Race for 22nd Ward Alderman

Once a leader in City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus, incumbent Ald. Ricardo Munoz announced last year that he would step down after 25 years in office, leaving the field wide open for a new leader of the 22nd Ward to emerge. Since then, Munoz was charged with domestic violence for allegedly attacking his wife, and reportedly checked himself into rehab. The 22nd Ward includes all or parts of Little Village, Lawndale, Brighton Park, Archer Heights, LeClaire Courts and Sleepy Hollow.

Four candidates are running for the seat: Michael Rodriguez, executive officer of the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office who previously worked with Enlace; Lisette Lopez, outreach coordinator at Oak Street Health and co-founder of Imago Dei at St. Agnes parish; Richard Juarez, director of long-term services and support at Lawndale Christian Health Center; and Neftalie Gonzalez, former Chicago Police officer and founder of nonprofit OpportUnity-OportUnidad.