Inside a Special Election: Audio Recordings of a 4th Ward Alderman Candidate Forum

The special election for Chicago’s 4th Ward Alderman is less than a week away. In order to learn more about this exciting race, we here at BallotReady attended the Tuesday, Feb. 22 candidate forum at the Kennicott Park Field House to hear from those running in person.
At the forum, each candidate began by briefly introducing themselves. Then, the panel took turns responding to a series of questions posed by moderator Cliff Kelley, a talk show host from WVON and former alderman.
Below we have uploaded the audio files of the candidates’ opening statements and their responses to a series of questions. The audio isn’t perfect, but we hope it can help give you an idea of the topics discussed at the forum and each candidate’s positions.
The candidates, in order of their opening statements, are Sophia King, Gregory Seal Livingston, Ebony Lucas, Gerald Scott McCarthy, and Marcellus Moore.
Candidate opening statements:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/opening-statements.m4a"][/audio]
On whether subsidized housing should be increased, decreased, or maintained at current levels:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/affordable-housing.m4a"][/audio]
On the issue of Tax Increment Financing and its relationship to public school funding:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tiffs-and-schools.m4a"][/audio]
On strategies to improve schools in the Bronzeville area:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/improve-schools.m4a"][/audio]
On how to improve infrastructure in the ward and address inequalities of growth between Hyde Park and Bronzeville:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/develop-bronzeville.m4a"][/audio]
On how to improve clean-up of litter and trash on major Bronzeville arteries, such as 47th, 43rd, 39th, and 35th streets:
[audio m4a=”https://blog.ballotready.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/trash-and-litter.m4a"][/audio]
BallotReady is the only nonpartisan online voter guide that provides personalized, easy-to-use, and accessible information about your ballot. From the top of the ticket to the very bottom, BallotReady helps voters compare candidates based on stances on issues, biography, and endorsements. We make it easy to vote informed on every race and referendum. See every race and referendum on your Ballot here!
By Eileen Li, BallotReady Blog Intern

