Not without his share of controversy, Pat O'Connor has been a Chicago Alderman since the '80s, with a self-professed passion for government. An attorney and father of five, O'Connor favors marriage equality, a woman's right to choose and fully supports increased penalties for crimes committed based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Windy City Times: What has been your most significant achievement in your last term?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: From a citywide standpoint, I helped do the citywide remap for the first time, not resulting in extended litigation, millions of dollars in legal fees, and changes to the map with special elections taking place. Locally, I think getting the nature preserve purchased and designed and now being built is probably one of the nicest things I've done in the neighborhood in the last couple of years.
WCT: Tell us about some of the pieces of legislation you worked on.
Ald. Pat O'Connor: I've worked on all the labor-union contracts that have taken place in the last four years. I've helped do some negotiating for police and fire contracts; I've been involved in some of the pension-related issues. I've done some good anti-crime stuff that helped the average person. The number one crime that takes place now in terms personal crime is theft of cell phones. A lot of times people will steal a cell phone and then they can take to another place to get it unlocked … wouldn't have to prove ownership, wouldn't have to prove that they purchased it. So, I passed some legislation to change that. I also actually helped do a lot of the legislation for the new Wrigley Field, which is basically going to be one of the only baseball fields in the country that's built without taxpayer dollars.
WCT: As chairman of the Workforce Development and Audit Committee, you oversaw meetings on the recent increase in the city's minimum wage. Can you tell us why you supported the measure?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: I think the data is pretty clear that the minimum wage is not something that keeps up, because it doesn't get changed often enough. The idea is if the minimum wage were to be increased as the economy fluctuates, it will keep people on pace with what the economy is doing. The city spent a lot of time and we had a fairly aggressive work force group that studied other places that had done this. We took a blended approach where we step increase it over the course of the next several years, but also tie it into an inflationary quota so that we don't have to revisit and wait every decade to change it.
WCT: Your challenger, Dianne Daleiden, has been very vocal about TIF [tax-increment funding] transparency and accountability in the 40th Ward. Additionally, there was an ethics probe into your campaign finances last year. Any thoughts?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: My question would be, "Give me a for instance of where that hasn't occurred?" because the TIF development in our ward has almost been exclusively for public benefit—park development, police station development, library development, fire station development, new school additions. It's hard to figure out how much more transparent you can be on a public project that is publicly bid and publicly paid for. When TIF dollars go to private projects, then there is a need to make sure that the public is informed.
The only private project that we've really done with any TIF money over the last several years was twofold: one helped to expand the emergency room at Swedish Covenant Hospital and the other created a woman's health center at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Both of which were the subjects of extensive public meetings both in the neighborhood and downtown, were well advertised and are open and running.
WCT: What would you recommend to have a better relationship between police and the citizen they serve, including people of color and the transgender community?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: Education is important both at the level in the police department and the public. The CAPS program, which was originally designed to improve relationships between community and police and to improve the local patrol element, needs to be reinvigorated. Some of the things that the Superintendent McCarthy has tried to bring forward, and continues to work on, are training for the police officers. Improving opportunity for the police and the community to interact in situations that are not dire or where an arrest is not imminent, those are the type of things that are going to reinforce a trust factor that needs to be there. I think that type of education both in the academy and then reeducation once police are out in the field for a period of time are necessary. The public component, getting the public to understand what is expected from them, is also very important.
WCT: What do you think are the causes and the solution for crime in Chicago?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: Whether people believe it or not, major crimes are down, murders are down. Across the nation, crime is trending downward, but the level of violence is trending up. The types of things that need to be strengthened but can't be done at a municipal level are gun control, enhanced penalties for people that violate gun laws, access to weaponry … In this city, we have enacted significantly strenuous gun laws, and each time we get taken to court, those laws are stricken or significantly reduced in terms of their effectiveness by a very powerful national gun lobby. Cities themselves can't take on national gun lobbies. It has to be the national government or, at least, state governments.
WCT: Are any of the members of your current staff openly LGBT?
Ald. Pat O'Connor: Yes; the guy who runs my ward office is openly gay and recently married.
For more information on the 40th Ward incumbent: www.aldermanoconnor.com/ .
Related stories at the links: ELECTIONS 2015
2015 Election Survey Responses
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/2015-Election-Survey-Responses/50447.html
Election 2015: Printable charts
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Election-2015-Printable-charts/50470.html
ELECTIONS 2015: 40TH WARD Ald. Pat O'Connor, 3+ years in Chicago politics
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-40TH-WARD-Ald-Pat-OConnor-3-years-in-Chicago-politics/50485.html
ELECTIONS 2015 Guide to the gays
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-Guide-to-the-gays/50486.html
ELECTIONS 2015: 40TH WARD 'Political outsider' Dianne Daleiden makes aldermanic bid
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-40TH-WARD-Political-outsider-Dianne-Daleiden-makes-aldermanic-bid/50487.html
ELECTIONS 2015 46th Ward candidates sound off in debate
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-46th-Ward-candidates-sound-off-in-debate-/50483.html
ELECTIONS 2015 46th Ward candidates sound off in debate
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-46th-Ward-candidates-sound-off-in-debate-/50483.html
ELECTIONS 2015 Garcia releases LGBT issues platform
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2015-Garcia-releases-LGBT-issues-platform/50450.html
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