Chicago is holding municipal elections on February 22nd, and participatory budgeting is on the ballot, indirectly at least. Alderman Joe Moore, who launched PB in Chicago’s 49th Ward, is up for re-election. Following Moore’s lead, many other alderman candidates are also calling for PB. A few examples:
– Valerie Leonard, 24th Ward
– Emily Steward, 46th Ward
– Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward
– Ahmed Khan, 50th Ward
– Bertha Starks, 8th Ward
The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) distributed a questionnaire to all alderman candidates, and question 27 asked “Will you institute participatory budgeting to allow ward residents to vote on discretionary spending in your ward?” Of the 88 candidates that responded, only 17 said ‘No.’ Two did not respond, and 69 responded ‘Yes.’ Of the 69 that responded ‘Yes’, seven are incumbents.