Cappleman Leads Near-Tie With Lalonde In 46th Ward Election

CHICAGO — Ald. James Cappleman came out ahead in the 46th Ward aldermanic race Tuesday night by an extraordinarily tight margin. The alderman ended up with 50.09% of the votes, and candidate Marianne Lalonde had 49.91% — a difference of only 23 votes. With mail-in votes still trickling in, it's too early to call the race.

Four other candidates were trying to unseat Cappleman in the Feb. 26 municipal election, but Lalonde came in second with 18.1 percent. Cappleman won 44.1 percent of the vote in February , sending them both into the runoff.

The 46th Ward includes parts of Lake View, Sheridan Park, Buena Park and Uptown.

A former social worker, Cappleman was elected 46th Ward alderman in 2011, and some of his top priorities over the past eight years have included LGBTQ advocacy, boosting local business, the renovation of CTA's Wilson Station and the Uptown Theatre rehabilitation. Cappleman is a member of the city's Budget, Ethics, Health, Housing, Licensing & Consumer Protection, Pedestrian & Traffic, and Zoning Committees.

Lalonde, who has a Ph.D in chemistry from Northwestern University, is a scientific research consultant in Chicago. After completing her Ph.D, she served as a legislative fellow covering energy and environment in the office of Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown. Lalonde serves as president of Lakeside Area Neighbors Association, and is a member of Clarendon Park Advisory Council, the Associate’s Board of Sarah’s Circle, the Uplift High School Sustainable Community Schools Leadership Team and the North Lake Shore Drive Study Task Force. Some of Lalonde's top issues include gender and racial equality, the environment and vulnerable populations.

Aldermanic runoff election results:

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Endorsements:

Chicago Sun-Times: Marianne Lalonde

Chicago Tribune: James Cappleman

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Lalonde chose to volunteer at Uplift High School after finding out about its low enrollment. As a part of the committee to save the school, she testified in front of the Board of Education to preserve AP coursework, and helped to select a new administration.

"Together, we were able to secure a sustainable community schools grant in the amount of $250,000 to help build the school as a community asset, in addition to a resource for students, parents and teachers," Lalonde said.

After dozens of homeless people were evicted from under the Wilson Avenue viaduct in 2017, many community members accused Cappleman of boosting gentrification and putting vulnerable people's lives at risk.

Given the gentrification accusations against Cappleman, it was not surprising that Lalonde addressed the issue in a campaign video.

"I knew right away that the 46th Ward was special. Its history of civic engagement is the reason why its been able to keep its identity as a beautiful, diverse community, despite the pressures of gentrification," Lalonde said.

Lalonde emphasized that a resident's socioeconomic status should not impact how much their voice gets heard.

Cappleman said his office worked with the city's Department of Family and Support Services to help the homeless people living in Uptown's "tent city" by offering them shelter, food, mental health services, addiction treatment and medical care.

"We now have a process so that people living in encampments can now be permanently housed, and that started in the 46th Ward, where 96 individuals were housed," Cappleman said. "We had two shelters specifically focused on women, that had expanded their programs so that women can get the help they need — especially those experiencing domestic violence."

The alderman said a city service fair was held to help homeless people prior to the 2017 Wilson viaduct eviction.

"One day I had run into a couple that I had not seen in over a year," Cappleman said. "This was a couple that lived under the viaduct. The woman had relied on a wheelchair to get around, and I was shocked to see them on their way to visit their grandchildren. Their lives had completely turned around once they received housing."

Cappleman has also been criticized for not requiring new housing developments to include affordable housing. The alderman came under fire for the removal of many single-room occupancy units of affordable housing in the 46th Ward; however he has repeatedly defended the removal, saying cubicle hotels —such as the Wilson Men's Hotel in Uptown — are unfit for human living.

"The 46th Ward has the highest number of subsidized housing units in the entire City of Chicago," Cappleman said.

Cappleman said all evictions have been accompanied with plans for the tenants to move into better affordable housing.

In 2017, Cappleman was the lead sponsor of a resolution that called for the city, Cook County and the state to create interventions to reduce prison recidivism, especially among people with mental illness who are frequently arrested.