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Leslie Fox
Leslie Fox ran for election to the Chicago City Council to represent Ward 43 in Illinois. Fox lost in the general election on February 26, 2019.
Fox completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Fox responded to Ballotpedia's unique candidate survey for 2019 Chicago candidates. The survey questions were developed with input from more than 100 Chicagoans in the months preceding the 2019 election. Here is one selected response:
"I do not support a property tax increase because of the negative impact it would have on working class neighborhoods who have been taxed without reducing the cost of government."
Click here to read more of Fox's responses.
Elections
2019
See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2019)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Chicago City Council Ward 43
Incumbent Michele Smith defeated Derek Lindblom in the general runoff election for Chicago City Council Ward 43 on April 2, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michele Smith (Nonpartisan) | 53.6 | 7,435 |
 | Derek Lindblom (Nonpartisan) | 46.4 | 6,444 | |
| Total votes: 13,879 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
General election
General election for Chicago City Council Ward 43
The following candidates ran in the general election for Chicago City Council Ward 43 on February 26, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michele Smith (Nonpartisan) | 39.0 | 5,486 |
| ✔ | | Derek Lindblom (Nonpartisan) | 27.8 | 3,913 |
 | Leslie Fox (Nonpartisan) | 13.4 | 1,892 | |
 | Jacob Ringer (Nonpartisan) | 12.6 | 1,776 | |
 | Rebecca Janowitz (Nonpartisan) | 4.8 | 681 | |
| Steven McClellan (Nonpartisan) | 2.3 | 325 | ||
| Total votes: 14,073 | |||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matthew Roney (Nonpartisan)
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Chicago 2019 Candidate Survey
Leslie Fox completed Ballotpedia's Chicago candidates survey for 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fox's responses.
Low-income families do not have the same choices, options, or alternatives when it comes to public school. How can this be addressed?
We must invest in education as a budget priority. Supporting our neighborhood schools is imperative to the stability of the 43rd Ward’s future. Strong schools create strong communities. My first ordinance would be a proposal mandating that every public school must have a dedicated social worker to support individual students, families, and the broader community. Social workers teach problem-solving skills to teenagers who might otherwise resort to violence, transforming passion into more productive activities. This small investment can reap enormous returns, boosting educational outcomes while reducing crime. Funneling funding that would have gone to public schools into private schools or charter schools is not a viable option either. Charter schools will always serve as inaccessible to the cities poorest youth.
How would you address inequality within and between schools?
As the only Chicago Public School parent running: I’ve seen how the current system has failed Chicago’s children and families. CPS needs to develop better relationships within our communities and build support for decisions to reduce the number of underutilized schools. I know this from experience. CPS shows up at a successful school like Lincoln Elementary to tell parents about a building expansion or program change. They argue and ignore the suggestions of the parents (taxpayers) with children at this school. This only emboldens local residents to take hardline positions and undermines any negotiations before they even begin.
How can public schools better support their teachers and work more productively with the teachers’ union, parents, and the community?
I am in favor of electing members of the school board. The Board of Education should be made up of residents reflective of the communities they serve, not just the Mayor’s friends and donors. Democracy needs to be restored to our failed CPS bureaucracy. However, the transition needs to be done in a thoughtful way and we must not be blinded into thinking that it will be a panacea for all problems facing our schools. While I passionately believe the board should be elected, I also believe in a transition period. The mayor and governor should each have a single appointee on the board. The best transition from the current autocratic system is a hybrid board that then moves into a fully elected board.
What do you believe are the greatest needs of kids in school today? How would you prioritize these needs and address them?
We must invest in education as a budget priority. Supporting our neighborhood schools is imperative to the stability of the 43rd Ward’s future. Strong schools create strong communities. My first ordinance would be a proposal mandating that every public school must have a dedicated social worker to support individual students, families, and the broader community. Social workers teach problem-solving skills to teenagers who might otherwise resort to violence, transforming passion into more productive activities. This small investment can reap enormous returns, boosting educational outcomes while reducing crime. Funneling funding that would have gone to public schools into private schools or charter schools is not a viable option either. Charter schools will always serve as inaccessible to the cities poorest youth.
What are your proposals for supporting children before and after school? What would be your ideal afterschool programs?
My ideal after school programs would be something that supported children mentally, physically, and emotionally if they so desire. Strong after school programming should involve leadership programs, workshops on self-expression and creativity, and creative problem solving-looped in with team building. I would love for our after school programs to be an extension of the values that we try to instill every day to our children in public schools.
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?
I absolutely support establishing oversight of the City Council. No department of government should be immune from transparency, audit, and review. In the last several years, an endless stream of scandals in government agencies have cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. Everyone who works in city government whether in the mayor’s office or as alderman must be held accountable for the waste, corruption and incompetence that costs our city bills we need to borrow to pay. I will advocate bolstering the budget of the inspector general. I will initiate a program that requires an outside independent organization to provide a yearly audit of city departments.
How would you make the city’s policies more responsive to community input instead of donors or special interests?
A truly independent alderman should never accept a single dime in a campaign contribution from the Mayor or his moneyed supporters. In the 1990s the Mayor and City Council made city elections nonpartisan. It’s time to take the next logical step of prohibiting the Mayor or Alderman from holding the elected position of Committeeman. An Alderman who holds the position of Ward Committeeman becomes compromised because that position requires participation in recruiting and slating of candidates for various elected offices and judgeships. We’ve seen cases of committeemen slating precinct captains for election as aldermen which makes those aldermen de facto servants of the committeeman. In the future we will likely see committeemen slating candidates for the school board. An Alderman’s only job must be to serve the constituents of the ward.
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 ending the City’s gang database. Technology can be used to enhance the safety of our communities or reduce accountability. There comes a time, when even among the best intentions we must realize that initiatives initially intended to cut back on harmful community violence have actually led to an increase in punitive measures against the community. The gang database often rests on reductive notions of crime and punishment, ignoring efforts at rehabilitation and restorative justice processes that include the whole community. While we must crack down on community violence, the more important thing is ensuring that people who have been pushed into unfortunate circumstances have the chance to grow and make their lives better. A greater rate of rehabilitation, and less punitive consequences will result in lower rates of recidivism and continued harm to the community. The root causes of violence must be addressed as well, lack of job opportunities for teens exiting school, fewer school social workers, and a disregard for public mental health services in black and brown communities. The 43rd Ward and all Chicago residents would benefit by the funding of mental health clinics that were shut down by the current administration and the city council. My first ordinance as an alderman would also be support social worker in all CPS schools. I am committed to keeping this city safe by pushing for policies that will A.) improve the working relationship with the police and the community and B.) get at the root causes of violence.
What sort of proposals would help reduce police shootings and fatalities?
I support the recommendations put forth by the CPCA. First, I agree that any reforms must be overseen by the courts through a consent decree. In order to win my support, a new contract would have to include a complete overhaul of officer training to focus on de-escalation, changes to the use of force policy that would prevent the use of potentially lethal tasers on fleeing individuals, and real consequences for officers that fail to wear body cameras or abide by the new use of force policies. There are several strategies that would be effective. As part of their training, police should have to complete 20 hours of classes taught by mental health professionals. Annually, officers should have to complete an additional seminar annually to refresh those skills and stay on the cutting edge of crisis management. And cases involving suspects with mental illness should be given extra scrutiny by trained professionals on the Department’s payroll.
What ideas do you have to reduce the availability of illegal or unregistered guns in Chicago?
In order to solve our gun problem, we must first work to institute common sense gun safety measures. This involves stopping the flow of illegal weapons from border states like Indiana and increased background checks for those looking to purchase firearms. We also must make clear the distinction between drug possession and firearm possession vis a vis jail time. It does not make sense to level the same offenses at non-violent versus violent offenders. It takes up taxpayer resources and contributes to a system that systematically targets black and brown youth. At the same time gun control doesn’t end community violence, only strong schools and close knit communities can do that.
How will you help to rebuild trust in the police department and to encourage the community to work with police?
I support a community police accountability board. I have always been in favor of more community policing and that starts with a connection between those who are doing the policing and those who are affected the most. The final piece of this puzzle is to improve the working relationship with the police and the community. This means revitalizing community policing through long term relationships. This board could prove critical to establishing these relationships. If an effective part of policing includes the day-to day cops on the beat, this also means we must stop the practice of assigning police officers to downtown districts instead of their own communities. Officers should be familiar with the neighborhood they serve in. Relationships between the police and community leaders are critical so that potential crises can be addressed before they escalate into explosive conflicts. Putting more of our efforts into prevention rather than retribution means healthier communities with less recurring issues.
How would you address criminal justice issues such as prison reform and the reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons into city life?
I would support programs helping to aid in the transition between incarceration and reentry into society. This includes job placement programs, housing information and general counseling services. Again, I believe our criminal justice system should pivot more towards preventive and restorative measures rather than punitive measures. I believe in investing in Education and Mental Health Clinics because I believe that in doing so we will reduce the population that feels desperate enough to commit such crimes.
How would you address the displacement of people of color and long-term residents from their neighborhoods?
The 43rd Ward is on track to becoming completely inaccessible to working and middle class families. We must reduce the tax burden so that residents and businesses can afford to stay and grow in the 43rd Ward. I worry that young couples with small children, seniors, and local businesses are fleeing the ward to avoid recent hikes in property taxes. This is only exacerbated by the dearth of middle-income housing as development continues. Much of this has been undermined by planning that prioritizes high income developments at the expense of other opportunities. We must be cognizant of how we triple zone lots, leading the way to large mansions that occupy spaces that could have served for multiple families. We also should encourage some form of rent control in agreements between landlords and owners. Our ward would be stronger if there was housing available for our teachers, policemen and more working class people. Our shops would be filled, cafes would be busy and you would not be seeing vacant storefronts on all of our retail avenues. When developers and friends of the elected officials who fund their campaigns receive zoning variances for triple lot mansions everyone loses outside of the bank accounts of the incumbents. Another way to improve housing affordability is to increase the minimum wage so residents can keep up with rising costs and higher taxes. Businesses, schools, hospitals and other employers and residents thrive when local workers can afford to live near their work.
How would you care for the most vulnerable Chicagoans?
The 43rd Ward is on track to becoming completely inaccessible to working and middle class families. We must reduce the tax burden so that residents and businesses can afford to stay and grow in the 43rd Ward. I worry that young couples with small children, seniors, and local businesses are fleeing the ward to avoid recent hikes in property taxes. This is only exacerbated by the dearth of middle-income housing as development continues. Much of this has been undermined by planning that prioritizes high income developments at the expense of other opportunities. We must be cognizant of how we triple zone lots, leading the way to large mansions that occupy spaces that could have served for multiple families. We also should encourage some form of rent control in agreements between landlords and owners. Our ward would be stronger if there was housing available for our teachers, policemen and more working class people. Our shops would be filled, cafes would be busy and you would not be seeing vacant storefronts on all of our retail avenues. When developers and friends of the elected officials who fund their campaigns receive zoning variances for triple lot mansions everyone loses outside of the bank accounts of the incumbents. Another way to improve housing affordability is to increase the minimum wage so residents can keep up with rising costs and higher taxes. Businesses, schools, hospitals and other employers and residents thrive when local workers can afford to live near their work.
How would you ensure that development benefits residents in their neighborhoods and not solely the developers and other interests?
I believe development in this neighborhood has been allowed to be directed by donors, not the residents of the ward. As Alderman, I would be for smart development; In other words, smart planning saves money. Before considering any development I would do three things. First thing is to check in with community, secondly get a school impact plan in place for CPS schools and third make sure the development matches the historic nature of the neighborhood.
How would you distribute revenue fairly between neighborhoods?
I would make sure obscure funding policies like TIF are put on a moratorium until it becomes clear exactly where that funding is going. I believe that any new streams of revenue procured by the city, must unequivocally have a plan for how that revenue is going to be equitably distributed. Programs like TIF were originally started to aid blighted areas, any new funding streams should be drawn from the same idea and stick to that original purpose. There are areas of Chicago that are desperately in need of funding, and then there are areas that are relatively well-off; it's time that fact informed our development decisions.
How do you propose to resolve the city’s underfunded pension plan for city employees?
The Emanuel Administration has been effective at beginning the process of cleaning up the city’s finances and ensuring its access to the bond market. I would work with the new administration and my colleagues on the council to explore every opportunity to add more revenue to pay for city services and improve their delivery. We need to look carefully at every revenue raising proposal so we can freeze property taxes. Every municipality in Illinois struggles with pensions. I would work with the state’s Municipal League and officials from all local governments to come up with a statewide solution.
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 original goals of TIF are admirable. Using smart investment through private-public partnership as a way to increase development in undervalued communities has real value. However, that is not how the City Council has implemented the policy. Instead, it has become an incentive for development in already prosperous areas of the city that also serves as a hand-out for corporate donors. And this development reduces the quality of life for the residents as a result of corruption, poor management, and secrecy. As Alderman, I will seek a complete overhaul of our TIF system. I will initiate a complete moratorium on TIF’s until there is full transparency and accountability for a program that was originated to invest in blighted areas and is now being used to support developers that support elected officials’ campaigns. I know of a successful business in Class A space on Michigan Avenue that was awarded TIF funds for moving some back office facilities to a high rent building on LaSalle Street in the Loop. TIF funds, now in the hands of the Mayor’s Office, should be used for education and funding critical city services, like police and fire. However currently, that is not the case. There is little to no community oversight on TIF funds and input about how the TIF funding should be spent.
How would you assess the city's finances, and if your proposals would require new spending, how would you pay for them?
To achieve the revenue we need to right the city’s fiscal ship, invest in stronger schools and safer streets that will attract and retain high paying jobs and residents to our city. We also have a responsibility to put forward bold and creative solutions for revenue generation that doesn't rely on placing the burden on working families. It’s for this reason that I support solutions such like: the taxing and regulation of legalized cannabis, which I believe this will not only help create new streams of revenue but will ultimately also reduce costs in our criminal justice system; A commuter tax with incentives for clean vehicles and ride sharing programs; A real estate transfer tax increase, but not for small and mid- size businesses;
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 do not support a property tax increase because of the negative impact it would have on working class neighborhoods who have been taxed without reducing the cost of government.
How would you increase access to quality food and urgent care in all parts of the city?
I absolutely support initiatives to reinstate health care services to Englewood, and as alderman will fight hard to make this happen. Those services should have never been cut. As alderman I would never vote for a budget that cut health services to those that need them the most. You can count on that. The closure of the clinic was short sighted and ended up costing the city more. As alderman I would do all that I could to make sure that never happened again. I would also support the reopening of the 5 mental health clinics that were closed across the city of Chicago. This is an inexcusable loss of services for those who need it the most.
How will you address public health concerns such as contaminated drinking water, rat infestation, and lead poisoning?
Every family must have access to clean and affordable water. Chicago has lead in its drinking water because the city a half century ago mandated that lead pipe be used in water delivery. That policy was adopted because no one was aware of the danger. As residents of this city, we cannot accept this any longer, we need an aggressive plan of attack to fix this incredibly dangerous problem as soon as possible. The Illinois Finance Authority is formulating funding programs to assist local communities with retrofitting water systems with safe piping. I would recommend that we work with IFA in developing a plan for Chicago.
How would you make Chicago a cleaner city with less waste and pollution?
I think that communities are healthier when a fair share of the residents can walk and bike to work. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it promotes a reinvestment in the community and a sense of pride among community members. If we are to move forward on a new-greener transportation system, biking and walking will be prioritized forms of transportation. This will certainly reduce our carbon footprint as a city. I also agree with basic increases in services of waste management. For example, more trashcans and recycling bins on public streets.
What would be your first steps for improving the transit system in terms of affordability, accessibility, and safety?
I support a 50% discounted CTA Transit Pass. Increasing the number of riders that use the CTA means less transportation gridlock and pollution in our city. It also means that people can afford to live in the same neighborhoods they work in. Families also deserve to be able to move about the city with ease and equitable transportation can open up job opportunities, schooling options, and general access to resources otherwise inaccessible.
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
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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