The City of Chicago has a new “historic” mayor — and her name is Lori Lightfoot.
Politics
On Tuesday, Lori Lightfoot made history by becoming the first African-American female to be elected mayor of Chicago. The race itself was historic since the runoff election featured 2 African-American females and assured that a black woman would be handed the keys to America’s 3rd largest city.
What’s also interesting is that when Mayor-elect Lightfoot is inaugurated, she will become the first openly gay mayor of a major American city.
The 56-year-old Lightfoot is a former federal prosecutor who has held appointed positions regarding police oversight and accountability in Chicago under Mayor Emanuel and former Mayor Richard Daley. Following her stint as an assistant US attorney, she most recently served as a senior equity partner at Mayor Brown LLP.
Lori Lightfoot beat Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle 74.2% to 25.8%. Her major victory means she will succeed current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and assume office on May 20th.
“This election got defined very early,” said Tom Balanoff, president of the Service Employees International Union in Chicago. “Lori Lightfoot clearly grabbed that definition as a change candidate, and this is an election about change. It’s been a long time in Chicago since we had an election about change.”
“A new mayor with a plan for police reform and better police-community relations will enhance the quality of life in the city and encourage people — especially young people who wish to start a family — to move to the city,” said Arthur Lurigio, a professor of psychology and criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago. “The perceptions that a new mayor creates about safety and policing could make the city a more attractive place to live and stop the outflow of residents.”
With her victory, Lori Lightfoot will become the 3rd African-American to serve as mayor of Chicago. Harold Washington was elected in 1983 as the city’s first black mayor and won re-election in 1987 before passing away while in office later that year. Eugene Sawyer, the city’s 2nd black mayor, was appointed to serve out Washington’s term and did so until a 1989 special election.
In addition to being Chicago’s first openly gay mayor, Lightfoot is only the 2nd woman ever elected mayor of Chicago and follows Jane Byrne, who served only 1 term from 1979 to 1983.
So it seems “the times they are a changing”- in some parts of America anyway.
It is commendable that (given Chicago’s long history of “corruption and insider dealings”) Ms. Lighfoot was able to use her “outsider” status as a major selling point…voters bought it and gave her a decisive win over Ms. Preckwinkle, “a better-known, longtime politician.”
The fact that most voters in Chicago don’t care about her sexuality is a definite sign of progress in that city.
Now..whether she’ll actually be able to make a real difference in that city? Only time will tell.