Ninth Ward Chicago: 2011 Election

This blog (ninthward.blog) didn't exist in 2011, but that doesn't mean we can't look at the results for not only Ward 9 Alderman - back when state law did not require members of the city council to be called "alderpersons" - we can also look at the open seat for Mayor back in 2011.

Alderman Anthony A. Beale was running for re-election at that point in Ward 9 so there was no race for an open seat. However, longtime Mayor Richard M. Daley decided to retire when his term ends after having been mayor since 1989. On City Hall's 5th floor it was time for a change.

NOTE: All vote tallies were recorded directly from the Chicago Board of Elections.

Via Illinois Answers Project

Mayor Daley made his announcement in 2010 that he wasn't running for re-election. One of the first to throw his hat into the ring was Rahm Emanuel. At that point Emanuel had most recently served as the Chief of Staff to the 44th President Barack Obama. He had resigned from his Obama administration role before running for Mayor of Chicago and there were already attempts to knock him off the ballot based on his residency.

Before he was President Obama's chief of staff he had been a Congressman for the north side's 5th Congressional District. If you serve in Congress, it's probably most advantageous for you to actually have a part-time residence in the DC area. The residency challenge was resolved before the mayoral election.

Here were Rahm Emanuel's other opponents that made it to the ballot for Mayor of Chicago.

Gery Chico - former President of the Chicago School Board & Chicago Park District
Miguel del Valle - since 2006 Chicago City Clerk
Carol Moseley Braun - former US Senator though most recently had served as an Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. And she tried to run for the Democratic nomination for President in 2004
Patricia van Pelt Watkins - A non-profit administrator and activist. And subject to a vicious attack at a mayoral debate from Sen. Braun. Later served as a state Senator.
William "Dock" Walls - a perennial candidate who was a former aide to Mayor Harold Washington

Here are the results of the 2011 mayoral election according to the Chicago Board of Elections

* Rahm Emanuel - 326,331 (55.27%)*
Miguel del Valle - 54,689 (9.26%)
Carol Moseley Braun - 53,062 (8.99%)
Gery J. Chico - 141,228 (23.92%)
Patricia van Pelt Watkins - 9,704 (1.64%)
William "Dock" Walls, III - 5,343 (0.90%)
write-in 34 (0.01%)

FUN FACT: This was the last mayoral election that didn't go to a run-off. 2015, 2019, and 2023 all went to a run-off between the top two candidates for the mayor's office.

Rahm Emanuel had won this race outright in the February 22, 2011 election. Emanuel succeeds Mayor Daley in May 2011.

Ward 9 Map until 2015

Meanwhile what's going on in Ward 9 back in 2011. Who was the incumbent Ald. Anthony Beale (in office since 1999) running against back then?

Harold "Noonie" Ward - former gang member and activist would also run for this seat in 2015
Eddie M. Reed - a Lieutenant in the Chicago Fire Dept. Introduces himself in this [VIDEO]
Sandra J. Walters - unfortunately I couldn't find much info on her background. If you know drop a comment and I will update accordingly.

How did this race go in 2011?

Harold "Noonie" Ward - 2,015 (18.24%)
* Anthony A. Beale - 6,392 (57.85%)*
Eddie M. Reed - 808 (7.31%)
Sandra J. Walters - 1,795 (16.24%)

Ald. Beale wins another term on the Chicago City Council. Harold Ward was second and the "mysterious" Sandra Walters was third.

In 2011, members of the Chicago City Council were running in wards that were drawn and enacted in 2003. In 2012, the ward map would change significantly and was enacted in controversial fashion.

PUBLISHED: May 20, 2025

EDITED: May 21, 2025