Candidate for Chicago City Clerk

Note

  • This candidate has been removed from the ballot by the Chicago Board of Elections, but has filed for judicial review. Their name will still appear on the ballot until the court’s decision.

About the Candidate

Name: Elizabeth “Betty” Arias Ibarra
DOB: Oct. 24, 1972
Family: I am a single mother of three children.
Occupation: VP at a major financial institution
Political Experience: I am new to the political arena, I'm a public servant. The Clerk should not be a pawn for the Mayor and should be held accountable be more transparent and serve the public not special interest groups or the Mayor.

I also bring 28 years of managerial and financial experience which will help me better audit the office, cut costs manage personnel better and increase revenues in ways that won't hurt low income individuals.
Website: bettyforcityclerk.com

Candidate Statement

Hi, my name is Elizabeth “Betty” Arias Ibarra. I am running for City Clerk of Chicago. I’m a single mother of 3 children. I’m embarking on my 28th year in Corporate America, working in a financial institution. In addition to developing a successful corporate career, I own a successful taxation and consulting business in Pilsen.

Over the past 20 years, I have spent thousands of hours and dollars volunteering, donating, supporting and advocating for Chicago’s under privileged communities.

I have close to 3 decades of managerial, auditing and financial experience in various capacities in Corporate America, and consider myself an expert in financial management in general. I can use that experience to audit, reshape and make the office operate independently and more efficient and cost-effective.

My goal as City Clerk is to make Chicago accountable, accessible and affordable through courage, resilience, opportunity and vision for all, thus making Chicago work better for the residents of Chicago.

The Clerk’s office should be more transparent, better automated and have a community forum, a portal to make it easier to pay online, arrange payment plans and focus more on getting everyone to register by lowering prices and making it easier to work with the city and increase much needed revenue instead of imposing violation, fees and fines that preclude people from paying, and there is a definite cost to that process as well.

I will start by changing the city sticker pricing structure all together and give discounts to the low income individuals, seniors, law enforcement and allow quarterly payment plans. Penalties, fines and violations will no longer be done with a heavy hand that cripples the public such as credit reporting and targeting the low income individuals.

I’m here asking for your support and your vote on Tuesday, February 26.

Together we can make Chicago work for us!

Candidate Q&A

What is your vision for this office?

My vision for this office is to make it affordable, accountable and accessible.

The Clerk's office would become 100% automated, people would be able to set up payment arrangements online, for city stickers. I would like for there to have a Portal that will have an online Q&A directly with the clerk, a forum, reports and data about the office. The clerk would have to appear in public quarterly, produce separate budgets, address the public and be held accountable and transparent.

What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?

The city pricing is one of the most pressing issues, I would change the sticker pricing structure all together, and give discounts to the low income individuals