The Fighting 15th Ward

A dozen candidates managed to get on the ballot in the 15th Ward in a lollapalooza of a fight to replace the retiring, two-term alderman Ted Thomas. Here's a look at the field, in alphabetical order.

1.

Name: Richard Anderson.
Born in: Arkansas.
Lived in 15th Ward: 26 years.
Education: No post-secondary.
Current Occupation: CTA custodial worker, 21 years.
Political Experience: Precinct captain, local school council.
Campaign Issues: Job security, safety and security in ward, low-income housing.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "I don't do a lot of talking. I know what to do once I'm put in charge; once I'm given the opportunity by the community. If they come and work with me we can do a number of things. I'm not even worried."
In Free Time Likes To: Coach baseball.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: White Sox.
Biggest Donors: Self.

2.

Name: William Burch.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 13 years.
Education: BS, Robert Morris College.
Current Occupation: President, Chicago Family Foundation (self-started nonprofit)
Political Experience: Local school council
Campaign Issues: Economic development, education, ex-offenders' rights, senior citizens.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: Grassroots campaign, communication with residents.
In Free Time Likes To: Write poetry.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: White Sox.
Biggest Donors: "We're running a real grassroots organization. If I could go back and train anybody on how to do this it would be fundraising. . . . Unless you have a machine behind you or special interest group, it's hard to get dollars."

3.

Name: Denise Dixon.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 38 years.
Education: leadership and organization classes at colleges across country.
Current Occupation: Full-time candidate.
Political Experience: None.
Campaign Issues: "It's not an issue-run campaign . . . I'm not telling you what I'm going to do; what I would like to do. I'm telling you what I have done - what I know I can do."
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: Served the community as a national field organizer for Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of Illinois ACORN.
In Free Time LIkes To: Do family-friendly activities.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: None.
Biggest Donors: Friends and family.

4.

Name: Vesta Louis Dixon.
Born in: Alabama.
Lived in 15th Ward: 33 years.
Education: Studied electricity, Washburn Trade School; basic computer training, Kennedy-King College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Current Occupation: Pastor, Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church, 2050 W. 59th St.
Political Experience: Ran for this office in 2003.
Campaign Issues: Economic development, senior care, jobs and job training.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "I believe that if you don't have a network with the other alderman you won't get anything done ... you have to know how to build relationships. I think that's a strength of mine. When you pastor a church for 28 years that means you build some type of relationship."
In Free Times Likes To: Bowl.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Bulls.
Biggest Donors: Self and small donations.

5.

Name: Toni L. Foulkes.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 35 years.
Education: Merchandising, American InterContinental University.
Current Occupation: Jewel employee, 18 years.
Political Experience: lobbyist.
Campaign Issues: Affordable housing, public safety, quality schooling, jobs, economic development.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "I have a proven record. ... I'm a living walking testimony that we're not what they say we are."
In Free Time Likes To: Decorate cakes, travel around Chicago.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: White Sox.
Biggest Donors: UFCW Local 881.

6.

Name: Tommie Grayer, Sr.
Born in: Georgia.
Lived in 15th Ward: 36 years.
Education: No post-secondary.
Current Occupation: Retired.
Political Experience: "When [former alderman Virgil Jones] was on his way to jail after that 'Silver Shovel' scandal, he supported me to run for alderman in his place [in 1999]. But the people wouldn't have no part of that because he was endorsing me and because ACORN was pushing Ted Thomas . . . so I ran but I lost."
Campaign Issues: Recreation in ward, affordable housing.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: Knowledge of politics in ward.
In Free Time Likes To: Bowl, roller skate.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Bulls.
Biggest Donors: Self.

7.

Name: Janice Jeffries.
Born in: Chicago
Lived in 15th Ward: 12 years.
Education: BA, University of Alabama; Master's, IIT.
Current Occupation: Full-time candidate.
Political Experience: Local school council.
Campaign Issues: Education, senior care and housing.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "I understand that the true concept of community is not about the few - it's about the masses. . . . A lot of people laugh that there's 12 people running. That's not a bad thing. That's a good thing. That's called democracy."
In Free Time Likes To: Spend time with family.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Bears.
Biggest Donors: Family and friends.

8.

Name: Virgil E. Jones.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 35 years.
Education: BA, Northeastern Illinois University.
Current Occupation: Retired.
Political Experience: 15th Ward alderman from 1991-1999, convicted in '99 for taking bribes in the "Silver Shovel" scandal.
Campaign Issues: Establishing parallel City Council committees in ward with a representative from each precinct.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: Name recognition, history within community.
In Free Time Likes To: Write poetry.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Bears.
Biggest Donors: "I do a grassroots campaign with the people from my community. . . . My mother is 83 years old and you know what she said? 'It's not how much money you've got, it's what you do with it.'"

UPDATE 2/23, 3:11 P.M.: The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that Jones and fellow ex-con Ambrosio Medrano, trying to win back his 25th Ward seat, be removed from their races.

9.

Name: Sandra L. Mallory.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 8 years.
Education: Associate, Malcolm X College.
Current Occupation: Rental property owner.
Political Experience: Ran for this office in 2003, local school council.
Campaign Issues: Housing rehabilitation, unemployment, issues with alleged impropriety among Harper High School staff.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "I have appeal to the people. I have shown them that I am one of them. . . . I cry with these people. That's what makes me different because I'm one of them."
In Free Time Likes To: Visit friends, attend church.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Cubs.
Biggest Donors: Self.

10.

Name: Shawn D. Monroe.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 16 years.
Education: Associate, Richard J. Daley College.
Current Occupation: Chicago police officer, 8th District.
Political Experience: None.
Campaign Issues: Community awareness, city services.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: Service in community, established relationships and communication.
In Free Time Likes To: Listen to reggae music.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: "I'm a die-hard Cubs fan. They don't have to win a game. And I'm also a die-hard Bulls fan, too. It's about a tie with those."
Biggest Donors: Self.

11.

Name: Felicia Simmons-Stovall.
Born in: Chicago.
Lived in 15th Ward: 20 years.
Education: BBA, Iowa State University; MBA, JD, DePaul University.
Current Occupation: Enforcement Attorney, Illinois Department of Securities.
Political Experience: None.
Campaign Issues: Performance of schools, run-down infrastructure, lack of city services, community development, ex-felons' rights.
Claims To Be Different From The Other Candidates Because: "There's so many doors to knock on but we're out there banging on the doors just letting the community know there is a choice in the ward."
In Free Time Likes To: Read Harry Potter books, go to movies with friends, do activities with kids/family.
Favorite Chicago Sports Team: Bulls.
Biggest Donors: 27th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, Friends of Walter Burnett, Jr.

*Attempts to locate any contact information for Brian E. Dunn were unsuccessful.

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