STATE REP. LA SHAWN FORD JOINS CHICAGO MAYORS RACE

Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford recently announced that he will be running for Mayor of Chicago. Photo Credit: Ford For Chicago
Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford recently announced that he will be running for Mayor of Chicago. Photo Credit: Ford For Chicago

State Rep. La Shawn Ford Joins Chicago Mayors Race

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Illinois Representative La Shawn Ford (8th District) recently held a press conference at the Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center, 5820

W. Chicago Ave., to announce that he is running for Mayor of Chicago.

“This really started from west side elected officials encouraging me to consider running for Mayor of the City of Chicago. Then it was followed by a host of grassroots organizations and people saying that they thought that I would make a great mayor and starting to circulate petitions. From there, we have been meeting with lots of people to put together the campaign,” said Ford.

During the announcement event, Ford was surrounded by family, friends, and supporters and several attendees spoke out on Ford’s behalf.

“It was very humbling to have so many people. We had over 350 people and we couldn’t get everyone in because there was no space and no parking. It was really a feeling of one Chicago coming together to bring about change and that was a great feeling,” said Ford.

Ford has served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representative since 2007 and said that he is excited to have an opportunity to take what he has learned in Springfield to the City of Chicago.

“I have really enjoyed the work that I do and I’m very proud of the relationship that I’ve built to get a lot of progressive things done,” said Ford.

“To be able to take the experience that I have had in Springfield to Chicago only allows me to work with more people and really advance a real progressive agenda that includes everyone in Chicago.”

With so many candidates currently campaigning to become the next Mayor of Chicago, Ford said that what sets him apart from the rest is his desire for fairness and his commitment to serving the city’s residents.

“My entire philosophy and moral compass is fairness,” said Ford. “I am 100 percent a people’s candidate and that’s what I want for the City of Chicago, to have a Mayor that is for all the people and to put an end to the closed circle of influence that the City has. For too long only a certain few have been included in the circle of Chicago’s success and that will end with me.”

The major issues that Ford plans to address as Mayor of Chicago include, expanding opportunities for jobs, improving health across the city, improving nutrition and exercise, improving education, promoting small businesses, securing housing and preventing foreclosures, supporting our troops and veterans, safeguarding our environment, addressing the budget deficit, increasing public safety and decreasing violence in our communities, improving the quality of community life, and advancing citizenship, social justice, and restorative justice, as listed on the Ford for Chicago website.

To learn more, visit fordforchicago.com or e-mail OneChicago@fordforchicago.com to connect with the Ford For Chicago campaign.

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