Christopher Laurent
Chicago Police District Council District 14
Tenure
Term ends
Years in position
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Christopher Laurent is a member of the Chicago Police District Council in Illinois, representing District 14. He assumed office on May 2, 2023. His current term ends on May 4, 2027.
Laurent (Libertarian Party) ran in a special election for Cook County Clerk in Illinois. He lost in the special general election on November 5, 2024.
Laurent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Christopher Laurent's professional experience includes working as a paralegal, journalist, and public relations professional. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2017. Laurent earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in 2004 and a bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University in 2018.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)
General election
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Laurent in this election.
2023
See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2023)
General election
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Christopher Laurent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laurent's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Chris grew up in the New Orleans area, where he attended university to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. After university, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, taking him all over the nation on assignments. After active duty, he settled into Chicago, where he affiliated with the Navy Reserves – which included a one-year assignment in Afghanistan. Upon completion of his combat tour, he focused his attention to making the world around him to be a better place. He earned another bachelor’s degree in Communication Theory and holds two post-bachelorette certificates (Project Management and Paralegal). When not working at a local law firm, Chris devotes much of his time contributing to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of which he is the Senior Vice Commander of Post 2978 (Logan-Avondale). In matters concerning the public, he continues his pledge of when he first joined the military, “I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.” Chris lives in the 14th District with his wife, Beth and their dog, Ernie.
- The Libertarian Blueprint for an Innovative and Accessible Clerk's Office
Our mission is to streamline bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and ensure that every resident of our great county has equitable access to the essential services provided by the Clerk's office. By embracing technology and innovation, we can create a more efficient and responsive government that respects the time and resources of our citizens.
- Chris is the most qualified candidate in this race, as he has experience in administrative duties and leading a team to mission accomplishment.
- Unlike his opponents, Chris has no ulterior motive to providing the essential services to the residents of Cook County.
I intend to carry on the progress of the dearly departed Clerk and move the county into the future with an approach to a 'service first' mindset. The cost of government should not continue to burden the citizenry.
Honestly, I look up to my wife, Beth. She has been a bastion of character for me and I strive every day to be the perfect partner for her.
These positions should be reserved for those who have a service-based approach. The people are being bled dry through bureaucracy. Those seeking these positions need to be humble servants and sacrifice themselves before lining the pockets of themselves or their party affiliates.
As I am a current office holder in the city of Chicago, I maintain my experience in office. My military background has provided me with years of training on being a leader. And my astute attention to detail has best prepared me for this role in government.
Accuracy - This position requires the accuracy and precision to make certain no mistakes are made. This office deals with important documents that record the details of people's lives.
Efficiency - The tasks of any government office should be performed in the most efficient manner, as the costs are shared by the population served. Being a great steward of that fact should be in the forefront of any administrator's mind.
Professionalism - Know that this position represents the trust and confidence of the people they represent. Being a professional in this capacity is the low bar for excellence and representation. I would like for people to truly look at the role government has in their lives. It is imperative that we view the government as something we can aproach an change when necessary.
I vividly remember the Space Shuttle Challenger incident. I had just made 13 years of age and I remember watching the launch at a school assembly and the awkwardness of the teachers escorting us all out of the viewing area. Of course there were a lot of items in my past, but this one stood out to me as a lasting memory.
Proving that my intentions are pure.
Libertarian Party of Illinois
People have a right to know where every cent of the tax money being used in every aspect of government. This includes when fraud, waste and abuse is present. When those are apparent, there needs to be a correction to rectify the individual, or individuals accountable.
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.
2023
Christopher Laurent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laurent's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am U.S. Navy Veteran, who is committed to leading the charge to represent the community and bring a clear line of communication with the Police District. I am pro community, which translates to bridging the gap in understanding between the police and the communities they serve.
- Accountability at every level
- Safety through dialogue
- Embrace, not replace
Featured local question
Yes. Chicago's approach to COVID-19 was barbaric. If you educate people on possible dangers, and allow them to make measured risk assessments on their own accord, then we have an accountable measure to combat the issue.
Featured local question
Crime is escalating throughout the city and we need a cooperative working relationship with our police to make the changes necessary to restore safety and security.
Featured local question
No. The downtown area is ridden with crime and a stronger police presence is needed before people begin to abandon the area as a whole.
Featured local question
Every decision I am charged with making will have the direct influence of the community. This position is not about me, or my preferences. As a public representative, it is imperative that I take full consideration of the community over my own whims.
Featured local question
As a former journalist, I am well familiar with the FOIA guidelines. I would add that archiving records after a designated time, making them available publicly and un-redacted with no statute of limitations for public greivances.
Featured local question
Fully embrace the police and support them in their endeavors. By doing this, we gain an understanding of what the communities need and want, while developing a clear understanding of the limitations of the police.
Featured local question
This does not fall within the purview of the office I am seeking.
Featured local question
The voices of the community will always be paramount - even more imperative than my own interests.
Featured local question
We need a clean slate and approach to public safety. From the State's Attorney down. There needs to be a clear line of accountability.
Featured local question
Chicago has a very high emphasis on the environment. With the parks and green spaces, there are plenty of resources available to combat environmental hazards.
Featured local question
I would ideally like to see an expanded security video sharing program. Using the city of Chicago's program to assist in providing security cameras to properties, we create.a shared monitor of these for police to use in their investigations. These would only be used for cameras that show a view of publicly accessible areas and not private property.
Featured local question
I look forward to amplify the communications between the police and the community. Many of the misunderstandings we have with our police is this shroud of mystery. If people are unaware of the reasons why police do things a certain way, there will always be distrust.
Featured local question
None. The government reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic by shutting people into their homes not only violated the rights of the people, it also created the lackluster economy we are dealing with today.
Provide a working environment with the community and police to reduce crime. Holding criminals accountable with due process.
Understanding that the office is representative of the community, not the opportunity for someone who is self-serving.
Empathetic listener and diligent in solving problems. Community-minded.
I would like to begin the trend where office-holders push the agenda of the people they represent, not their own interests.
I remember being shuffled into a school library to watch the Space Shuttle launch where, unfortunately we lost the lives of all aboard. This was on January 26, 1986.
Understanding of the law. Understanding of the limitations of the police.
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
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 26, 2023
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 24, 2024
