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Race for 30rd Ward Alderman; New Jessica W. Gutierrez Experienced Ariel Reboyras By: CG

No Human is Illegal by Kirstie Shanley​. (August 14, 2018) Flickr.com

Elections in the city of Chicago are happening and they’re happening fast. February 2019, the election for the 30rd Alderman is coming up, only this time we got ourselves a race between Jessica W. Gutierrez and Ariel Reboyras.

April of this year, Jessica W. Gutierrez had announced that she will be running for Chicago’s City Council, challenging Ariel Reboyras for the 30rd ward. There is no doubt that the people of the 30rd Ward will go out to vote, but the question now is; who will we vote for?

Will we go for someone new, or will be go for 15 year Alderman Ariel Reboyras?

“Our team is very keen on getting all young people to vote, and our campaigning has been on issues that young adults would benefit from” said Catherine Ruiz, 22 year old who has volunteered for Jessica W. Gutierrez. Before announcing her decision to enter the race, Gutierrez was completing her PhD. at Hebrew University but upon hearing disturbing news about what was happening in her country and city; immigration injustices as well as economic injustices she decided to put her further education on pause and do something about the injustices in the city of Chicago. The city of Chicago has always been home for Gutierrez, she attended St. Benedict’s Private High School before going to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to obtain her BA in Sociology. She then continued her studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem where she taught English in Palestine public schools.

Gutierrez now resides in the North West Side of Chicago, specifically in the Belmont Cragin Neighborhood. Although Gutierrez’s campaign motto is “A progressive voice for our community” some of the older residents are a bit skeptical about this new change.

Eva Kowalczyk, resident of the same house since 1982 is not so trusting of Gutierrez’s campaign. “I’m for young people feeling empowered, but this is a family ward and should be treated as one. If her progression means kicking old people out like myself then I’m fine with keeping it the way it is.” This just shows how much work Gutierrez has ahead of her, and the difficulties it is to break the norm and the work it is to run against a 15 year Aderman. One thing all age groups can agree about her campaign is her effort to make the community safer by ensuring more foot patrols. This seems to be something the people want especially residents like Eva. When asked about Gutierrez’s view on police control in the area, Eva’s response was this; “I love that and working towards things like those are things I’m willing to vote for.”

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A race against Alderman Ariel Reboyras is tough, especially if it’s with someone with years of experience who has served in the city Council for so long. Yet for the first time in years, the 30rd ward is witnessing a close race where every vote will count; and there is no doubt that Jessica W. Gutierrez is here to stick for that race.

Gutierrez as alderman will work to ensure full funding of the neighborhoods public school and demand an elected, representative school board for Chicago Public Schools. She will make the effort to make the community safer by ensuring more foot patrols, and fight for better training for our Chicago police. Gutierrez will also fight for property tax reduction and fairness. Will her goals and promises be enough to win the race? Only time will tell.

Remember to register to vote for the February 2019 Alderman elections!

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