By Bethel Habte and Bennet Hayes
Results are rolling in for the aldermanic races, with over 90 percent of votes reported for many key contests.
Voters failed to turn out in high numbers across the city Tuesday. Latest reports from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners show that 32 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
Daniel Solis is leading in the 25th Ward with 52 percent of the vote and 90 percent of the votes counted. Early indications pointed to a runoff between the incumbent and three other contenders, but runner-up Jorge Mujica is trailing behind with 12 percent.
Patrick Daley Thompson, the grandson and nephew of former Chicago mayors Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley, has 48 percent with nearly 95 percent of the votes counted in the 11th Ward. He faces a runoff against John Kozlar, who has 36 percent of the votes.
Candidate Toni Foulkes has 41 percent of the vote with 86 percent of votes counted in the 16th Ward. Incumbent JoAnn Thompson’s unexpected death on Feb. 9 changed the course of the aldermanic race. Thompson was engaged in a contentious competition with Foulkes before her death.
Stephanie Coleman, daughter of former 16th Ward Alderman Shirley Coleman, trails Foulkes with 37 percent of the vote.
With 97 percent of votes counted in the 10th Ward, incumbent John Pope holds 44 percent of the vote — not enough to avoid a runoff with Susan Sadlowski Garza. The runner-up received 24 percent of the vote.
Pope’s campaign has been clouded by criticism related to the KCBX petroleum coke storage facility. Opponents have attacked the incumbent’s management, accusing the alderman of insufficient leadership in a ward needing economic development.
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Candidate Olga Bautista said this election and its ballot referendum on the storage of petroleum coke had energized voters in the neighborhood.
Tenth Ward poll worker Efrain Villareal said he felt that turnout was low and expected the after-work crowd to boost numbers.
As polling places approached their 7 p.m. close earlier in the evening, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners extended voting hours for four precincts.
The following precincts were open until 8 p.m. due to issues early in the morning that prevented people from voting.
- Precinct 25 in 2nd Ward
- Precincts 15 and 37 in 41st Ward
- Precinct 27 in 48th Ward
(2/2) This is to accomodate voters who were turned away this morning. All other precincts will close at 7PM as scheduled.
— ChicagoElection (@ChicagoElection) February 24, 2015