About the Candidate
Name: Cleopatra Watson
DOB: March 27, 1987
Family: Engaged to be married
Occupation: Social worker
Political Experience: United Working Families Fellow – April 2018
Community Representative, Local School Council, Corliss high school – July 2018
Website: electcleopatra.com
Candidate Statement
Greetings,
My name is Cleopatra Watson and I am running for Alderman of Chicago’s 9th ward.
Home to one the best, melt in your mouth, Old Fashioned Donuts, found in the heart of Roseland.
Many people ask me what made you want to run for Alderman?
I say, why not.
As a Social Worker, from Jane Addams College of Social Work, and I am completely vested in the well-being of people.
I am born and raised in Chicago.
In fact, my family was one of the 6 million African-Americans that relocated during the Great Migration from Arkansas to Chicago.
My grandmother set roots in the 9th ward for many decades. Our family home was nestled in the West Pullman community.
In 2015, President Barack Obama declared Pullman a historic National Monument.
As a Pullman homeowner, I am proud to settle my family and I in its rich architectural and cultural history.
The 9th Ward is dynamic and has tremendous potential to be vibrant.
Over the past 20 years, the 9th ward has undergone economic challenges, which has taken a direct impact on our longstanding small businesses who either collapsed or fighting to withstand disinvestment in the Roseland business community.
That is why as Alderman, I want to attract more working families to live in the 9th ward to elevate our wealth and vitality.
There is no reason why our ward should not be as economically vivacious as any other neighborhood, which means walkable shops, entertainment, health and mental services, and most importantly state-of-the-art community schools.
The most pressing issue my neighbors and I face, is that, we live in food insecure neighborhoods.
We’re surrounded by large plots of unused and misused land, but no access to fresh produce or premier grocers.
I am interested in bringing high quality foods sources for growing families in our ward.
And I believe we’re on the cusp of greatness once again.
We need a leader who recognizes the ward in its entirety, not just a few of its select neighborhoods and schools.
I am running for Alderman to enhance our quality of life in the 9th ward.
I thank you for your support in a new leader to represent us all!
Candidate Q&A
What is your vision for this office?
Answer: The 9th Ward is dynamic and has tremendous potential to be a vibrant.
Over the past 20 years, the 9th ward has undergone economic challenges, which has taken a direct impact on our longstanding small businesses who either collapsed or fighting to withstand disinvestment in the Roseland business community.
That is why, as Alderman, I want to attract more working families to live in the 9th ward. I want to elevate the wealth and vitality of this ward for all citizens. There is no reason why the 9th Ward should not be as economically vivacious as any other neighborhood, which means walkable shops, entertainment, health and metal services, banks, beautiful sculptures, paintings, and most importantly state-of-the-art community schools.
What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?
Answer: The most pressing issue my neighbors and I face, is that we live in food insecure neighborhoods with no access to fresh produce or premier grocers. We have large plots of unused and misused land, but no premier fresh produce grocers. I am interested in bringing high-quality foods sources for growing families in the 9th ward.
