Congressman Mike Quigley, Chicago Board of Education candidates and a contender for the 9th District Police Council spoke at the October 7, 2026, meeting of the McKinley Park Civic Association, sharing their vision and qualifications ahead of general and municipal elections.
Quigley, who is running for Chicago mayor, said “this is the last job I will ever have” if he wins the election, which takes place on February 23, 2027.
Speaking to the difficult fiscal choices that the City of Chicago has to make in the face of massive deficits and public pension obligations, Quigley said “the city is in trouble.”
Out of Runway
Yesenia Lopez, standing, speaks at the October 7, 2026, McKinley Park Civic Association meeting alongside association officers Chris Bania and Sylvia Cortez.“The city has to get its financial house in order,” he said. “Whatever your agenda, this is issue number one.”
Quigley spoke to his willingness to make difficult and potentially unpopular decisions in order to manage Chicago’s massive deficits and public pension obligations. “We are out of runway,” he said.
Mayor Over Congressman
When asked about his continuing, simultaneous reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives, Quigley said he’d choose to be mayor over congressman.
“I’m running for mayor,” he said. Staying in the congressional race mitigates handing over ballot decisions to Democratic Party committeemen, he said.
No Additional Debt
Yesenia Lopez, who is running for reelection for District 7B for the Chicago Board of Education, spoke to her independent decision-making in the face of a recent Chicago Teachers Union push to add to pension obligations.
“We should not be taking on any additional debt,” she said.
High Schools at Capacity
District 7B represents the McKinley Park neighborhood and other community areas on Chicago’s Southwest side.
When asked about declining enrollment and underutilized buildings at at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Lopez noted how District 7B high schools are actually at capacity and in high demand.
Reutilize Buildings
Still, vacant schools face expensive maintenance costs, she said, and the past sale of seven CPS properties brought revenue into the district.
“How can we reutilize buildings?”she asked. There may be more opportunities to leverage vacant and underused CPS properties to generate revenue, she said.
Students Are Gone
Juan Igancio Gonzalez, a candidate for Chicago Board of Education for District 8B, which represents Back of the Yards and other Southwest Side neighborhoods, said he’s “willing to make hard decisions” about school closings.
“Are we utilizing [school] funds in the best way possible?” he asked. “The students are gone” from some schools, he said.
Expectations and Resources
Jennifer Alvares introduces herself and her candidacy for 9th District Police Council at the October 7, 2026, McKinley Park Civic Association meeting.A veteran Chicago Police Department detective who also owns the Dreamcatcher Café in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, Gonzalez said his priorities include changing low expectations in area schools and helping students navigate a lack of resources.
"On the South Side, we want to be challenged,” he said.
Election for Chicago Board of Education members takes place during the general election on November 3, 2026.
Police Council Candidate
Jennifer Alvares also attended the meeting and announced her candidacy to be a member of the 9th District Police Council: elected representatives who provide oversight and connection with the Chicago Police Department through the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.
“I want to give a voice to some of the neighbors,” she said. Her priorities include opening up more communication between residents and local police, she said.
Holiday Decorating Contest
McKinley Park Civic Association officers also conducted group and membership business at the meeting, including review and approval of meeting notes and budgets.
Civic association President Chris Bania said the group will again be producing its holiday decorating contest for the neighborhood, which will kick off at the November group meeting. The association will also host its holiday party for members on December 2, 2026, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The next McKinley Park Civic Association Meeting is 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the McKinley Park library, 1915 W. 35th St., Chicago.
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