Last September, Stacey Pfingsten left the 2nd Ward office—to run for alderman of that same area. She did so, as her website states, "so that she may continue serving the residents of the 2nd Ward and in improving their collective quality of life." She presents a varied background, having studied everything from business administration to art.
Windy City Times met with Pfingsten recently at a cafe ( in the 2nd Ward, appropriately ) to discuss her platform and LGBT-related issues.
Windy City Times: So tell me about your political experience.
Stacey Pfingsten: Well, I just kinda fell into it. I started out as a community activist working for Preservation Chicago about seven or eight years ago. While doing that and trying to save significant 1920s buildings, we started getting more political—because everything is political, especially in Chicago. It was around 2007, and Ald. Matlak was in charge: He was part of the Daley machine and was known for pay-for-play. Because of him, we lost quite a few historic buildings.
I then thought we needed changes in leadership. I then heard about this young man named Scott Waguespack [now an alderman] who was going to run against him.
WCT: He endorsed you recently, right?
Stacey Pfingsten: Yes. But that's how it all started. On Diversey and Ashland, I got involved in his campaign back then. And you just become more active—I became a political coordinator, and became involved with other organizations. I helped organize voter drives with DePaul and other student organizations, and I assigned electoral judges to polling places. I also got involved in researching policy issues.
And then I heard there was an opening in Ald. [Bob] Fioretti's office, and I thought it was time for a new challenge, and to see if I would like the ward-politics side of things. The first couple of weeks, I wasn't sure about it—but I really saw first-hand what an alderman's job was. Between him and Waguespack, they're two of the most hands-on alderman around. But I stuck with it—and something just clicked. All of a sudden, I felt personally responsible that everyone get the city services they need. I fell in love with the job.
WCT: Let's say you are elected. What are two issues you'd try to push within your first year?
Stacey Pfingsten: [Pauses] One issue I'm passionate about, citywide and within our ward, is mental-health access. We need greater access for clients and constitutents. Mental health affects everything from hate crimes to our homeless population to domestic-violence issues.
WCT: Do you think too many people are jailed who should be in mental-health facilities?
Stacey Pfingsten: There are so many aspects to that, and I haven't done as much research as I'd like. I've heard [Sheriff] Tom Dart speak a lot about it, and work with the county. He's even called the county jail the largest mental-health facility in Chicago.
Another thing I'd like to see is moving that privatization ordinance and getting that passed. It keeps coming up and it's buried somewhere in the Rules Committee, I believe.
I'd like to see more TIF [tax-increment financing] reform done. I think we can reform the entire program. We need to see if we can return some of the projects to the tax payrolls. A lot of those surpluses can help with pension reforms, schools and mental-health clinics. It's a slush fund the mayor can use to [curry] favor, and that's got to stop. These practices have brought our city under, and they must stop.
WCT: What do you feel is your biggest edge and biggest disadvantage in this race?
Stacey Pfingsten: My biggest edge is my track record of independence. So many people tell you what you want to hear; I'm the realist telling you what you need to hear.
My weakness is that I don't have the funds some of my opponents do. It's definitely a grassroots campaign right now. But when I'm talking with the voter on the phone or at the door, my campaign makes an impact. Ald. Waguespack is the real deal, and they know he's fighting for us; he's just doing his job. His endorsement and IVI-IPO's endorsement mean a lot. I am the independent. Brian Hopkins is a Daley guy and really hasn't said he's an independent; everyone else, though, seems to be an independent.
I take being an independent very seriously; I want the constituents to be my checks and balances.
I feel our leader has been concentrating too much on business interests and not enough on human interests. Fioretti and I have a good relationship, and he's in [the mayoral race] for the right reasons. Chuy [mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia] I really don't have that close a relationship with, but I feel he's also in it for the right reasons. The current mayor's leadership in rather draconian in some ways, but we're also overpaying private contractors and other professionals—something we can't afford. Every department needs to be audited; there's room for cutting waste.
WCT: Let's switch gears. On our questionnaire, we asked how you feel about the minimum-wage increase. You responded with something very interesting: You would push for something higher than what was approved—you'd push for $15 an hour.
What do you tell small-business owners to support that in theory but may have to let some employees go?
Stacey Pfingsten: I think the $15 would affect the bigger businesses but it doesn't affect the mom-and-pop businesses. However, it's always a scary thing. Anything new is scary, but by empowering these workers with more money they'll be putting money back into the economy. It think it works hand in hand.
Also, people need a living wage. Can you imagine making $8.50 an hour? For many years up here, I had another part-time job to make sure bills are paid.
WCT: Tell me about your experience with the LGBT community.
Stacey Pfingsten: I'll be very honest: My only exposure is with a lot of my good friends. I wish I could've gotten involved with the whole movement with gay marriage because it's just time—equality for everybody. Everybody has a right to marry who they want to marry. It's 2015. The religious right has some policies that affect a lot of us; they want to put me back in the kitchen.
WCT: Any final words?
Stacey Pfingsten: I think people should vote for me because I have the most experience for this job, just coming from the ward office. I'll be ready to serve on day one and I have a ton of ideas. I have a great relationship with many of the community groups, and I have a good grasp of what's going on locally. I don't bring political IOUs to the table; I bring real connections with city commissioners and departments.
Visit www.staceyfor2ndward.com/ .
See more election-related coverage at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gaynewsarticles.php .
