28th Ward awaits new alderman


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No word on when Mayor Richard Daley plans to appoint a replacement for longtime Ald. Ed Smith, who retired Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Six people submitted applications earlier this month to complete Smith’s term, which ends in mid-May. Five of the six, along with a few others, are also vying to win the Feb. 22 election (or the April 5 run-off), which will determine who serves a full four-term year.

After weeks of e-mails and phone calls to the city, AustinTalks this week obtained copies of the six applications. Because the city included the applications for two other vacant seats (the 4th and 38th Wards also are open), in most cases you’ll need to scroll through to find the 28th Ward materials in each link below:

Kathy A. Adams (see pages 1-15). She is the only one of the six candidates not seeking election to a full four-year term. Her application includes letters of support from a group of residents who belong to the 4700 Block Association; Pastor Lonneil Watson of Living Word Christian Center; and Lois White of The Joseph Center.

Carmelita P. Earls (see pages 41-63). Her application includes recommendation letters from Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert Hoff; Chicago Fire Fighters Union President Thomas Ryan Jr.; and Rev. Tommy Woolridge Sr. of Helping Hands Missionary Baptist Church.

Jason Claude Ervin (see pages 33-58). His application includes letters of support from former Ald. Smith; Congressman Danny K. Davis; state lawmakers Annazette Collins, William Davis and Karen Yarbrough; and Malcolm Crawford, head of the Austin African-American Business Networking Association Inc.

Carol G. Johnson (see pages 20-40). Her application includes recommendation letters from Rev. Edwin J. Perry of Fillmore Christian House of Prayer; Shawn L. Jackson, the principal of Spencer Technology Academy; and Mary Nelson and Sherry Cobbins of Bethel New Life.

William Todd Siegmund (see pages 64-72). His application includes letters of support from local residents Tony Greenwood, Scott Reading and Graham Gangi.

Michael A. Stinson (see pages 1-19). His application includes recommendation letters from the Westside Health Authority’s Jacqueline Reed; Exodus Drum and Bugle Corp.’s Jerome Altman; and Bernard Clay of Introspect Youth Services Inc.

To see some of our earlier coverage, click here.

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