Running List of Candidate responses to 2023 municipal questionnaire

For Chicago's 2023 municipal elections, Friends of the Parks sent a questionnaire to all candidates running for mayor and alderperson. We are a non-partisan organization. We don’t endorse candidates. But we did want to use this opportunity to both educate the mayoral and alderperson candidates about park issues we care about and give them the chance to communicate to all of us whether and how they plan to promote healthy parks for a healthy Chicago. ​

Mayoral Candidate Responses 
Kam Buckner
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia

Candidates with no Response 

• Mr. Ja'Mal Green  
• Alderperson Sophia King  
• Mr. Willie L. Wilson 
• Commissioner Brandon Johnson
• Mr. Paul Vallas  
• Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot  
• Mr. Frederick Collins  
• Alderperson Roderick T. Sawyer 

Alderperson Questionnaire Responses
List of all candidates running for office: Candidate List
Please note that we are also posting information from candidate forums as it is shared with us by PACs and other friends of the parks.
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1st Ward
Stephen "Andy" Schneider

5th Ward
We have not received written responses to our questionnaire from any candidates in the 5th ward. However park leaders asked questions related to park priorities at the League of Women Voters Forum for 5th Ward Alderperson Candidates on January 8 at Montgomery Place and the 5th Ward Alderperson Candidates’ Justice Forum on January 15 at Hyde Park Union Church. These leaders shared the candidates' responses.
Notes from candidate forum
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9th Ward
Anthony Beale

11th Ward
Ambria Taylor

15th Ward
Victoria “Vicko” Alvarez

​16th Ward
Dr. Carolynn Crump

25th Ward
Aida Flores
Byron Sigcho Lopez

26th Ward
Jessie Fuentes
Julian Perez
Click here for a piece that covers 26th Ward candidate stances on the illegal museum construction in Humboldt Park. (2/27 update--since this was published, Jessie Fuentes has shared her thoughts via our questionnaire, linked above.)

30th Ward
Ruth Cruz
Jessica Gutiérrez
JuanPablo Prieto

33rd Ward
Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez

34th Ward
Click here to see one of our PAC leaders, May Toy, bring park issues to the forefront of a forum organized by Neighbors of West Loop, where she serves as vice-president.

40th Ward
Christian Blume

43rd Ward
Rebecca Janowitz

44th Ward
Bennett Lawson

46th Ward
Roushaunda Williams

48th Ward
Joe Dunne

49th Ward
Maria Hadden

50th Ward
Debra Silverstein