To inform voters and to help the baiduhai Editorial Board make endorsements, the board posed a series of questions to the candidates running for alderman. See their answers below. See how other candidates answered here.
Name: Samantha Nugent
Ward: 39th
Current job: Alderman
Previous political experience: Alderman 2019-
Education: UConn B.A. & Loyola J.D.
Spouse’s occupation: My husband and his siblings own and operate Kevin Nugent Construction Inc. & Tenco Excavating Inc. These are both proud union companies, specializing in general contracting, construction and excavation.
Sources of outside income: N/A
The rise in violent crime remains a top priority for City Hall. Homicides, shootings and carjackings are all unacceptably high. Tell us how city government can be innovative in combating crime, and explain what measures you would propose if elected.
We must review and reassess how we are using our current resources and potential avenues for improvement. First and foremost, amplified and robust community policing and social service programs are necessary. Well-resourced social service programs that support things such as mental health, addiction, and homelessness can, and should coexist with a well-resourced police department. These goals are not mutually exclusive and together can successfully offer Chicagoans a multitude of resources and wraparound services. Second, teachers must have the proper training and resources to teach social-emotional learning and conflict resolution in elementary and middle schools, and increase our mental health and social work services in our high schools. And finally, we need to increase collaboration with public safety partners – the FBI, ATF, the Sheriff, the Chicago Fire Department, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the State’s Attorney’s office, the Attorney General’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office to infiltrate the criminal underworld in an informed, comprehensive manner.
As we look to the future, we have to learn from our past. I will also continue to support the federally mandated Chicago Police Consent Decree. The Consent Decree guides reform that governs police training and policies and provides officers the support they need to implement safe and constitutional policing practices.
This is a very long-term project, but I believe in Chicago’s capacity to ultimately lead on this important issue nationally. It is vitally important to recognize that safety looks and feels different to each of us. I remain committed to advocating for effective, lasting reforms that build trust between Chicago’s residents and police.
The CTA, one of the nation’s largest transit systems, remains a troubled agency grappling with issues ranging from violent crime and ghost buses and trains, to flagging ridership. Give us your thoughts on what specific measures CTA should take to make train and bus service safer, more reliable and more equitable for Chicagoans.
A world class transit system is necessary for our world class city. Michael Reschke, CEO of the Prime Group offered several suggestions in a piece he authored for Crain’s earlier this year; namely, increase the presence of uniformed and armed police in transit stations, add plainclothes police officers on trains, especially during low ridership hours when individuals are most vulnerable to criminals, and clean up stations to make them more inviting. If effectuated, the aforementioned would surely make the CTA a safer, more reliable and enjoyable experience. CTA improvements coupled with increased safety metrics, could provide the sense of security Chicagoans and tourists are looking for and potentially lead to increased tourism, conventions and programming.
Ten years ago, enrollment at Chicago Public Schools was 403,000 students. In September, enrollment stood at 322,000 students. Enrollment at CPS has dropped for 11 consecutive years. What specific measures should CPS undertake to reverse the trend of ever-dwindling enrollment?
Parents in every city across the country want to make sure that their children have access to well resourced and fully funded schools. Every Chicago Public School in every neighborhood should have Art, Music, Library, a full time Counselor and Social Worker and after school activities to include sports, theater and other activities. I work closely with all of the nine schools in the 39th Ward. We have worked to invest more into each of these schools through both CPS Capital funds, the 39th Ward’s Participatory Budgeting process and a close partnership with the parent groups, principals, Local School Councils and CPS leadership. Parents move to the 39th Ward to send their children to our schools and while I welcome all to the 39th Ward I also want to make sure that students across the city have the same opportunities that our 39th Ward students have.
Disinvestment on the South and West sides is a decades-long problem with myriad causes. Give us at least one innovative idea that you believe could play a role in reversing South and West side disinvestment, and explain why the idea is realistic and feasible.
The cycle of disinvestment and increasing crime have led to tragic consequences in our city. A policy I have supported is Invest South/West, which is showing early signs of success and the potential long-term gains are innumerable.
In addition, all of our students need access to after school programs that will encourage and promote their interests. In the 39th Ward, Volta School’s 8th graders participate in the Albany Park Theater Project-which is life changing for many of these students and helps to foster a curiosity and love of the theater (which I share) as well as creates opportunities for both high school and more extracurricular activities. I would like to see students across the City have access to programs like this incredible program. Also, Park District programming is also critical for our children. I support robust park programming to encourage socializing and activity for children.
Finally, I am a major advocate for learning and pushing trades at a young age – we need our labor unions to continue to expand apprenticeships into the most historically underinvested neighborhoods and CTU needs a seat at the table in that conversation. This will grow a middle class which is nearly non-existent in historically underinvested neighborhoods.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Yes; School funding revenues should not just come from property taxes. Illinois is one of the lone states that funds public schools this way, even while there are funding opportunities on the state and federal levels.
Give us your take on the city’s use of tax increment financing districts. Do you feel they have been useful, or do you feel that the problems associated with them outweigh their usefulness? What if any reforms would you want to apply to the city’s usage of TIFs?
TIFs have been a great tool for economic development in my ward, but nonetheless, we need reform. We need the ability to (1) sunset TIFs earlier than 20 years and (2) transfer excess TIF money back into the schools and parks to either offset capital projects or lower the residential real estate taxes that are crushing our working families.
Lead in drinking water is a major health concern for the city. It is estimated that in Chicago there are roughly 400,000 homes and small apartment buildings with lead service lines. So far, the city has replaced less than 300 lead service lines. Do you feel the pace of lead service line replacement should be expedited, and if yes, what is the best, most feasible way to accomplish that?
It should be expedited, yes. Internally, CDPH must apply best practices from their playbook on vaccine hesitancy in low-income communities to this long-standing issue. Externally, we need to recruit more advocates on the ground to promote community engagement, because participation is stagnating. On the technical side, we need to embrace emerging techniques like radar to more accurately locate and assess risk. It’s the government’s duty to replace these lines and address such a critical public health problem in our neighborhoods.
If you are an incumbent, please explain what is it about your service on the City Council that makes you most qualified for the job. If you have never served on the council, please explain what is it about your background that makes you most qualified.
I have a track record of collaborating with everyone, no matter their politics, organization, or background. Equally important is my ability to maintain a sense of what my constituents are experiencing and feeling about their neighborhood and the city-at-large. I’ve been consistent in my engagement: never missing a community meeting, a block party, a committee meeting, or City Council. Engagement is constant and ongoing. I am campaigning on my commitment to always show up and do the work. A recent analysis by Crain’s Chicago showed I had the highest attendance rate in the City Council.
I have academic credentials that prepared me for this role, but I believe my cumulative experience across all levels of government really prepared me for success as Alderman. I recognize the strength in partnerships and stakeholder engagement. I am constantly working with partners across all levels of government – the State Legislature, Cook County Commissioners, our Congressional delegation and sister agencies to include the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Forest Preserve to strengthen projects and programming and pool our limited resources. The aforementioned has allowed for additional ward infrastructure improvements, public safety improvements, bike paths, and services for constituents.
As I’ve mentioned throughout this questionnaire, “customer service” is key. There is no role in my office that I won’t do – whether it is shoveling for a constituent, helping them get an extra trash pick up after a flood or running them a hot meal after the loss of a loved one. The beauty of being an Alderman is that you can foster personal relationships with your constituents and see projects through completion. It is what makes this position – this vocation – so personally meaningful.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Public safety remains a top priority. My previous experience as the Chief of Staff at the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has informed my public safety-related decisions as Alderman. We need to empower our police officers to perform their jobs. We also need to reduce the stigma around mental health treatment for police officers. I co-sponsored the Chicago Police Mental Health Preservation Ordinance which ensured officers are not overworked and have sufficient time to recover between shifts. Robust and well resourced social service programs that support things such as mental health, addiction, and homelessness can, and should coexist with a well resourced police department. These goals are not mutually exclusive and together can successfully offer Chicagoans a multitude of resources and wraparound services.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
I want to ensure the 39th Ward is a place families can thrive, and am committed to providing strong customer service to each and every resident. These goals require collaboration, thoughtfulness, and diligence – qualities I exhibit every day in my service as Alderman.
Another term as Alderman means key partnerships in the ward will continue to grow. I have built strong personal relationships with school leaders, police commanders, and business owners. Together, we are ushering a vision for a safer, better 39th Ward.
As a CPS parent myself, I understand and recognize the need for well resourced schools. Each school – like our children – has different needs. We’ve worked to support schools where they are so that students and teachers can thrive. We are in regular contact with all our principals, LSC’s and friends of groups at our schools. I introduced Participatory Budgeting to the 39th Ward which led to additional capital improvements in our local schools.
I have great working relationships with law enforcement leaders in the communities I represent, and I’ve been proactive in establishing those relationships. On top of successfully advocating for more officers in the 16th and 17th Districts, I also led the charge to bring cutting-edge technologies to the 39th Ward to help solve and prevent crime; specifically funding for a Strategic Decision Support Center (SDSC) in the 16th District and I have advocated for two full time intelligence analysts to staff the SDSC in both the 16th and 17th District. Further, working with the Commanders in the 16th, 17th and 20th Police Districts, I have advocated for and funded several Police Observation Device (POD) Cameras with license plate readers (LPR’s) in the ward.
I also have demonstrated a commitment to the 39th Ward business community. I am engaged with our Chambers and worked to provide our businesses with necessary resources to include PPE and funding during the height of the pandemic. We have also added another Special Service Area (SSA) to the ward which is supporting the beatification of the Lawrence, Montrose, Elston corridor.
My opponent’s vision is to demonize rank-and-file officers, slash the public safety budget, and raise taxes in the name of progress. A key difference between me and my opponent’s approach to governance: she uses divisive social media tactics to promote idealism, I use my experience and a holistic understanding of my neighbors’ needs to deliver results.