What’s New

Dan Butterworth

A bank vice president, Butterworth enrolled in the Citizen Police Academy in suburban North Chicago. He has expressed support for police officers—and also for the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that seeks to exonerate wrongfully convicted people. He says, “Citizens must keep a watchful eye to ensure the fine line between safety and liberty is walked.”

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

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Dan Butterworth Read More »

Elizabeth Rochford

A longtime nurse practitioner, Rochford works with ONE Northside on the organization’s Police Accountability Task Force and helped write the ECPS ordinance. Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) and Andre Vasquez (40th Ward), the ONE People’s Campaign, 39th Ward Neighbors United, 30th United, United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, and United Working Families of the 50th Ward have endorsed.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Elizabeth Rochford Read More »

Anthony Michael Tamez

The chairman of the Center for Native American Youth’s Advisory Board and a member of the Chi Nations Youth Council, Tamez says, “Enforcing the consent decree is critical to our community’s safety,” and believes “police accountability can become a reality through co-governance.” Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) and Andre Vasquez (40th Ward), United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, 30th Ward United, 50th Ward United Working Families, and 39th Ward Neighbors United have endorsed.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Anthony Michael Tamez Read More »

Nick Carusi

A resident of Irving Park, Carusi filed ballot petitions with the assistance of the Fraternal Order of Police’s election attorney, Perry Abbasi, who told the Reader the FOP referred Carusi to him. Carusi did not respond to requests for comment.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Nick Carusi Read More »

James V. Murphy, III

Murphy was an assistant state’s attorney before he quit last year and publicly slammed Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Murphy filed ballot petitions with the assistance of the FOP’s election attorney, Perry Abbasi.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

James V. Murphy, III Read More »

Steve Spagnolo

Steve Spagnolo, the chief of government relations and external affairs at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, has worked for numerous political campaigns as well as for 43rd Ward alderperson Michele Smith. As a child, he lost his father to gun violence. “We need leadership that will hold police accountable, push back against failed ‘tough on crime’ policies, and work to implement impactful crime-reduction strategies,” he says. Alderperson Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) has endorsed.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Steve Spagnolo Read More »

Steve San Roman

A resident of Sauganash, San Roman declined to comment due to a ballot petition challenge that the Board of Elections had not ruled on as of press time.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Steve San Roman Read More »

Brian Sullivan

A Chicago firefighter, Sullivan recently tweeted, “As the 16th and 17th districts gang conflicts spiral out of control. Our simple request to increase the staffing levels of our dangerously understaffed districts have fallen on deaf ears. We need more police In [Districts] 16/17 ASAP.”

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Brian Sullivan Read More »

Deondre’ RutuesReader staffon January 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm

A community organizer and engagement specialist for NYU’s Policing Project, Rutues helped launch its Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative and leads its outreach efforts in the 11th, 15th, and 25th Districts. He says his role “is to build and repair the relationship between the Chicago police and the communities they serve” via monthly meetings between CPD and residents and by locating resources to assist public safety efforts.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Deondre’ RutuesReader staffon January 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm Read More »

Carmelita EarlsReader staffon January 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm

A retired Chicago Fire Department chief, Earls had a 32-year career and commanded the Fire Academy; in that role she worked with CPD, which she says “enhanced our on-scene rapport.” Her duties were to “formulate, implement, and enforce policies of public safety.” In 2021, she requested a demotion because she had to place two firefighters on no-pay status for vaccine noncompliance. Earls has been a block club captain, precinct captain, aldermanic candidate, ward committeeperson, and president of the Women’s Council of Community Intercession.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer?
Do you have experience interacting with CPD?
Do you have experience working or interacting with government?
Should the city hire more police officers?
Is CPD adequately funded?
CPD reform:
Mental health crises:

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Why are you running for Police District Council?

Read More

Carmelita EarlsReader staffon January 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm Read More »