Cameron Barnes

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Cameron Barnes

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

February 28, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

Central State University, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Community organizer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Cameron Barnes ran for election to the Chicago City Council to represent Ward 9 in Illinois. He lost in the general election on February 28, 2023.

Barnes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2023)

General election

General election for Chicago City Council Ward 9

Incumbent Anthony Beale defeated Cleopatra Draper, Cameron Barnes, and Sonya Thompson Dorsey in the general election for Chicago City Council Ward 9 on February 28, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anthony Beale (Nonpartisan)	60.1	6,296
		Cleopatra Draper (Nonpartisan)	31.9	3,339
		Cameron Barnes (Nonpartisan)	7.9	832
	Submit photo	Sonya Thompson Dorsey (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.1	6

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,473
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Cameron Barnes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Barnes' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a life-long, third generation resident of the 9th Ward. I’ve been blessed with a very unique experience to travel the country as a National Youth Civil Rights Leader, concentrating in Civil, Equal and Voting rights. I do not identify as a politician. My resume shows that I am a true servant leader and a public servant. I want to bring back the robust, safe and booming 9th Ward we once knew. My job is to be the voice of the people, not create my own personal interests.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Revitalization without Gentrification
• Education Innovation
• Reprioritize Resource Allocation

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

It did not. The issues were still there and needed to be addressed

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

Yes. But unfortunately, They are increasing. I get it from the news like most people.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

My focus is on the 9th Ward, the forgotten part of the city. We, for a fact, are not healthy.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

Absolutely imperative. I will have an open house, open door policy at least two days of the month to speak to constituents in my office as well as quarterly consultations with the community as a whole to go over all of my plans with and for the ward.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

In the order they are received. I would advocate for more accountability for all alderman.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

I would focus on violence intervention and prevention rather than response. Seems like I do, the city council puts more money in police than social services.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

This entire answer and issue is addressed in my first platform point of Revitalization without Gentrification. It can be found at www.CameronFor9.com

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

By always communicating with the constituents on projects.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

I believe it is not a correct approach. It focuses more on policing and not violence intervention and prevention and addressing root causes of why criminals act the way they do.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

The environmental health is a grave concern, especially in the 9th Ward where remnants of the carbon footprints of steel mills were never properly cleaned up and now emit toxicities into the air and water that we live with. I would advocate for a special budget in the city to address these issues.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

We must revitalize without gentrifying. My entire plan can be found on www.CameronFor9.com

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

I plan to reintroduce community policing in the ward. The people should know the police and the police should know the people. I’d plan to not continue increasing funding to CPD but funding violence intervention and prevention.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

Any policy that would keep residents safe and healthy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m most passionate about addressing the real needs of the people. I want the voices of the people to be heard and addressed. In the 9th Ward, housing is a special crisis that’s going on and housing is a civil right! I am passionate about making sure residents are safe and secure in their homes. I am also very passionate about voting rights and voter information and education amongst young people.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The fact that alderman are the sole gatekeepers of all decisions in the ward makes this a very meaningful and powerful position—if used correctly, it can change thousands of peoples lives for the better. As long as the alderman has the people’s agenda on his/her heart, then it can be great.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my Pastor, Rev. Dr. Howard Randolph and my mentor Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. I have been blessed to travel the country with both of them and glean from their leadership, both as a minister and a civil rights leader. I’ve learned how to treat people fairly, humble myself and to serve people with humility and respect.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

People Skills

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities are responding to the people and serving the people. Period.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I’d like to leave a legacy of helping people address the root causes of their issues. Standing for those who can’t stand for themselves. Being a voice for the voiceless.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11. I was 3 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was an event staffer for Monterrey Security in high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

N/A

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I’d love to be

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bless Me by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Trying to please everyone.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

They have almost total control of everything at comes and goes through the ward.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think the most beneficial experience to have is public service.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

People Skills are key.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Knock Knock

Who’s There?

Nobody?

Nobody Who?

……..

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

IVI-IPO

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

See also

2023 Elections

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Candidate

Chicago City Council Ward 9

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