- Credibility:
NORTH PARK — Ald. Samantha Nugent was reelected to her 39th Ward seat Tuesday.
With all 35 precincts reporting, the incumbent had 62 percent of the vote to challenger Denali Dasgupta’s 35 percent, sealing Nugent’s second term.
The ward covers parts of North Park, Mayfair, Albany Park and Irving Park, Edgebrook, Old Edgebrook, Gladstone Park, Indian Woods and Forest Glen.
Credit: Ariel Parrella-Aureli/Block Club ChicagoChallenger Dasgupta moved to Mayfair in 2011 and is a data researcher, analyst and entrepreneur who billed herself as a progressive alternative to Nugent.
In the runup to Tuesday’s vote, Dasgupta criticized Nugent for not showing up for a November hearing on the Bring Chicago Home ordinance to tackle rising homelessness in the city and for voting against the creation of a civilian commission charged with drafting and proposing Police Department policy.
A spokesperson for Nugent’s campaign did not directly address Dasgupta’s criticism of her aldermanic record when asked.
Nugent was first elected to represent the 39th Ward in 2019. Before joining City Council, she worked as a City Hall fellow during former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration and for former Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s 2006 campaign.
During Nugent’s first term, she introduced participatory budgeting to the 39th Ward. It has led to projects like the nature space for children at Gompers Park.
Nugent also successfully pushed for a City Council ordinance to create a permanent legal easement to preserve the North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Road.
Nugent was also the lead sponsor of an ordinance to ban restaurants from giving out single-use utensils, stirrers, toothpicks, napkins, cup sleeves and disposable plates in most cases unless customers specifically request them.
In response to violent crime, Nugent has advocated for more police in her ward as well as more cameras and license plate readers.
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