Feb. 20--As Chicagoans select their next mayor and City Council, the stakes are stratospheric: If this city doesn't gain better control of its finances, all of its other good intentions -- better schools, improved services, safer neighborhoods -- don't stand a chance. Having interviewed the five mayoral candidates and more than 150 candidates running for alderman in the 43 wards with contested races, the Tribune Editorial Board has settled on these contenders as the likeliest to advance their communities and steer all of Chicago through the perils it confronts.
We don't agree with each candidate -- including Rahm Emanuel, plainly the best candidate for mayor -- on every issue. We do think these are the best choices. This we guarantee: Elect the aldermanic candidates listed here and you'll see more fighting spirit on a council that too often follows rather than leads. Yes, it's perfectly legal to take this list to your voting booth. You can download a PDF of endorsements here.
Here are the Chicago Tribune endorsements in the Tuesday city election. Endorsements are made only in contested races.
Mayor: Rahm Emanuel
City Council
1st Ward: Proco "Joe" Moreno
2nd Ward: Alyx S. Pattison
3rd Ward: Pat Dowell
4th Ward: William D. "Will" Burns
5th Ward: Leslie A. Hairston
6th Ward: Roderick T. Sawyer
7th Ward: LaShonda "Shonnie" Curry
8th Ward: Faheem Shabazz
9th Ward: Anthony A. Beale
10th Ward: Juan B. Huizar
11th Ward: Patrick Daley Thompson
15th Ward: Raymond A. Lopez
16th Ward: Stephanie Coleman
17th Ward: James E. Dukes
18th Ward: Chuks Onyezia
19th Ward: Matthew J. O'Shea
20th Ward: Willie B. Cochran
21st Ward: Marvin McNeil
22nd Ward: Ricardo Munoz
23rd Ward: Michael R. Zalewski
24th Ward: Darren Tillis
25th Ward: Daniel "Danny" Solis
26th Ward: Roberto Maldonado
27th Ward: Walter Burnett Jr.
29th Ward: Lawrence Andolino
31st Ward: Milagros "Milly" Santiago
32nd Ward: Scott Waguespack
33rd Ward: Annisa Wanat
34th Ward: Carrie M. Austin
35th Ward: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
36th Ward: Christopher M. Vittorio
37th Ward: Tara Stamps
38th Ward: Heather Sattler
39th Ward: Robert Murphy
40th Ward: Patrick J. O'Connor
41st Ward: Mary O'Connor
43rd Ward: Michele Smith
44th Ward: Tom Tunney
45th Ward: John S. Arena
46th Ward: Amy Crawford
47th Ward: Ameya Pawar
49th Ward: Joe Moore
50th Ward: Shajan M. Kuriakose
Going to vote? Here's what you need to know
Not sure what ward you live in? Want to find your polling place? The Chicago Board of Elections will help you here: chicagotribune.com/findyourward
Watch the five candidates for mayor -- Rahm Emanuel, Bob Fioretti, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Willie Wilson and William "Dock" Walls -- debate before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board here: chicagotribune.com/tribdebate
The Editorial Board asked the candidates for mayor and alderman about schools, crime, jobs, taxes, tax increment finance districts and the future of Chicago. Read their answers to our survey here: chicagotribune.com/elections
