(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
For the first time in Chicago’s 187-year history, Chicago voters went to the polls Tuesday to elect members of the Chicago Board of Education, delivering mixed verdict on the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union, according to the Associated Press.
Three candidates backed by CTU won their elections to represent the North, West and Southwest sides of the city on the new board, according to unofficial returns.
In two races to represent districts on the Near Northwest Side and the South and Southwest sides of the city, the candidate backed by advocates for charter schools won out, according to unofficial returns.
In two races to represent districts on the North Side and in the Loop and Near South Side, independent candidates who were not endorsed by either CTU or charter school advocates won, according to unofficial returns.
Three races have yet to be called by the AP. In one of those contests, the candidate backed by CTU led, while independent candidates led in the other two races.
The new board that takes office in January will end nearly 30 years of complete mayoral control that began in 1995 under former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Before that, community members would nominate school board members, with the mayor having the final say.
But Johnson will still have a great deal of control of the school board, at least until 2027.
The legislation approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, despite the objections of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, divides Chicago into 20 school board districts, with voters in each district electing a representative and the president of the board.
That means the current seven-member board, whose members are all appointed to by the mayor, will transform into a 21-member board elected by Chicago’s voters.
But in this first school board election, the city was divided into just 10 districts. The winners of those races will take office in January, alongside 10 members — and the board president — appointed by Johnson.
But Johnson faces a complicated task, since his picks must live on the opposite side of each school board district from their elected counterpart.
Those board members will all serve for at least two years, when Chicagoans will be asked to elect 20 school board members, one from each district, to serve either a two-year or four-year term. The race for school board president will be decided by a citywide race, with a four-year term starting Jan. 15, 2027, up for grabs.
The nearly two dozen candidates on the ballot have raised nearly $4.5 million, with the bulk of that money coming from two sources: the Chicago Teachers Union and groups that want to see the expansion of charter schools in Chicago. Advocates for charters have outspent the union by approximately $1 million, records show.
In District 1, Jennifer Custer faced off against Michelle N. Pierre. Custer had the CTU endorsement, while Pierre was backed by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. With 98% of precincts tallied, Custer held a lead of 2 percentage points, and the AP has not declared a winner.
In District 2, four candidates were on the ballot: Ebony L. DeBerry, Margaret “Maggie” Cullerton Hooper, Kate Doyle and 50th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Bruce Leon. DeBerry was endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates have not endorsed any of her rivals. With more than 99% of precincts tallied, the AP declared DeBerry the winner.
In District 3, Jason C. Dónes faced off against Carlos A. Rivas Jr. Dónes had the backing of CTU, while Rivas was backed by charter school advocates. With 98% of precincts tallied, the AP declared Rivas the winner.
In District 4, six candidates were on the ballot: Kimberly Brown, Andrew A. Davis, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa, Ellen Rosenfeld and Karen Zaccor. Zaccor was endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates did not endorse any of her rivals. With 100% of precincts tallied, the AP declared Rosenfeld the winner.
In District 5, Aaron “Jitu” Brown is the only candidate on the ballot. He is backed by CTU. The AP declared Brown the winner of the race shortly after polls closed.
In District 6, three candidates were on the ballot: Jessica Biggs, Andre Smith and Anusha Thotakura. Thotakura had the endorsement of the CTU, while Smith was backed by charter advocates. With 94% of precincts tallied, the AP declared Biggs the winner.
In District 7, three candidates were on the ballot: Raquel Don, Eva A. Villalobos and Yesenia Lopez. Lopez was backed by CTU, and Villalobos was supported by charter school advocates. With 99% of precincts tallied, the AP declared Lopez the winner.
In District 8, Angel Gutierrez faced off against Felix Ponce. Ponce was endorsed by CTU, while charter advocates have endorsed Gutierrez. With 95% of the precincts tallied, the AP declared Gutierrez the winner.
In District 9, four candidates were on the ballot: Therese Boyle, Lanetta M. Thomas, La'Mont Raymond Williams and Miquel Lewis. Thomas was the CTU-endorsed candidate, while charter advocates backed Lewis. With 95% of the vote precincts in, Boyle led Thomas by 9 percentage points, and the AP has not declared a winner.
In District 10, four candidates were on the ballot: the Rev. Robert Jones, Karin Norington-Reaves, Adam Parrott-Sheffer and Che “Rhymefest” Smith. Jones was backed by CTU, while charter advocates backed Norington-Reaves. With 95% of precincts tallied, Smith led Norington-Reaves by 3 percentage points, and the AP has not declared a winner.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | [email protected] | (773) 569-1863
