When we think of an Alderman and City Council, we often think of the Ward Boss of the 1950s, chomping on a cigar in a smoke-filled room while handing out patronage. While the times have changed, our expectations haven’t. If we’re going to meet the challenges and realize our neighborhood’s and City’s promise, we need to fundamentally rethink what an Alderman can be. Instead of an old-school Ward boss of yesterday or the status quo of today, we need someone who embraces the transformative potential of this job to lead our community into a renewed future.
