Chicago Decides: Small business owner Megan Mathias faces Ald. James Gardiner in 45th Ward
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Controversial incumbent Ald. James Gardiner is facing off against small business owner Megan Mathias in the runoff election in the Northwest Side's 45th Ward.
The ward includes Jefferson Park and Gladstone Park, and parts of Irving Park, Portage Park, Norwood Park, and Edgebrook.
Mathias told CBS 2's Marie Saavedra she has been working in the community for many years – as an attorney, a business owner, and a Local School Council member. But the way she saw the community come together when her husband fell ill with cancer was what made her decide to seek out a leadership role.
"The catalyst here was really my spouse getting very sick with cancer, and he was sick for two years and passed away in 2019," Mathias said. "During that timeframe – I'm from Michigan and he's from Puerto Rico – so we relied a lot on our community, and those connections are very deep. It felt like family, so I felt like I was a little bit like mama bear over the neighborhood, and I could bring better leadership to my neighbors."
Mathias said the biggest issues for the ward are leadership and public safety. She said residents of the 45th Ward presently do not feel "heard."
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-decides-mathias-gardiner-45th-ward/
