The race to represent the affluent 43rd Ward encompassing Lincoln Park and part of the Gold Coast has been among the most heated aldermanic contests this cycle.
Ald. Timmy Knudsen was appointed to the seat by Mayor Lori Lightfoot only about six months ago following the retirement of three-term incumbent Ald. Michele Smith. Knudsen faces a challenge from lifelong ward resident Brian Comer, the head of the Sheffield Neighborhood Association. The two were the last to survive a six-way race in February.
The expensive and divisive first round featured political insiders sharply divided over endorsements, one candidate spending $750,000 of her own money and accusations of bullying and sign stealing.
Knudsen, an attorney, ended up with 27% of the vote to Comer’s 24%. He and two other Lightfoot council appointees were pushed into runoffs. A fourth lost.
A consultant in the renewable energy sector, Comer argued Knudsen was only in the runoff after being “gifted” the seat by Lightfoot, who also appointed Knudsen to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Comer also argued Knudsen was not adequately addressing a rise in crime in the area.
Knudsen has punched back, saying Comer spread fear and misinformation in the wake of a tussle in which a police officer’s gun fired as the officer was trying to make an arrest. That officer wasn’t hit, but Comer initially reported he was shot and hospitalized in stable condition.
In the weeks following the February election, Knudsen won endorsements from all of the ward’s previous aldermen dating back to 1971, as well as from two of his former opponents.
[ Live election results: 43rd Ward ]
adquig@chicagotribune.com
