Alderman James Cappleman (46th), the Council’s Zoning Committee chairman, emerged victorious in his re-election, with all of the more than 14,100 ballots from the April 2 election finally counted. He defeated a challenge from Marianne Lalonde by a margin of just 25 votes.
The Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners announced the final tally of all mail-in ballots, provisional ballot and overseas ballots Tuesday, though the results won’t be officially certified until Thursday, according to Block Club Chicago.
Cappleman told Block Club he expects Lalonde to challenge the results, but is confident the outcome will stand. Lalonde could not be reached for comment.
Cappleman has been considered far more open to development than his predecessor, Helen Schiller, and new projects have surged in his ward since he took office in 2011. The real estate industry was a big financial backer in his reelection bid, especially after he was forced into a runoff with Lalonde in February
At The Real Deal’s Chicago’s State of the Market event Tuesday evening, Cedar Street Companies CEO Alex Samoylovich and Farpoint Development Principal Scott Goodman expressed elation over Cappleman’s victory. Goodman’s firm is leading the redevelopment of the Uptown Theatre, and Cedar Street is a prolific developer in Cappleman’s ward.
The next challenge for Cappleman will be whether he retains the Zoning Committee chairman’s job he inherited when disgraced Alderman Danny Solis gave it up. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot stands to have the power to shake up the City Council committees. [Block Club] — John O’Brien