Candidate for Chicago City Council

About the Candidate

Name: Hilario Dominguez
DOB: April 2, 1993
Family: I am the son of two immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico. My family showed me that community is a way of life, not an act of service. As a son of the barrio in Pilsen, community has been how my family, and neighborhood, have survived.
Occupation: I am a public school teacher, most recently I taught middle school in West Humboldt Park.
Political Experience: Over the past several years, I have held a variety of positions that make me uniquely qualified to serve as alderman. As a public school teacher, I know how important it is to fully fund our schools and build community in our neighborhoods. As a community organizer with an affordable housing nonprofit, I have organized neighbors to fight for policies that protect families and keep people in their homes. I have also worked with local governments, advocating for more transparency and supporting legislation from the drafting process all the way through implementation.
Website: hilariofor25.com

Candidate Statement

My name is Hilario Dominguez and I’m running to be your alderman in the 25th Ward.

I am the son of two immigrants from Michoacán Mexico and I grew up in Pilsen, on 19th and May.

As a special education teacher with Chicago Public Schools, I’ve worked with students in West Humboldt Park and have seen first hand the challenges that working families face.

As an organizer with an affordable housing group in Pilsen, I’ve worked to keep longtime residents in their homes and fought against developers who have sought to displace our community.

Most recently, I founded a youth-led organization, Young Urban Progressives, that has registered thousands of high schoolers to vote, and marched hundreds of first-time voters to the polls.

I’m excited to take what I’ve learned through service and advocacy to represent the needs of neighborhoods like Pilsen, Chinatown, the West Loop, Little Italy, and McKinley Park.

With your help we can build a better 25th Ward, with community-driven zoning, fully-funded public schools, and a participatory budgeting system where voters decide how we spend our money.

I’m proud to be endorsed by progressive leaders like Congressman Chuy Garcia, Representative Theresa Mah, and the more than 3,500 voters of the 25th Ward that helped get me on the ballot. I hope I’ll earn your support as well on February 26th. Thank you.

Candidate Q&A

What is your vision for this office?

I seek to use my position as alderman to lift up those who have previously lacked a voice in government. For too long, Chicagoans have been neglected in the decision-making process while developers and donors have called the shots. Residents of the 25th Ward deserve an accountable and transparent alderman, one who will work with them to make our community even better. I am committed to making that a reality.

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

Since announcing my candidacy for alderman on July 19th, I’ve knocked on thousands of doors in my community. The top issue that I continue to hear about from my neighbors is the constant development happening in Pilsen, Chinatown, and the West Loop without real input from the community. By creating a transparent system for all zoning decisions and implementing a participatory budget structure that allows community members to decide how our budget is spent, we can create a 25th Ward that is truly accountable to the people.