LGBTQ+ Alds. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), Raymond Lopez (15th), Maria Hadden (49th) and Tom Tunney (44th) are among 17 of the 50 members of the Chicago City Council who are forgoing raises that would have hiked their salaries by 9.6%.
According to The Chicago Tribune, other rejecting raises include Alds, Edward Burke (14th), Samantha Nugent (39th), Daniel La Spata (1st); Brian Hopkins (2nd), Nicole Lee (11th), Marty Quinn, (13th), Matt O'Shea (19th), Silvana Tabares (23rd), Felix Cardona (31st), Gilbert Villegas (36th), Anthony Napolitano (41st), Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Matt Martin (47th).
Tunney is among several sitting aldermen who have announced they won't run for re-election next year. Lopez also is not seeking re-election, choosing instead to run for mayor against incumbent Lori Lightfoot. Burke is awaiting trial on sweeping federal racketeering charges and has not announced if he will run for re-election; he has pled not guilty.
Ald. James Cappleman (46th Ward), who is also part of the LGBTQ+ community, is also not running for re-election.
The top pay for aldermen is expected to increase to $142,772 next year, when an increase of about $12,500 kicks in. Not everyone on the council earns the same because of some forgoing past raises.