First Citizen Council Elected in 24th Police District

In a tightly contested race for 24th Chicago Police Council, three candidates pulled ahead and will serve as the inaugural members of the council. 

Veronica Arreola received 20.67% of the votes with 10,412, EdVetté W. Jones received 15.95% with 8,035 and Marilyn Pagán-Banks received 16.59% with 8,356, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.

The three candidates were all members of the Unite the 24th slate, a joint campaign by the three longtime community organizers, The Phoenix previously reported. The trio was endorsed by reelected Alderman Maria Hadden. 

Jones and Pagán-Banks attended Hadden’s election night party Feb. 28 where they thanked their supporters from the stage of The Rhapsody Theater. 

Jones told The Phoenix they couldn’t be happier with the result. 

“This is a victory for the people,” Jones said. “This was never about the police, it was about the people.” 

Pagán-Banks also said he believes the community thinks the council is necessary.

“I’ve been doing this work before this existed and will continue to do it because I live here and it matters to me that we all live in peace,” Pagán-Banks toldThe Phoenix. 

The three candidates beat out four other candidates for the council seats. Three of the other candidates — David Earl Williams III, Cynthia McFadden and Daniel Wolk  — were endorsed by 49th Ward Aldermanic candidates Bill Morton and Belia Rodriguez. The fourth candidate, Mitchell Rose, was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge #7. 

In an email to the Phoenix, Wolk said the result was not what he wished for but he wished success to the elected candidates. He also said he was grateful to his supporters and that he would continue to work in this area. 

“I plan on finding a way I can make a constructive contribution to promoting public safety and improve intergroup relations within my ward and police district,” Wolk said. 

The Phoenix also spoke to Williams who said he’s proud of the work he did. He also said he hopes the elected candidates are able put aside any bias and work with the community. 

“It’s gonna be very important that they actually work for the people, because the only way this office is going to work is that they’re going to have to take the people’s input seriously,” Williams said. 

McFadden and Rose did not respond to request for comment from the Phoenix.

This story was written by Aidan Cahill and Maddie Franz

Featured image by Holden Green | The Phoenix