The runoff for 4th Ward alderman is a heavyweight political proxy fight.
Ald. Sophia King is on her way out, having given up the seat representing the South Loop, the Bronzeville lakefront neighborhood, Prairie Shores, South Commons and Kenwood to run unsuccessfully for mayor.
Voters on Tuesday were choosing between Prentice Butler, King’s chief of staff and her pick to be her successor, and state Rep. Lamont Robinson. Robinson was backed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the 4th Ward’s former five-term alderman and the current head of the Cook County Democratic Party.
[ Development, gentrification focus of aldermanic runoffs in South Side lakefront wards ]
In addition to being King’s chief of staff, Butler also worked for King’s predecessor, Ald. Will Burns. On the campaign trail, Butler talked about having the know-how to run the office from day one and the ability to tackle major projects.
Two massive projects in the ward are the redevelopment of the old Michael Reese Hospital site and the potential One Central development, which, if it ever moves forward, would occupy land in both the 4th Ward and the neighboring 3rd Ward.
A former teacher at City Colleges of Chicago and a State Farm insurance agent, Robinson was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018. In campaigning for the job, he said he wants to make the jump to the Chicago City Council to “move the needle” on economic development in the ward.
Robinson was the top vote-getter in the six-candidate Feb. 28 first round election, garnering 46% of the vote to Butler’s 15%.
