Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Bennett Lawson launches campaign for alderman of 44th Ward
-- From a press release
2022-08-30

This article shared 3104 times since Tue Aug 30, 2022
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


CHICAGO - Today, Bennett Lawson launched his campaign for Alderman of the 44th Ward. A lifelong public servant who has served the people of this ward as longtime chief of staff to Alderman Tom Tunney, Lawson brings unmatched experience as an effective leader and advocate for residents and families throughout Lakeview. He will continue the strong, steady leadership that 44th Ward residents have come to rely on and expect and will continue his work to promote safe and welcoming neighborhoods, balanced development, quality public education, and a more inclusive, transparent government.

"I am proud to announce my candidacy today for 44th Ward Alderman. I have dedicated my career to public service, largely focused on improving Lakeview to be the strong community it is today. I know that my experience, relationships, and passion for helping others will help me effectively serve the ward on day one," said Bennett Lawson. "I've been fortunate to work alongside Alderman Tunney for many years to make Lakeview a vibrant place for our residents, and I'm honored that he is putting his trust in me to continue a steady legacy of service to our community."

Having served as chief of staff to Alderman Tunney since 2007, and director of community outreach prior, Lawson is the liaison to the ward's vibrant business and civic communities where he's helped promote growth as well as tourism, while balancing the needs of local residents. He helped shepherd the development of multiple projects that are having lasting impacts on the community, including the construction of Center on Halsted, the redevelopment of the Town Hall Police station into LGBT senior housing, the Howard Brown Health Center currently under construction on Northalsted, the Whole Foods and Mariano's developments, and development that increased affordable housing within the neighborhood. He works closely with police commanders and members of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) to help keep the community safe, and works with businesses and residents on crime prevention strategies. He also leads outreach to the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS community, in both the ward and the city more broadly, to help nonprofits obtain funding and initiate new programs to help those in need.

Alderman Tom Tunney offered his strong endorsement of Bennett Lawson, stating, "In an effort to ensure continuity of service and effective leadership for the residents of the ward, I wholeheartedly support and endorse my longtime chief of staff Bennett Lawson to succeed me as alderman of the 44th Ward. I am confident in Bennett's leadership skills, his ability to further enhance the progress and vitality we have achieved in the Lakeview community and his knowledge of how to work successfully with residents, businesses and the many individuals and departments that make up our city government. For nearly two decades, Bennett has been an invaluable asset to this ward as he has tirelessly advocated for its residents and businesses alike, offering pragmatic solutions and meeting constituent needs. Lakeview residents expect a leader that knows how to balance local business interests with the quality of life of our residents, and I am thrilled he wants to step up to serve our community as Alderman. Bennett will ensure that there is a seamless transition of leadership and that local residents and businesses can continue to rely on this office to keep our community moving forward."

Prior to joining Alderman Tunney's office, Lawson served as the District Director for Illinois State Senator Carol Ronen, where he was responsible for directing all constituent services. He worked to resolve issues residents faced with state agencies and collaborated with officials at the federal, county, and city levels on projects, events, and constituent casework.

The proud son of a teacher, Lawson attended public schools before receiving his Bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago. He lives in Lakeview with his husband Pete.

To learn more, visit bennettfor44.com .

About Bennett Lawson

Bennett Lawson is a candidate for Alderman of the 44th Ward. A lifelong public servant who has served as Alderman Tom Tunney's chief of staff for nearly 15 years, Lawson will utilize his deep experience, strong relationships, and knowledge of the community to continue strong, steady leadership for the 44th Ward. As Alderman, he will advocate for safe and welcoming neighborhoods, balanced development, quality public education, and a more inclusive, transparent government. To learn more, visit bennettfor44.com .


This article shared 3104 times since Tue Aug 30, 2022
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27
- On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25
- Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors 2024-03-24
- On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Chicago alder proposes renaming street after Obama 2024-03-22
- Openly gay Black Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson has proposed renaming Columbus Drive after former U.S. President and city resident Barack Obama, media outlets noted. The street stretches through the Loop from East Grand Avenue to DuSable ...


Gay News

Congressional Equality Caucus on FY24 bills passing the house 2024-03-22
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), released the following statement after the House successfully passed the final funding bills for Fiscal Year ...


Gay News

WORLD Uganda items, HIV report, Mandela, Liechtenstein, foreign minister weds 2024-03-21
- It turned out that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam traveled to Uganda on Feb. 19-27, per The Washington Blade. He visited the capital of Kampala and the nearby city of ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21
- Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ candidates Marcelino Garcia, Precious Brady Davis win primary elections to keep MWRD seats 2024-03-21
- Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis, the two openly LGBTQ+ incumbents in the race to keep their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), won their primary elections and will move on to the general this ...


Gay News

Small LGBTQ+ candidate pool nevertheless scores some important victories March 19 2024-03-20
- Relatively few openly LGBTQ+ candidates were running in the March 19 Illinois Primary Election. But there were some significant contests in play at the local, state and federal levels. Openly gay Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) ...


Gay News

Gay Irish prime minister to step down 2024-03-20
- In a surprise move, openly gay Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation, citing "personal and political, but mainly political reasons," according to CNN. Varadkar said he felt he was no longer ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course 2024-03-18
- Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools 2024-03-15
- In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

PASSAGES: Former Chicago Commission on Human Relations chair Clarence Wood 2024-03-13
- LGBTQ ally and former Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) Chair and Commissioner Clarence N. Wood died March 5. He was 83. Wood was born April 14, 1940, in Alabama. While primarily raised in Alabama, Wood ...


Gay News

Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist David Mixner dies at 77 2024-03-12
- On March 11, longtime LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist David Mixner—known for working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign but then splitting from him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)—died at age 77, The Advocate reported. ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund remembers co-founder David Mixner 2024-03-12
--From a press release - Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker released the following statement on the passing of LGBTQ+ civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund co-founder David Mixner: "Today, we lost David Mixner, a founding ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.