As the April 4 Evanston City Council election approaches, activists are voicing concerns around 2nd Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris’ campaign after she received support from Mayor Daniel Biss, former Mayor Stephen Hagerty and $12,000 in donations from individuals tied to Patrick Ryan — the donor behind Northwestern University’s Ryan Field that will need City Council approval in the near future.
The Harris campaign on March 12 received a $6,000 donation from Alice Topping, who is associated with the Ryan’s insurance company Ryan Specialty, accompanied by another $6,000 donation on March 13 from New York City resident Jennifer Glass, who is married to Robert Ryan, the son of Patrick Ryan.
Harris told Pioneer Press she is returning the donations because it would create an ethical dilemma when the item goes before City Council for consideration. The donation is historically high for an Evanston election, Harris said, which “made it glaring … somebody wanted me to see it.”
“I don’t want them and I don’t need them. I don’t think it’s appropriate to even have the image that I’m sellable,” Harris said. “I can’t be bought because I answer to a higher entity so $12,000 is not worth my integrity.”
Residents, like Community Alliance for Better Government President Lesley Williams, have questioned why it took Harris several days to announce she’ll return the donations but Harris said she was busy taking care of herself at the time.
“The donations came in last week around when I was in the emergency room for diverticulitis,” Harris said. “My team held off to let me heal and when they alerted me I was like, ‘Whoa, I don’t know these people.’ We’ve already spent the money that we needed to spend (and decided to send the) money back. It didn’t feel good. It came in through a public portal that anybody can donate to.”
Equity and Empowerment Commissioner Darlene Cannon, Harris’ challenger who fell short by 21 votes last election, has voiced opposition to the Ryan Field rebuild. Lincoln Elementary Teacher Patricia Gregory is also challenging Harris.
Harris and 9th Ward Councilmember Juan Geracaris were appointed by Biss to fill seats after the resignations of 2nd and 9th Ward Councilmembers Peter Braithwaite and Cicely Flemming. Biss, an established Democrat who previously served in the Illinois state legislature, supports his appointees.
“Among the decisions I’m proudest of are my two appointments to fill City Council vacancies — Krissie Harris in the 2nd Ward and Juan Geracaris in the 9th Ward,” Biss wrote in an email blast. “Now Krissie and Juan are in elections for their seats and I need you to help them get elected to ensure we continue to make progress.”
Geracaris is being challenged by retired Cook County social worker and CABG Treasurer Kathy Hayes.
Biss said Geracaris and Harris have proven themselves to be a “voice of reason” on council during a turbulent time both nationwide and locally, saying their reelection is “needed to continue good work.”
Harris also gained the endorsement and a $1,000 donation from Hagerty who said Harris appeals to him due to her “measured” approach on council, noting she does her homework before taking a seat in the James C. Lytle Council Chamber. The two became acquainted through Harris’ volunteer work, another reason why Hagerty said he supports her for the council seat.
“She has worked closely with my wife volunteering to address food insecurity issues that sprouted right after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hagerty said. “She has been committed to education and working at Oakton College. When I was mayor, I had a lot of connections over at Oakland College, particularly focused on workforce development, but Harris was one of many people we could consistently rely on to make sure we’re best serving our younger residents.”
Harris said these endorsements come because Hagerty and Biss have seen how she operates, saying their endorsement doesn’t guarantee her “yes” vote.
“My responsibility is to get the temperature of the city’s residents and then investigate more,” Harris said. “Why are they saying that? Why are people feeling that way? What can we do better?”
Harris said she keeps a tally of what residents tell her, saying she keeps email folders to organize resident feedback to revisit when taking a vote. She says this is helpful when making decisions about topics like the cannabis lounges, where she would give a yes vote if enough resident support is voiced despite her own apprehensions about smoking due to asthma.
Hagerty said he is not endorsing a 9th Ward candidate because he isn’t familiar with the candidates.
The Democratic Party of Evanston gave its endorsement to Cannon and Hayes. The organization holds a vote each election cycle and candidates with 66% of the vote receive an endorsement.
CABG also put its support behind challengers Cannon and Hayes. Board member Nick Korzeniowski, who previously ran for the 3rd Ward seat, spearheaded the endorsement process and said it was difficult to decide.
Korzeniowski told Pioneer Press that CABG ultimately decided to give Cannon the endorsement due to her thorough equity perspective.
“Cannon would tie equity into just about everything else she was discussing — even without saying, ‘I want to provide an equity lens to everything we do,'” Korzeniowski said. “Well, that’s the point. Everybody says that.”
“Cannon actually gave us constant examples of how affordable housing is an equity issue. Here’s why tax incremental financing is an equity issue. Here’s why small business decisions at large are an equity issue. She really showed how all that ties together with an explanation.”
Korzeniowski said he appreciated how Harris came to the table to provide an explanation behind her answers as well. He said Harris’ strength was demonstrating how she can communicate well with residents. Despite Harris not reaching a perfect equity score by CABG, she worked closely with Stowe to address internal racial discrimination allegations brought forth by the city’s Black employees.
Geracaris did not participate in CABG’s endorsement process, according to Korzeniowski, so an endorsement was granted to Hayes. Korzeniowski said Hayes’ strength was her holistic approach to the Ryan Field development and how it will affect the entire city, not just the surrounding area.
Geracaris is endorsed by Clerk Stephanie Mendoza in addition to Biss, according to his campaign website. Hayes is endorsed by several groups including her predecessor Cicely Fleming, former Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and Evanston Fire Fighters Local 742 union, according to her campaign website.
Cannon is also endorsed by several groups including Civil Rights Leader Bennett Johnson, Evanston Fire Fighters Local 742, The People’s Lobby and Northside Democracy for America. Harris is supported by Cook County College Teachers Union-Local 1600, Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma, Councilmember Devon Reid and more, according to her campaign website’s supporters list. The only two Council members not listed on Harris’ supporters list are Councilmember Clare Kelly and Thomas Suffredin of the 1st and 6th Wards respectively.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.