To inform voters, the Chicago Tribune politics team posed a series of questions to the candidates running for mayor of Chicago. See their answers below. See how other candidates answered here.
Name: Willie Wilson
Age: 74
Born: Gilbert, Louisiana
Personal: Married to Janette Wilson
Education: Dropped out of grade school
Neighborhood: Downtown
Current job: Founder and CEO of Omar Medical Supplies
Government experience: None
Political experience: Wilson finished a distant third in the 2015 mayor’s race and fourth in 2019.
Do you support sending more local funding to the CTA or other public transit agencies as relief funding runs out by 2025?
YES / NO
What plans would you implement to improve the Chicago Transit Authority’s bus and train service as well as other avenues of transportation, including automobiles and bikes?
The public transportation system must be safe and reliable. We need leadership that will ensure that buses and trains are safe. I will bring back the CTA Police detail. I will add conductors to every train. I will enhance communications on our trains and buses. Too often the homeless use CTA as a home. We need to deal with the homeless crisis. I will work with communities to expand access to bike lanes.
Do you support a ban on closing any Chicago public schools even as school populations continue to decline?
YES / NO
CPS will be transitioning to a fully elected school board in 2027. How do you see the financial entanglements between the city and CPS going forward?
The mayor is still responsible for schools even after an elected school board is in place. Enrollment continues to decline and CPS will have to make some tough decisions regarding school closures and budget cuts. The mayor must engage with school boards members and use the leverage of city hall to forge compromise in the best interests of the citizens.
Do you support reopening all of the closed city mental health centers to help with a citywide crisis response program?
YES / NO
If you answered yes, how would you pay for reopening the health centers? If you answered no, why do you think reopening the health centers is unnecessary?
I will make our city safer. If the city is safer, we can grow our economy with new business development and jobs. We will cut taxes in effort to get people to stay and shop in the city. The bag and water bottle taxes drives people to shop in suburban Cook County and Indiana. Also, to save in costs I would collaborate with Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide mental health services to our citizens.
Do you think Chicagoans feel safer today than they felt four years ago?
YES / NO
Why do you think Chicagoans feel either less or more safe and what is the single-biggest policy change you would make as mayor dealing with crime?
Carjacking, robberies, gun violence and other crimes terrorize the city. I lost a 20 year old son to violence–he was murdered. This is personal for me. I will attack the root causes of violence–proverty, unemployment, hopelessness, trauma and more. I will take the handcuffs off the police and put them on the people committing crimes. I will add more police and require real community policing. I will diversify police cars. I will split the city into four police districts and hire four police superintendents. This will ensure accountability and bring them closer to the community. We need more collaboration with federal, state and county partners to bring crime under control.
Do you think the level of compliance for the Chicago Police Department consent decree is progressing at an appropriate pace?
YES / NO
What will you do specifically to ensure that the consent decree for the Chicago Police Department is fully implemented in a timely manner? Do you support any amendments to the consent decree?
I will work with the independent monitor, federal government, our police department and citizens to implement the consent decree.
Do you support amending city tax subsidies for corporations?
YES / NO
What plans do you propose for helping Chicago’s economy recover?
Lower taxes, and make our city safer! I will require people graduating from CPS to have a Trade. We will invest in neighborhoods that have the highest levels of violence and poverty.
Do you support reforming or abolishing some city fines or fees?
YES / NO
If yes, name three fees or fines issued by the city of Chicago you would alter or abolish, including red light or speed cameras? If no, why do you feel that the current status of taxes and fees issued by the city of Chicago is fair?
Fees and fines are a hidden tax on citizens. I will get rid of red light cameras, speed cameras, and compounding fines on traffic tickets and late fees.
Do you think the city has kept its promises to residents as it has redeveloped public housing over the past 22 years?
YES / NO
How will you address housing issues and people without homes in Chicago and what is your vision for the Chicago Housing Authority?
Affordable housing is a necessity in Chicago. We must lower property taxes. I will redevelop empty schools to house those who are homeless. I will take vacant lots and turn them into affordable housing for our citizens. My vision for CHA is to have leadership that will take the agency to the next level. We must utilize the housing vouchers we have. Also, be creative and add health clinics in some of the buildings.
Do you support reinstating a city Department of Environment?
YES / NO
If not, why not? If so, how will you make sure it functions better than the previous DOE that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel disbanded?
I will work with key environmental stakeholders and the community to ensure their input is taken into consideration. I will hire a great leadership team to run the department.
Do you support banning mayors and aldermen from receiving campaign contributions from city contractors or their executives?
YES / NO
How would you improve the city’s ethics laws, including whether you would tighten restrictions on individuals tied to city contractors not being allowed to contribute to the campaigns of mayors or aldermen?
I will close the loopholes in our ethics laws by Executive Order.
Do you think enough has been done about aldermanic privilege in which aldermen have final say over projects in their wards?
YES / NO
If not, what specific changes would you make to ensure aldermen and alderwomen don’t abuse their zoning authority as many have in the past?
There needs to be more communication with Alderpersons and the citizens. Also, I would streamline the zoning process.
Do you think city government is appropriately transparent?
YES / NO
How would you improve transparency in city government, including responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and responding to decisions made by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
I would be more responsive to the citizens and press regarding FOIA requests.
Do you support additional city building code enforcement policies, including toughening the building scofflaw list?
YES / NO
The Tribune and Better Government Association won this year’s Pulitzer Prize in local reporting by showing that more than 60 Chicagoans, many of them Black, died in fires where the city knew of fire safety issues in the building but failed to act in time. We found tenants cannot rely on the city to effectively enforce safety codes designed to protect them from fire. How will you address these issues?
As mayor, I will ensure that buildings with major safety issues will be shut down. This is a matter of leadership and being responsive to our citizens.
Do you support ending the city’s policy of providing security detail for former Chicago mayors?
YES / NO
More than a decade since he left office, former Mayor Richard M. Daley still has a police detail. Chicago is the only city that still does that for former mayors. How long should former Chicago mayors receive police security and a driver from the city?
I believe a security detail for a reasonable period of time is warranted. I will create a Task Force to examine the length of time and make recommendations to me.
