argued that the ordinance would allow City Council to make “decisions eyes wide open” without having to rely on the Mayor’s Office.
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to “The Ballot: A Block Club Chicago Podcast”:
