VIDEO: Ted Williams for 9th ward Alderman

[VIDEO] If you subscribed the daily e-mail newsletter from Aldertrack you saw this video by candidate for Alderman Ted Williams. He discusses his background - especially as a professor in the City Colleges of Chicago - in addition to his future goals if elected Alderman of the 9th ward.

BTW, Aldertrack kind of opined on the video as apparently it was shot horizontally vertically. They even shared this hilarious video regarding "vertical video syndrome". You'll laugh, but if you - the reader - ever ran for Alderman in the future I do hope that you would produce a more professionally done video. Professor Williams seemed to barely have a enough space for himself in the frame.

ALSO, Gaper's Block years ago did a post about videos related to races for Alderman. I'm looking for it and when it's found will be posted here as an illustration.

Is anything that Williams said that would sway your vote for him in the 9th ward?

EDIT: I forgot to note that next Friday Williams will host a meet & greet also posted in this morning's Aldertrack daily e-mail

• Ted Williams, III (9) will hold a meet and greet Friday, January 30 at 6:30p at his campaign office, 11625 S. Michigan Ave. 

Russ Stewart on the race for 9th Ward Alderman

Russ Stewart analyzes the races for Alderman in the south side wards and says the Mayor is going to send resources to his favored candidates. So this is what he says for the races in the 9th ward.

9th Ward (Far South Side): After losing a 2013 bid for Jesse Jackson’s congressional seat, incumbent Anthony Beale’s stature nosedived. He faces seven opponents, the most credible being Michael LaFargue. It will be Rahm to the rescue in a Beale-LaFargue runoff.

I will refer you to The Sixth Ward blog for a list of candidates for the 9th Ward.

ALSO, I have read Stewart over the years for his perspective on local politics. Only real political junkies would know of him since he doesn't write for a major paper. He's primarily a columnist for a community paper on the northwest side of Chicago.

VIDEO: Aldertrack interview of candidate for 9th ward Alderman

[VIDEO] Today Aldertrack's Mike Fourcher conducts an interview with candidate Michael LaFargue. LaFargue is running for Alderman who hopes to replace the current Alderman Anthony Beale.

LaFargue notes that he's very active in the community having memberships in different organizations throughout the community. He's especially a member and President of the West Chesterfield Community Association. He also noted that he's involved with a Developing Communities Project committee for the CTA Red Line extension.

In addition to discussing his background he also discusses his plans as Alderman of the 9th Ward in addition to his plans for the rest of the city. The duration of this video is about 10 minutes.

BTW, I do hope to discuss a lot more of the red line extension as I have discussed this a lot in the past over at The Sixth Ward. I think the communities south of 95th could benefit when ever this rail line is finally built.

ALSO, you should check out Aldertrack and sign up for their e-mail list to get regular updates on news in the 2015 city elections. In addition to purchasing the racing form to keep track of who's running where in Chicago.

Would anything Mr. LaFargue has stated in this video persuade you to cast a ballot for him next month?

Rate the video: Harold "Noonie" Ward for Alderman 9th Ward

[VIDEO] I'm sure we'll be posting a number of videos between now and election day next month from the many Aldermanic candidates in wards 6, 9, and 21. Last month we posted 9th Ward Ald. Beale's appearance on CAN-TV's Political Forum where he answers various questions affecting the 9th ward and the city.

Today we post about one of his challengers Harold "Noonie" Ward. This is essentially a campaign ad showing various shots around the 9th Ward. We see Altgeld Gardens, DuBois School, and even drive into Pullman with this video. This video is mainly taking shots at Ald. Beale.

Also, Mr. Ward notes that the 9th Ward is the only city ward without a major grocery store. So I suppose he doesn't count the Walmart in Pullman?

BTW, this video was noted by Chicagoist on Wednesday:

 This one is worth a look: it has high-production values, a moody tone and a damning indictment of an incumbent alderman that makes this a must-watch. That the rest of the city has a window into this race, via this video, makes it all that more interesting.

All the same what do you think of this video? Would you vote for Mr. Ward? Do you agree with some of the points of this video?

This video is via Aldertrack who in addition to a "racing form" which you can purchase from them you can also subscribe to daily email giving you various updates for election day 2015.

Crossposted from The Sixth Ward.

9th Ward Alderman on CAN-TV "Political Forum"

[VIDEO] You know I wish I was more in tune to what's going on the CAN-TV call-in program Political Forum. Now that we're in the midst of municipal election season we're probably going to find plenty of incumbents willing to come onto this show to tout their positions on important issues and their accomplishments.

Last Wednesday December 3rd it was Ald. Anthony Beale's turn to talk about "jobs, raising the minimum wage, cab regulations, red light cameras, and more".

I haven't yet had the chance to watch the video above but everyone who reads this blog is more than free to discuss their thoughts on this appearance. The map of the 9th ward which you have seen here from time to time is shown below.

DNA Info: Morehouse College Graduate Seeks To Become Chicago's Youngest Alderman

Corey Hardiman by DNA Info Wendell Hutson

I wrote about this young man this past March when he brought a group of students from his alma mater - as a graduating senior at that point - to the south side of Chicago for a spring break service project. Now he wants to unseat 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale and DNA Info profiles the recent college graduate:

"I know people may think I am too young and inexperienced and that I won't be able to raise enough money to put fourth a good fight but that's what they said (in 2008) about President Barack Obama," Hardiman told DNAinfo Chicago Monday. "If he was able to do it then so can I."

The aspiring politician, who is a member of Salem Baptist Church, said he is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. Monday to residents at the Altgeld Gardens public housing complex on the far South Side, which is part of the 9th Ward.

"I am going to speak to residents to let them know their opinion matters to me and I want to hear their concerns regardless if they are a registered voter or not," Hardiman said. "Ever since I graduated from high school I have always wanted to enter politics to make a difference in my community."

In 2010 after graduating from George Corliss High School as a Gates Millennium Scholar, where Beale is also an alumnus, Hardiman predicted at Mayor Richard M. Daley's annual interfaith breakfast at U.S. Cellular Field that he would run for mayor after finishing college.

"Well, maybe I was aiming too high at the time," Hardiman said. "But I certainly think it is a realistic goal."

Among the biggest issues facing the ward, Hardiman said, is public safety, education and economic development. While he praised Beale, 46, for "finally" getting a Walmart store in the ward, he said much more needs to be done on an economic level.

"If we could get President Obama's library to the far South Side that would create unlimited opportunities economically," Hardiman said. "Gone are the 'ma and pa' businesses in the 9th Ward and we need to bring back those small, family-owned businesses."

Here's an FB page if you wish to follow his campaign for 9th Ward Alderman.