17th District Council Agenda

Steve Spagnolo – Chair

Steve Spagnolo, the chief of government relations and external affairs at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, has worked for numerous political campaigns as well as for 43rd Ward alderperson Michele Smith. In that role he attended CAPS meetings and helped put together public safety events in the ward with the participation of the district commanders and their officers.

As a child, he lost his father to gun violence. “We need leadership that will hold police accountable, push back against failed ‘tough on crime’ policies, and work to implement impactful crime-reduction strategies,” he says.

Alderpersons Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) and Carlos Ramirez Rosa (35th Ward), 30th Ward United, United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, 39th Ward Neighbors United, United Working Families – 50th Ward, and MWRD Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski have endorsed.

• Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.

• CPD reform: The police need significant reform.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Establishing civilian control of the police department

Other: Pushing for evidence-based policies that will improve police clearance rates on violent crimes. Including adding more detectives while reducing overall per capita officers which has not been shown to be impactful on crime rates as seen by Chicago which has the 2nd highest per capita officers among all major cities in the US.

Why are you running for Police District Council?

When I was just three years old, my father was killed in an armed robbery. No one was ever arrested for my father’s murder. Five years ago, I was robbed at gunpoint here in the 17th District along with several colleagues. No one was ever arrested in connection to the robbery, and I’ve only ever received one call from detectives about the incident.

Elizabeth Rochford – Nominating Committee

A nurse practitioner, Rochford works with ONE Northside on the organization’s Police Accountability Task Force. She helped write the ECPS ordinance.

Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) and Andre Vasquez (40th Ward), the ONE People’s Campaign, 39th Ward Neighbors United, 30th United, United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, and United Working Families of the 50th Ward have endorsed.

• Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.

• CPD reform: The police need training and some reform.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

Establishing civilian control of the police department

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I have worked on this issue with ONE Northside’s Police Accountability Task Force since its inception. The district council is now a reality, and I want to continue to push for equity in our community policing. I believe I am uniquely qualified to represent my district because of my experience as a nurse, because I come from a police family, and because I was directly involved in getting the ECPS ordinance written and passed.

Anthony M. Tamez – Community Engagement

The chairman of the Center for Native American Youth’s Advisory Board and a member of the Chi Nations Youth Council, Tamez says, “Enforcing the consent decree is critical to our community’s safety,” and believes “police accountability can become a reality through co-governance.”

Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) and Andre Vasquez (40th Ward), United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, 30th Ward United, 50th Ward United Working Families, and 39th Ward Neighbors United have endorsed.

• Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.

• CPD reform: The police should be defunded or abolished.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Establishing civilian control of the police department

Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

Helping the police do a better job

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I’m running for 17th District council because I believe that enforcing the consent decree is critical to our community’s safety, I remain committed to initiatives like treatment, not trauma, and believe police accountability can become a reality through co-governance. It is clear that I have a strong commitment to improving public safety and building trust in the 17th District, and I am well-suited for the police district council role. By running for this position, I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on my community and to work towards a safer and more equitable future.

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