Video: In this week’s edition of Spotlight Politics: Chicago’s mayoral campaign is off to the races up as Mayor Lori Lightfoot makes it official. Our politics team of Amanda Vinicky, Paris Schutz and Heather Cherone takes on those stories and more. (Produced by Alex Silets)
Nineteen people applied to replace former Ald. Michael Scott on the Chicago City Council and represent the city’s 24th Ward, including Scott’s sister Monique Scott, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office announced Wednesday.
Lightfoot appointed a three-person committee to recommend a replacement for Scott, who resigned June 3 to take a position with Cinespace, a television and movie studio in the 24th Ward. The members of the committee are Brenda Palms Barber, CEO of the North Lawndale Employment Network; Sheila McNary, CEO Advanced Care Services; and Marcus Betts, assistant vice chancellor for External Engagement at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Monique Scott has worked for the Chicago Park District since 2014 as a park supervisor. The resume she submitted as part of the application process says she worked as a volunteer for her brother’s campaign. Scott was first elected to the City Council in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
Michael Scott, Sr., the siblings’ father, served as president of the Chicago Board of Education during the tenure of former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
The former alderperson did not respond to a request for comment from WTTW News about who he would endorse to succeed him. Whoever the mayor picks and is confirmed by the City Council will have a leg up if they run for a full term in the next municipal election, set for February 2023.
Creative Scott, who is not related to the former alderperson’s family, and finished second in the 2019 election, also applied for the appointment. He won 18.8% of the vote.
Creative Scott owns a business that offers firearm training as well as a salon and is licensed barber, according to his resume.
Lightfoot has until Aug. 6 to fill the 24th Ward seat.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
