The Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP, whose mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination held a forum to question all 14 candidates who want to become the new mayor of the City of Chicago. It was held at Malcolm X College auditorium on Saturday. Eight of the 14 candidates showed up which were Dr. Willie Wilson, LaShawn Ford, Lori Lightfoot, Paul Vallas, Toni Preckwinkle, Amari Enyia, John Kozlar, and Bob Fioretti.

Westside NAACP president Karl Brinson opened the forum and introduced the Political Action Chair and 2nd Vice-President Remel Terry who spearheaded the logistics of the forum. The Westside Branch NAACP has been conducting these political forums for over 20 years stated President Brinson. Vice president Terry has been spearheading them for over 11 years.

The candidates were given the chance to introduce themselves and state why they should be elected mayor before questions began. Then candidates were asked questions from a panel of four community partner representatives, which were Rebecca Raines, chair of the Westside NAACP’s Environmental and Criminal Justice committees, Dr. Phalese Binion, President of Westside Ministers Coalition, Casandra Norman of the South Austin Neighborhood Association, and Isaac Lewis Jr., Publisher of the North Lawndale Community News (the North Lawndale Community News).

The audience was given index cards to write their questions down for the candidates to respond after it was read by the moderator and Westside Branch 1st Vice President Phyllis Logan. Each candidate was given a chance to answer the same questions. One minute responses were allowed by each candidate because of the number of candidates in this election.

LaShawn Ford was selected to introduce himself first then the question answered by the candidate to his left which was Lori Lightfoot, then to her left. Ford stated how he was born in Cabrini, to a mother of 15, not ever knowing his father and was blessed to be adopted and raised by his grandmother to attend private schools graduating from Loyola University becoming a teacher and owning a business and becoming the State Rep of the 8th District. He is now looking to become the mayor of Chicago backed by the Westside Black Elected officials.

The first question was asked by Dr. Binion. She stated “Chicago is one of the most corrupt cities in the US, full cronyism. What structural reforms will you implement to change this bad behavior?” Paul Vallas was the first candidate designated to answer this question. “He stated, “there’s no substitution for term limits. That means term limits for the mayor, that means term limits for the aldermen, No. 1….

To listen or see video of the forum and hear how the candidates responded to questions, go to www.nlcn.org select video for the Westside NAACP Mayoral Forum. Some parts of the forum are also facetimed on the Westside NAACP’s facebook page.

(CHICAGO) – July 5, 2018 –Mayoral candidate Dorothy Brown will host her third “Listening Tour” event on the West side of Chicago on July 10th at  United For Better Living, 4540 W. Washington Blvd.  As with her past two events the afternoon will begin at 4:00 pm with a walk through the neighborhood to introduce herself to the community and invite them to attend the session.   The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and cover the Westside communities of North Lawndale, Austin, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park.

Recent news reports have outlined struggles facing some West Side residents including an inordinate number of deaths from opioid overdoses as reported by WBEZ.  According to the report  since 2015, 10 people have fatally overdosed at the JR Plaza Hotel, according to city data.  Also, on the agenda, as it has been in some previous meetings, is the issue of violence in the community, employment, housing  and economic development.  Candidate Brown has spoken out against the current implementation of the city’s Affordable Residence Ordinance (ARO) and expects to hear more about that at the meeting.

As during past events, the candidate will share her personal story of growing up in a rural and impoverished  environment in the state of Louisiana to eventually leading one of the largest county governmental court records system in the country.   The resounding theme of Brown’s campaign is to be the mayor for all of Chicago.

The ‘Listening Tours’ will continue through the summer with the next event scheduled for July 17th,  at Saint Luke Church of God in Christ, 914 N. Orleans Street, to hear from residents on the Near Northside, the Loop, North Center, Lake View, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, and Avondale.  Brown will also walk around these communities, starting at 4 p.m., and invite people to attend the session.

For those who cannot attend in person, you can visit www.dorothyformayor.com to share your thoughts.  A full “Listening Tour” schedule is included on the website.

For more information on Dorothy Brown’s campaign, visit her website at www.dorothyformayor.com. You can also follow the campaign on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, @dorothyformayor.  Join the conversation using #Hope4AllChicago, #ListeningTour. You may also contribute to the campaign using Text2Give – ChicagoHope to 444999.