Deb Mell, alderman of the 33rd Ward, is no stranger to challenges both professional and personal. Mell was appointed to the seat by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2013 after the retirement of her father Richard who spent 38 years in the position.
The first out lesbian alderman in the city, Mell has been a fierce proponent of LGBT rights both as alderman and in her previous role as state representative for the 40th District. She is a survivor of breast cancer and married her partner, Christin Baker, in Iowa in 2011. Two years later—when the Illinois marriage-equality bill did not at the time have enough votes to pass the House—Mell delivered an ardent speech on the House floor. "Christin has been my spouse in the truest sense of the word," she said. "I love my wife. This is our marriage. We want to leave this word a little better than we found it and, in turn, we pray that life continues to be kind to us."
In July 2014, she announced her divorce from Baker on Twitter. Now she faces two challengers to her ward seat—from high school social studies teacher Tim Meegan and community leader Annisa Wanat.
In a phone conversation with Windy City Times, Mell discussed how she intends to prevail in the upcoming elections and surmount the challenges faced by the city's LGBTQ community post marriage-equality. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Windy City Times: What are some of the LGBTQ issues that are closest to your heart and what are the priorities in your opinion?
Deb Mell: They all are, but especially bullying in schools. There has been progress. I have a friend whose son is transgender and the family is accepting and there is even a company that will go to the school to educate people. We need to see more of that. There needs to be more education concerning our issues.
WCT: Looking back over your personal and professional challenges, what have they taught you?
Deb Mell: Professionally, getting the marriage bill through Springfield was very important to me. It's such a great feeling and guess what? The locusts didn't come. The way I approached the marriage fight was "you have to get to know us." What's important is visibility. We can't be in the shadows with anything. Making the transition to alderman was great and being able to get stuff done is so very rewarding. One of the things we're focusing on is bad landlords and businesses that harbor illegal activity. There was one building that my chief of staff and I walked into and it was horrible. We were able to make changes. We see a lot of that in Albany Park where people take advantage of the immigrant population. They don't come into my office because they're afraid to let me know what's going on.
Personally, I have to mourn the end of a relationship. You see your friends and family pick you up and carry you along when you go through something like that. If you can get through it in a conscious way you become stronger. That is exactly what has happened.
WCT: Both of your opponents are essentially running as an independent end to "politics as usual" and the rubber stamp. How do you answer them?
Deb Mell: They're saying that because of my voting record. But what they don't see are all the conversations and negotiations that occur before the ordinance comes to the floor. Yes, my voting record has been with the mayor but some of the things I would vote against him on never came to the floor. I think there are a lot of talking points being thrown out there that have no evidence. If you look at my record on the state level, you will see that I am an independent voice and I voted against the speaker. I was an activist—uncompromising and set in my ways. But being in Springfield for five years was a learning experience in that you need to work with people to get your bills passed. So I bring a combination of activism and knowing how the system works.
WCT: And what are some of the things in which you and the mayor disagree?
Deb Mell: I'm not a big proponent of charter schools. There's been a lot of data that has come out recently that says they're not exactly the panacea that we all thought they were. I really believe in strengthening our neighborhood schools.
WCT: What are your thoughts on a school for LGBTQ kids?
Deb Mell: I would support that and the strengthening of Gay Straight Alliances in our schools and I would love to start those conversations.
WCT: Many of the homeless LGBT youth we have spoken to say employers aren't giving them a chance. They need affordable housing and a job. How do you envision helping them?
Deb Mell: The [Windy City Times] summit was very successful and I can't be more excited to talk more about solutions then we can push things at City Hall. The mayor definitely knows my need to focus on LGBTQ homelessness.
WCT: The transgender community has talked a great deal about discrimination against them by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Department of Corrections. There are transgender women sitting in male facilities at the jail. How do you ensure that issues such as these get addressed?
Deb Mell: It's unacceptable. So I would call [Chicago Police Superintendant] Garry McCarthy and tell him that more education and training is needed and he needs to get his police officers in line. Let's get a meeting with the mayor and members of the transgender community and start talking about it until we get results.
WCT: What can be done to support neighborhood organizations and non-profits who are working to increase HIV education and prevention?
Deb Mell: Working with these organizations is vital. Let's give them more funding until we get rid of this disease. It can be done.
WCT: Tell ward voters why they should select you over Meegan or Wanat?
Deb Mell: This ward is where I grew up. I know every single street. I have a passion for my neighborhood and I have worked with organizations and members of this community for years. My constituents know that about me. We are seeing a lot of businesses coming here, a lot of people coming from different neighborhoods. Another thing I've been doing that my father didn't really do too much of is engage the community. So when issues come up, we call community meetings. We are just getting started.
Visit: www.33rdward.org/ .
Related stories at the links: ELECTIONS 2015:
ELECTIONS 2015: 33RD WARD Deb Mell answers challenges to her seat 2015-02-04 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-33RD-WARD-Deb-Mell-answers-challenges-to-her-seat/50408.html .
Early voting info; 46th Ward forum on Feb. 15 2015-02-04 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Early-voting-info-46th-Ward-forum-on-Feb-15/50407.html .
Crawford featured at North End reception 2015-02-04 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Crawford-featured-at-North-End-reception/50406.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: Ald. James Cappleman reflects on the 46th Ward 2015-02-04 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-Ald-James-Cappleman-reflects-on-the-46th-Ward/50405.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: 44TH WARD Ald. Tom Tunney on Lake View and its LGBT legacy 2015-02-04 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-44TH-WARD-Ald-Tom-Tunney-on-Lake-View-and-its-LGBT-legacy/50404.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: Challengers seek aldermanic posts 2015-01-28 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-Challengers-seek-aldermanic-posts/50349.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: 5TH WARD Urban policy pro Jocelyn Hare runs for 5th Ward seat 2015-01-28 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/5TH-WARD-Urban-policy-pro-Jocelyn-Hare-runs-for-5th-Ward-seat/50347.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: 35TH WARD Openly gay candidate seeks to unseat Colon 2015-01-28 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-35TH-WARD-Openly-gay-candidate-seeks-to-unseat-Colon/50346.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: Lesbian candidate vies to win seat as 46th Ward alderman 2015-01-28 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Lesbian-candidate-vies-to-win-seat-as-46th-Ward-alderman/50345.html .
ELECTIONS 2015: 39TH WARD Gay aldermanic candidate runs as 'anti-Emanuel' 2015-01-28 www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/39TH-WARD-Gay-aldermanic-candidate-runs-as-anti-Emanuel/50344.html .
