Deondre Rutues
Deondre Rutues is a member of the Chicago Police District Council in Illinois, representing District 15. He assumed office on May 2, 2023. His current term ends on May 4, 2027.
Rutues ran for election to the Chicago Police District Council to represent District 15 in Illinois. He won in the general election on February 28, 2023.
Elections
2023
See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2023)
General election
General election for Chicago Police District Council District 15 (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Chicago Police District Council District 15 on February 28, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Karen Winters (Nonpartisan) | 22.4 | 3,552 | |
| ✔ |  | Deondre Rutues (Nonpartisan) | 16.0 | 2,536 |
| ✔ | Carmelita Earls (Nonpartisan) | 14.2 | 2,246 | |
| Darius Newsome (Nonpartisan) | 14.2 | 2,245 | ||
| Oddis Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 14.0 | 2,222 | ||
| Constance Melton (Nonpartisan) | 10.0 | 1,588 | ||
| Elena Thompson (Nonpartisan) | 9.1 | 1,433 | ||
| Total votes: 15,822 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2019
See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2019)
General election
General election for Chicago City Council Ward 37
Incumbent Emma Mitts defeated Tara Stamps and Deondre Rutues in the general election for Chicago City Council Ward 37 on February 26, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Emma Mitts (Nonpartisan) | 54.1 | 4,151 |
| Tara Stamps (Nonpartisan) | 40.2 | 3,083 | ||
| Deondre Rutues (Nonpartisan) | 5.7 | 436 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 7,675 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Otis Percy (Nonpartisan)
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Deondre Rutues did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Chicago 2019 Candidate Survey
Deondre Rutues completed Ballotpedia's Chicago candidates survey for 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rutues' responses.
Low-income families do not have the same choices, options, or alternatives when it comes to public school. How can this be addressed?
1. Get rid of zoning. 2. Establish/Re-establish programs that affluent communities are privy to. CPS has to get rid of zoning for school's. If a child shows the propensity for being educated, he/she should not have to be forced to go to a neighborhood that will stifle his/her growth. There should be educational programs established in the lower income areas of the city that are similar to the ones in privileged ones, this will bridge the gap and bring those children up to par with the ones in better neighborhoods.
How would you address inequality within and between schools?
1. Disperse information fairly 2. Distribute resources fairly 3. Get rid of Selective Enrollment. First and Foremost, all information should be disseminated the same, regardless of the school's location and rating. CPS does a terrible job of communicating opportunity to lower-income schools. CPS has also created a resource gap in certain neighborhoods. There is no reason that some school's have no computer lab while others have several, same goes for outdated books and tech. EVERY CPS school should have the same resources, some more than others understandably, but the playing field should be even. Selective enrollment is also and issue. There should not be a test to make it into a quality school unless it is college. It can intimidate students from lower-income areas and keep CPS from properly educating the best and brightest.
How can public schools better support their teachers and work more productively with the teachers’ union, parents, and the community?
1. More time for lesson plans 2. Less micro-managing 3. More collaboration opportunities CPS can allow teachers more time to lesson plan. There is this expectancy of a quick turnaround for information that leaves some teachers feeling ill-prepared. CPS can also allow a more autonomous environment for teachers to serve students and parents as best as they know possible. The rigidity of CPS forces all teachers to treat every student/situation in a predetermined manner when not all problems are alike; less micro-managing teachers. There also has to be a more collaborative atmosphere created for teachers and parents. Again, the climate CPS have teachers perform in is rigid so it stifles creativity. Parents know best!
What do you believe are the greatest needs of kids in school today? How would you prioritize these needs and address them?
1. Socio-Emotional investment The greatest need of CPS students is social-emotional. These children are hurting and bear the burden of carrying life's pains to school at an early age. We focus so much on the mental aspect of a child (the ability to learn) that we forget they have the same emotional make-up of adults. They feel hurt and cry out for help but have been let down by a school system that has done away with counselors, social workers and therapists. CPS needs to re-invest in the mental health of our children. CPS could also do well with hiring more teachers that have a high awareness. These would be teachers that spot issues with a child and are willing to help that child through his/her issue(s).
What are your proposals for supporting children before and after school? What would be your ideal afterschool programs?
1. Mentor programs 2. Life skills programs 3. More opportunities for art. 4. Gentleman's Club There should be mentor programs for both beginning and end of the school day. There are too many mentor programs in this city for CPS not have partnerships with these groups and utilize mentorship more. Children shouldn't have to wait for college to take advantage of someone who has walked their path and can help them tremendously with navigating their circumstance. There should be emphasis placed on life skills! Early morning programs can be cooking, after school can be goal-setting and credit building. CPS NEEDS to bring art back to the schools. They've taken away a form of self-expression that builds confidence, character and self-esteem! My ideal after-school program would be A Gentleman's Club. A program where fatherless boys are taught how to be distinguished gentleman, everything from proper decorum, to dressing for success and how to treat the opposite sex.
Do you believe that there is corruption in Chicago politics, such as pay-to-play practices when the city awards bids? If so, how would you address it?
Of course there is! Wherever there is money to be exchanged there is an opportunity for corruption. I would have an external board or independent auditor that reviews deals that may seem sketchy. If it seems that there may be any wrong-dealings then that contract would be voided immediately. Any signs of conflict of interest should raise suspicion.
How would you make the city’s policies more responsive to community input instead of donors or special interests?
There should be an emphasis placed on the # of policies that MUST be developed with a communal mindset. For example, if there are 45 policies developed for the year then 30 of them should be from a community perspective. I believe the # of policies developed for the community should double those that are made without the community in mind. It is time Chicago placed a greater emphasis on ALL the neighborhoods in its boundaries.
How would you handle the “recurrence of unaddressed racially discriminatory conduct by officers” identified in the U.S. Justice Department’s investigative report of the Chicago PD published in 2017?
I support CPAC. I believe a people-centered, democratic approach toward governing the police is necessary. CPAC was drafted because CPD has long abused and betrayed the trust of the people they were sworn to serve, not every officer of course but those that have usually receive a slap on the wrist. CPD has to get its house in order or allow the people that have been wronged get it together for them, I don't see any other options.
What sort of proposals would help reduce police shootings and fatalities?
I would constantly rotate officers and give them equal action in high crime areas, low crime areas and desk jobs. Being an officer is a very stressful job and the heightened sense of danger keeps many officers on edge. We have to do a better job of managing that emotion. Rotations could be on quarterly intervals. I also believe EVERY officer should be required to be evaluated by a therapist quarterly. It gives the officer the opportunity to deal with everyday stresses of job, family and life and can help with the emotional release of tensions that affect his/her ability on the job.
What ideas do you have to reduce the availability of illegal or unregistered guns in Chicago?
Guns should no longer be transported into Chicago by truck or train. The accessibility of these means of transportation makes acquiring illegal guns too easy. Guns should be transported by plane and not fully assembled. It may be a time costly situation but if the guns were transported in pieces then put together upon destination that may deter criminals from trying to high jack shipments.
How will you help to rebuild trust in the police department and to encourage the community to work with police?
CPD has to re-introduce programs that built community relationships in the past. The Officer Friendly program comes to mind. There has to be a community focus in the department that solely focuses on curating a better relationship. Looking at the program established in New York would help.
How would you address criminal justice issues such as prison reform and the reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons into city life?
I believe no one should be in jail for non-violent (minor) drug offenses. They should be fined or forced to do community service as a means of repayment for breaking the law. Cook County has 1,000's of these men and women being held and it is costing taxpayers millions. That needs to be changed right away! Regarding reintroduction into the community, formerly incarcerated men and women should be released straight to programs that actively help people in those situations. I would like to see those men/women actively get help from day 1. They should get help with acquiring an ID, a therapist, pointed towards a job opportunity and housing. Too often they are released to the streets and are expected to make due without guidance and direction. This has to STOP!
How would you address the displacement of people of color and long-term residents from their neighborhoods?
I would put a 1% tax freeze on property tax in disadvantaged neighborhoods so that they don't lose their homes. If the city wants more revenues from the disadvantaged then they'd have to develop the communities to bring them up to the same level as those in affluent neighborhoods. There also has to be an increased emphasis on education, safety and job development. People are leaving because they aren't being offered the same opportunities as the affluent neighborhood. There is truly a tale of two cities here.
How would you care for the most vulnerable Chicagoans?
There needs to be legislation developed to care for these citizens. CPAC comes to mind when dealing with black and brown communities and policing. Illinois law states African-American history HAS to be a part of every school's curriculum. Legislation that defends the vulnerable is the only way to fight for them.
How would you ensure that development benefits residents in their neighborhoods and not solely the developers and other interests?
Every neighborhood has to have a CBA, Community Bargaining Agreement. The CBA would spell out exactly what can and can't happen before, during and after development. The CBA should be pro-neighborhood.
How would you distribute revenue fairly between neighborhoods?
I would do what the NBA does and engage in revenue sharing. The top 25 wards have to give revenues to the bottom 25 so that they all have equal footing. If the top wards disagree, then my hope is that they would advocate on behalf of the bottom 25 so there is more equality and no one "loses" revenues.
How do you propose to resolve the city’s underfunded pension plan for city employees?
When marijuana is legalized, ALL taxes must go to the fund. The current pension and all monies owed should be paid out before any reform happens, but there must be a reform to the pension plan. It is an antiquated system that doesn't fit today's business climate.
What’s your opinion on tax increment financing (a program that funds development using any additional property tax revenue that results from an increase in appraised property values)? What, if any, changes would you make to the use of TIF?
The TIF NEEDS to be used solely in under-developed communities like it was originally created to do. Until now the TIF has been used to give large corporations an incentive to build in communities but they have done so in a predatory manner such as the Target that is leaving the south side. This has to be prevented. That money has to be given to corporations with harsh penalties for collecting money and running! If a corporation utilizes TIF dollars to build in the community, they must do so with the acknowledgement that they have a Corporate Social Responsibility to the community and if they build an operation to make money, then so too must they build the community around that operation. If this doesn't start to take place then the TIF should no longer exist.
How would you assess the city's finances, and if your proposals would require new spending, how would you pay for them?
The city's finances are a joke. The massive amount of debt we've incurred from over paying workers, corruption and wasteful budgeting is an indication of mismanagement at the highest levels. There needs to be more oversight from the Inspector General right away to help prevent this level of mismanagement in the future. I would not propose anything that was not in budget, that's what budgets are for.
Would you be in favor of freezing property taxes, at least for low-income households, so that people can stay where they are living?
I mentioned earlier there should be a 1% property tax freeze in lower income neighborhoods. I am absolutely for this happening.
How would you increase access to quality food and urgent care in all parts of the city?
There should be an increase in standalone and satellite locations for all neighborhoods. There could be partnerships with existing entities as well. For example, Advocate can partner with PCC in Austin or Trader Joe's can partner with Aldi. There has to be an emphasis placed on increased collaboration so access to food and healthcare can be realized and quality increased.
How will you address public health concerns such as contaminated drinking water, rat infestation, and lead poisoning?
Chicago's infrastructure is a major concern that must be addressed immediately; we must replace all pipelines in the city. Until we can do so, there should be a rebate given for homes that purchase water filters to encourage home owners and building managers to attach these devices to their faucets. Rats are repelled by mint. We use mint to drive the rodents to locations in the city where they can be eradicated. We have to stop using lead pipes! There are better alternatives such as outfitting plastic with copper. We can recycle the plastic we have to create the pipes and the copper would hold up for at least 50 years with maintenance.
How would you make Chicago a cleaner city with less waste and pollution?
All Chicago buildings have to become leed ceertified. Residents with homes should be encouraged to become more eco-friendly with tax rebates. There should be more incentives for electric vehicle ownership. We should utilize hemp for product creation, for example straws could be made from hemp so that when they are discarded they are bio-degradable.
What would be your first steps for improving the transit system in terms of affordability, accessibility, and safety?
It is time to look at alternative options for the transit system. I would look at a shuttle service customers can sign up for. Something similar to an UBER experience but you would have to meet the shuttle at a central location. I would price that service based on customers' age.
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.
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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