When a community organizer asked the crowd last week who has been personally helped by state Rep. La Shawn Ford, more than half the crowd raised their hands.
“I don’t know if you guys are tired, fed up and ready to take the city back, but if you are, this is our chance,” Ford said at the Oct. 2nd meeting on the South Side.
Supporters met at Slice Of Bronzeville, 4655 S. King Drive, to listen to Ford speak about his campaign to be Chicago’s next mayor. Ford is not officially in the race but is gathering petitions to register to be a candidate.
The Austin legislator said his 12 years experience working in public policy is what separates him from the other mayoral candidates, who number more than a dozen, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ford said he has relationships with the various bodies of government, from the Chicago City Council to Congress.
If elected mayor, Ford said he would treat Austin fairly by addressing the community’s needs that have long been neglected. Supporting Austin through jobs and communities services will benefit the city as a whole, he added.
“You have people that say they love Chicago, but they let the South and West sides deteriorate,” Ford said. “So how could love Chicago when you allow that type of stuff to happen?”
He said he’s focused on representing the South and West side populations through better mental health services, strong economic growth and greater opportunities for those with felonies.
“You know what this campaign is? It’s an indictment on the city,” Ford said. “How do you close 50 schools and expect our kids to do well? How do you close mental health facilities and expect people to feel healthy and to be able to go to work?”
Opening a trade school is one way Ford said the Chicago economy could flourish, giving more people access to employment, he said.
And he hopes to open a comprehensive high school for educational and economic growth in Austin.
He’s also focused on the rights of those with felonies. Ford mentioned his long support in this area, citing a bill he sponsored in 2013 that amended the state’s criminal record sealing law.
“We have to be a city that puts our citizens at the forefront and protects them,” he said. “Those are the people that are imprisoned and can no longer be employed because they have felonies.”
Tamera Fair, a volunteer for Ford’s campaign, spoke about his passion for helping people as a state lawmaker.
When the childcare industry was struggling in recent years, she turned to her elected officials. She said many of them shut their doors, but Ford welcomed her.
“La Shawn not only [opened] his doors but gave us his personal phone number and really championed the calls and got results,” said Fair.
Then Ford sponsored a number of bills supporting the childcare industry, such as one that provides educational training for families and grants for childcare services.
“That’s what you need in a mayor: someone who’s going to know your values and get results,” she said. “That’s the embodiment of La Shawn K. Ford.”
Another meeting will be held tonight in Bronzeville.