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: Richard A. Wooten
Ward: 6th
Current job: Pastor, President/CEO Statewide Security & Safety
Previous political experience: I was appointed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the Police Accountability Task Force, as mandated by the US Department of Justice under the leadership of US President Barak Obama to review and overhaul policies and procedure reforms within the Chicago police department after the LaQuan McDonald shooting, unfair discriminative disciplinary infractions, hiring practices and promotions of African American police officers, and other cover ups that existed within the department.
Education: Attended Loop college (now Harold Washington College), Bachelors in Law Enforcement Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting IN, Currently working on my Master’s in Divinity from Grand Canyon University.
Spouse’s occupation: N/A
Sources of outside income: Pastor of 20 years and business owner of 24 years
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.
To combat crime effectively, we must fund neighborhood block clubs, neighborhood watch organizations and institute a drone neighborhood safety program while continuing to invest in poverty stricken neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago. Also, we must increase education funding particularly for alternative/ options high school programs for at risk students. Additionally, we must restore police foot patrol, increase bike patrol, and reimplement CPD caps programs and strategies that have worked historically. Finally, we must address record number CPD retirements and hire several hundred new police officers to address the attrition.
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.
We must hold city council hearings and public hearings with CTA, CPD, and key community stakeholders where problems exist to achieve sustainable solutions toward supporting CTA workers and riders, that make our public transit system safe overall.
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?
CPS and the newly elected board of education must revisit the record number school closures that destabilize those communities impacted which caused barriers that include gang territory concerns, enrollment, transportation, and most importantly access to a local neighborhood school in the respected communities. Finally, I support in ordinance that increase funding, creates a repurpose, reopen, and/or reuse of these vacant assets that exist in the 6th Ward and across the city of Chicago.
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 6th ward needs a master redevelopment plan that includes addressing vacant lots, delabordated housing stocks, food deserts and a comprehension crime reduction strategy with all elements supporting healthier sustainable neighborhoods that we can safely live, work, dine, and play in.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Yes, giving the recent COVID19 pandemic that continues, I support offering homeowners property tax relief. And i look forward to reviewing options in the city council to achieve this goal.
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?
I fully support the intent of the TIF program however, we must review, overhaul, and strengthen policies that relate to use of TIF funds to best maximize the original intended use for underserved and blighted communities lacking economic development and growth. I recommend we use zip codes, crime statistic data, and end the number of vacant lots in the neighborhoods to make best use of TIF funds.
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?
Yes, I fully support a comprehensive plan to address contaminated lead service lines in a way that prioritizes a robust program that reach targeted volumes of residents in the city of Chicago, that include but not limited to healthcare institutions, schools, residential homes and restaurants.
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 am Chaplain of Nu Pi Chapter of Omega Phi Si, FOP #7, Worshipful Master King David Lodge 100 of Prince Hall and accepted Masons, member of Illinois Farm Bureau, Founder of Gathering Points Ministry and President of Greater Chatham Alliance. I am a small business owner. As well as a retired CPD officer and military Veteran(Desert Storm).
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Crime is the most pressing issue in the community. To combat crime effectively, we must for the first time in Chicago history fund neighborhood block clubs, neighborhood watch organizations, have tougher gun laws and institute a drone neighborhood safety program while continuing to invest in poverty stricken neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago. Also, we must increase education funding particularly for alternative/ options high school programs for at risk students. Additionally, we must restore police foot patrol, increase bike patrol, and reimplement CPD caps programs and strategies that have worked historically(problem buildings). Finally, we must address record number CPD retirements and hire several hundred new police officers to address the attrition.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
Among the current list of candidates seeking the 6th ward aldermanic position, I am the single most qualified individual, in addition to my historic work in being appointed to Police Accountability Task Force, to review and overhaul CPD policies and procedures. Additionally, my public, private and civic work in the existing and newly remapped 6th ward remains unmatched as I truly am committed to addressing policies and legislation that make our ward and our city safer with regard to quality of life.