African Political Action Committee Endorses 4 Chicago Aldermen

By Charles Mombo

APAC members pictured with endorsed Aldermen.

African Political Action Committee (APAC) endorses 4 highly qualified candidates for Chicago's Aldermanic run-off elections scheduled for April 5. The four candidates – Freddrenna Lyle, Toni Foulkes, JoAnn Thompson and Willie B. Cochran are from the 6^th, 15^th, 16^th and 20^th Wards respectively. The endorsement ceremony occurred at the Africa International House, Inc. located at 6200 South Drexel, Chicago, Illinois.

APAC is a 501(c)(4) organizations which allows them to lobby for legislation; and participate in political campaigns and elections. Campaigning is not the organization's primary purpose. APAC is composed of influential, well-to-do business owners, and professional Africans in the Chicago area. There are approximately 300,000 Africans in Cook County.

Speaking on behalf of the APAC, its chairman, Dr. Ewa I. Ewa who is also the Chief Financial Officer of Illinois Human Rights Commission said, “APAC was impressed with the candidates credentials and their desire to contribute to the improvements in the delivery of services to the community as a whole.”

APAC's Endorsed Candidates:

Freddrenna M. Lyle of the 6^th Ward is the current alderman. She was appointed in 1998. During the February 2011 election, she won 43.6% of the votes and Roderick T. Sawyer won 24.5% of the votes. Only 42.6 % of the ward's voters turnout for the February election.

Toni Foulkes of the 15th Ward is the current alderman. She was elected in 2007. During the February 2011 election, she won 42.9% of the votes and Raymond A. Lopez won 14.5% of the votes. Only 29.1 % of the ward's voters turnout for the February election.

JoAnn Thompson of the 16th Ward is the current alderman. She was elected in 2007. During the February 2011 election, she won 41.8% of the votes and Hal E. Baskin won 21.7% of the votes. Only 28.9 % of the ward's voters turnout for the February election.

Willie B. Cochran of the 20^th Ward is the current alderman. He was elected in 2007. During the February 2011 election, he won 44.2% of the votes and Hip-Hop Rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith won 19.1% of the votes. Only 33.1 % of the ward's voters turnout for the February election.

Along with 14 other other run-off elections schedule for April 5^th, these candidates did not win more than half of the overall votes required during the February 2011 election. The newly elected officials will be sworn in May 16.

Chicago has 50 wards and Aldermen. These city legislators, are elected to four-year terms in each of the wards. Ward offices are main points of contact for residents concerned about neighborhood issues such as sidewalk repair, parking, and garbage pick-up. Aldermen sit on City Council committees that consider proposed ordinances. The committees have the ability to delay or ignore the proposals, preventing them from coming before the full City Council, where aldermen vote them up or down.