The crowded field of candidates vying to become alderman of the once-clouted 29th Ward continues to shrink, as Rev. Marshall Hatch has decided to drop out, according to Early and Often.
Hatch, the pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, has been a vocal critic of Mayor Richard M. Daley and former alderman Isaac “Ike” Carothers, who resigned from the City Council last year after he was indicted for taking bribes from a developer.
Daley appointed Deborah Graham, then a state representative, to the seat in March. She and several others are seeking election to the seat.
“There are a lot of fine candidates,” Hatch told the Chicago News Cooperative Wednesday, though he would not say which candidates he was referring to.
Hatch said he’ll make an endorsement in the April 5 run-off election – assuming no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote next month – and will work his connections with community groups and other churches to help get the vote out for that candidate.
“I’ll be looking for … someone who will be a thoughtful person who can really make a contribution to functioning on the City Council as a deliberative body,” he said.
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