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Sam Tucker

Fourth Ward aldermanic candidate, Helen West (furthest left) sits next to fellow candidates during the forum at Grace Episcopal Church, located at 637 S. Dearborn St. on Thursday night, Feb. 9. West is a retired educator and is running for alderperson for the first time.

Candidates running to represent the 4th Ward on the Chicago City Council met for a public Aldermanic Candidates Forum at Grace Episcopal Church Feb. 9 ahead of the Feb. 28 election. Columbia’s campus and much of the South Loop are in the 4th Ward. 

The forum was heated, with candidates rebutting each other’s criticisms and audience members shouting out critiques. 

Candidates discussed communication, crime, events at Grant Park, the ONE Central development project, aldermanic privileges and a new high school being considered in the ward. 

The ward’s current alderman, Sophia King, is vying for mayor, leaving six candidates — Prentice Butler, Khari Humphries, State Rep. Lamont Robinson, Ebony Lucas, Tracey Y. Bey and Helen West — running to fill her seat.

A few audience members critiqued Robinson multiple times throughout the event, claiming that he exaggerates his involvement with Mercy Hospital protests, only being on the front lines three months after protests started.

“What is your plan for learning and including the interests of the South Loop in your leadership of the 4th Ward?”

Bey — Will be in the community and hold town hall meetings.

Butler — Meet with South Loop advisory council.

Lucas — Attend neighborhood meetings and community events. Have town hall meetings.

Humphries — Monthly alderperson meetings, meet with South Loop advisory council.

Robinson — Go door to door, engaging with community members.

West — Include South Loop residents in decision making.

“What should be the role of the 4th Ward in supporting public safety in the South Loop, the 4th Ward and the entire city of Chicago?”

Bey — Youth engagement.

Butler — Increase lighting downtown and provide community with crime data.

Lucas — Have enough youth services and education.

Humphries — Robust community policing effort.

Robinson — Have enough police deployed in necessary areas.

West — Surveillance cameras, parent accountability, reduce loitering.

“How should the 4th Ward protect the interests of the South Loop and the use of Grant Park for events such as Nascar, Taste of Chicago, Sueños, Lollapalooza, et cetera?”

Bey — Anti-events. Use other, underutilized parks for events.

Butler — Anti-events. Should introduce a “noise decimal level” for concerts.

Lucas — Anti-events. Use other, underutilized parks for events.

Humphries — Anti-events. Community members should have a say in the events taking place at Grant Park.

Robinson — Anti-events. Use other, underutilized parks for events.

West — Anti-events. Use other, underutilized parks for events.

“What is your position on ONE Central?”

ONE Central is a project aimed at turning 32 acres of rail yards on the South Side into a multi-modal transit hub, housing, retail space, office space and event space.

Bey — Will represent the people on their thoughts on ONE Central.

Butler — Concerned about ONE Central.

Lucas — Anti-ONE Central.

Humphries — Will represent the people on their thoughts on ONE Central.

Robinson — Anti-ONE Central.

West — In support of ONE Central. Wants it to be expanded citywide.

“Should aldermanic privilege continue in its current form? If not, what should be changed?”

Bey — Pro-aldermanic privilege.

Butler — Pro-aldermanic privilege.

Lucas — Action needs to be driven by community wants.

Humphries — Pro-aldermanic privilege.

Robinson — Did not answer the question.

West — Pro-aldermanic privilege.

“The Chicago Board of Education is considering building a new high school for the near south, what do you consider the key issues that need to be addressed in that deliberation?”

Bey — Chicago Board of Education needs to prioritize under-attended schools like Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Wendell Phillips Academy High School.

Butler — Chicago Board of Education needs to prioritize under-attended schools like Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Wendell Phillips Academy High School.

Lucas — Wants it to be a neighborhood school and not selective enrollment. Chicago Board of Education needs to prioritize under-attended schools like Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Wendell Phillips Academy High School.

Humphries — Chicago Board of Education needs to prioritize under-attended schools like Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Wendell Phillips Academy High School.

Robinson — Chicago Board of Education needs to prioritize under-attended schools like Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Wendell Phillips Academy High School.

West — Wants it to be a neighborhood school and not selective enrollment. 

This story has been clarified to more fully explain the candidates positions on the potential South Loop high school.