Ald. Nicole Lee elected to first full term in 11th Ward
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With Tuesday’s runoff election, Chicago’s 11th Ward alderman is set to fully step into her role representing Chicago’s first Asian-majority City Council seat, though some familiar Irish power brokers are still throwing their weight around.
Ald. Nicole Lee declared victory over Chicago police Officer Anthony “Tony” Ciaravino to win her first full term representing the Bridgeport and Chinatown neighborhoods. She did so with the backing of former Mayor Richard M. Daley and his brother Cook County Commissioner John Daley, and the attendant political boost and baggage that come with their endorsements in the traditional Daley family seat of power.
With 96% of precincts reporting, Lee had 62% of the vote to 38% for Ciaravino, according to unofficial results from the Chicago Board of Elections.
Before Lee declared victory Tuesday night she was introduced by John Daley.
Wearing red and blue Wonder Woman sneakers, Lee walked into her Election Night party at the packed New Furama restaurant in Chinatown to cheers. She milled among the jubilant, multi-generational crowd before claiming victory.
During her victory speech, Lee said her ancestors would be proud of what her campaign had accomplished.
“I’m so proud to stand here before you as the first Chinese American elected to the City Council of Chicago,” Lee said, flanked by family members.
“Let this memory be one that you keep with you,” she said. “If you ever doubt that a new path can be carved, don’t.”
Paying homage to Chinatown community elders, including her grandfather, who sacrificed for younger generations, Lee said, “Those memories are why we dig deep, why we work late, why we fight.” And those ancestors would be proud, she added.
“Because of all of you, we would get their praise and probably give them a bit of surprise – a Chinese woman on the City Council of Chicago,” she said. “We moved history forward … I’m the first but I won’t be the last.”
During the campaign, Ciaravino said he had more grassroots neighborhood support and stressed his law enforcement background.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Lee a year ago to replace Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, Richard M. Daley’s nephew, after he was convicted on federal tax-related charges.
Ciaravino and Lee agree public safety is the most pressing issue in voters’ minds.
Ciaravino said he got in the race because Lee has failed to keep the ward safe, and that “she jumped on the crime, public safety platform” only recently.
Lee said she has “taken actions to ensure that police have the resources that they need,” including voting in favor of the 2023 city budget that increased police funding.
On Tuesday night, amid a slew of thanks, Lee paused to express gratitude to Lightfoot for appointing her and to Illinois state Rep. Therese Mah, whose district overlaps with the 11th Ward.
Mah said Lee’s campaign engaged constituents in the city’s first Asian American ward to a degree that rarely occurs.
“It’s exciting to see the people who came out to vote for her, especially the Asian American voters who are not frequent voters,” Mah said. “They believed that their vote was important, and they felt it was important to turnout. [Voting] is not necessarily an idea that is strongly embedded in the community, because for many years, their votes were ignored and nobody really cared if they turned out or not.”
Mah’s 2016 election saw substantial Asian American voter turnout, she said, and Lee’s campaign further solidified the difference representation makes.
“I think it’s going to be a new day for our community.”
John Daley, who endorsed Lee, echoed Mah’s sentiments that not only Chinatown residents would benefit from Lee’s win.
“She understands the community and she will represent the entire community,” Daley said before Lee took the stage.
The representation in Chinatown is long overdue, Mah said. “There’s been a lot of neglect of communities of color, immigrant communities. It’s important to have someone who actually cares. And it’s not just about the Asian constituents — she can talk to anybody.”
“Even though we have victory tonight, the work is not done. It’s just started,” Lee said.
