Scott Waguespack

Scott Waguespack
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 32nd ward
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 20, 2007
Preceded byTheodore Matlak
Personal details
Born (1970-06-23) June 23, 1970 (age 54)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJade
Children2
EducationColorado State University, Fort Collins (BA)
Illinois Institute of Technology (JD)

Scott Waguespack (born June 23, 1970) is a member of the Chicago City Council, representing the 32nd ward since May 2007. The current 32nd ward includes parts of the neighborhoods of Bucktown, Goose Island, Hamlin Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Roscoe Village.[1][2] He is a member of the council's Progressive Reform Caucus, and was the chair during 2015–19.[3] During the 2019–23 term, he was selected as the chair of the Finance Committee.[4]

Background

Waguespack earned his undergraduate degree in political science at Colorado State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. After college, he served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Kenya working on clean water construction projects in schools, hospitals and women's clinics. Waguespack also served as an advisor to the President of Kosovo and has extensive experience working on nation-building projects in the Former Yugoslavia and Albania in cooperation with the Chicago-Kent College of Law, IIT Balkans project. He was a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.[5]

Waguespack was the city administrator and chief of staff to Berwyn mayor Michael A. O'Connor in 2005.

Aldermanic career

Waguespack was first elected as Chicago alderman for the 32nd Ward in 2007, unseating incumbent alderman Theodore Matlak. He has subsequently been reelected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.

Waguespack is a member of the following committees:[6]

  • Budget and Government Operations
  • Committees, Rules and Ethics
  • Education and Child Development
  • Finance; Human Relations
  • License and Consumer Protection
  • Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation.

He is also a founding member of the Chicago City Council's Progressive Reform Coalition, and served as chair of the Progressive Reform Caucus from 2015 to 2019.[3] Waguespack is also a member of Local Progress, a network of hundreds of local elected officials from around the country committed to a strong economy, equal justice, livable cities, and effective government. Waguespack is also the current Democratic Committeeman for the 32nd ward.[7][8]

In the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Waguespack endorsed Lori Lightfoot, publicly declaring his support of her candidacy in advance of the first round of the election.[9] Waguespack has been a City Council ally of Lightfoot during her mayoralty.[10][11] He has endorsed her for reelection in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election.[12] During Lightfoot's mayoralty, Waguespack has served as chair of the City Council's finance committee.[11]

In January 2020, Waguespack proposed legislation that would have placed limits on single-use plastics and foam food containers by giving give restaurants and take-out establishments until January 1, 2021, to stop selling or serving food in polystyrene containers and limit use of plastic utensils and straws.[10][13]

Democratic committeeman

Waguespack ran for the unpaid-political position of Democratic Committeeman in the March 2012 Democratic Party Primary Election. The incumbent, Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey dropped out of the race on February 15, 2012, citing residential constraints as a barrier to further holding that office.[14] Scott Waguespack went on to win the race.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Scott Waguespack, 32nd Ward | Your Chicago City Council: Our guide to all 50 aldermen. By Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  2. ^ "Alderman,-32nd-Ward:-Scott-Waguespack – Chicago Sun-Times". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  3. ^ a b "Who We Are". chicagoprogressivecaucus.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  4. ^ "A longtime critic takes the reins of Chicago council's finance committee". Bond Buyer. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  5. ^ "About | 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack". Scottforchicago.com. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  6. ^ "Legistar Profile – Scott Waguespack". City Clerk of Chicago. March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  7. ^ Cox, Ted (2013-03-12). "Progressive Aldermen Unite, Vow to End 'Business as Usual'". DNA Info Chicago. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  8. ^ "List of Ward Officials". Cook County. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  9. ^ "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Chicago alderman's plan would ban foam packaging in restaurants and reduce the use of plastic utensils, straws and more". Chicago Tribune. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b Myers, Quinn (29 November 2022). "Ald. Scott Waguespack Will Run Unopposed To Represent Bucktown, West Lakeview". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ^ Hinz, Greg (1 February 2023). "Ald. Tom Tunney backs Paul Vallas for mayor". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. ^ Spielman, Fran (15 January 2020). "Restaurants worry about cost of proposed limits on single-use plastics and foam food containers". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Fritchey drops out of 32nd Ward committeeman's race". Chicago Suntimes. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  15. ^ "Vote totals, 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman". Chgo Bd of Elections. 2012-03-06. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2014-01-10.