ROSELAND — Veteran Chicago alderman Anthony Beave is preparing to run for an eighth term representing the 9th Ward in the February 23 municipal election. The longtime council member, first elected in 1999, points to a record of economic growth and community investment that includes the arrival of an Amazon fulfillment center, a Whole Foods market, SC Johnson, Method, and Gotham Greens.
Community milestones under Alderman Beave
During Beave’s 27‑year tenure, the ward has seen the opening of Pullman National Park and the Pullman Community Center, projects that have expanded recreational space and historic preservation for residents of Chatham, Roseland, Pullman, Washington Heights, West Pullman and Riverdale.
Challengers and petition disputes
Beave will be opposed by two candidates: Kenny Williams, a local businessman and former board president of Thornton Township High School District 205, and Cecelia Harrison, a single mother and founder of the nonprofit Project 34, which provides skills training and employment support in Roseland.
Both Beave and Harrison have been served with objections to their nominating petitions. According to the Chicago Board of Elections, Williams personally filed the objection against Beave, while Harrison’s objections were lodged by Annette Diaz Lockette and Kenneth Curry Jr. The Board will hold hearings, and if the challenges are upheld, the affected candidates could be removed from the ballot. The Board is slated to certify the final ballot on December 17.
Candidate backgrounds
Harrison, who grew up in Englewood and now resides in the Rosemoor section of Roseland, runs a healthcare consulting firm called ReveNewCycle Management and Consulting. Her platform emphasizes improving ward streets and transit, securing equitable citywide funding, expanding education and workforce training, and enhancing small‑business growth. A key priority for Harrison is increasing oversight of Roseland Community Hospital, which suspended its labor and delivery unit in October and has since filed for bankruptcy.
Williams, a Roseland resident, previously sought the Democratic nomination for Illinois State Senate District 14, losing to incumbent Emil Jones. His campaign website for that race described him as a business owner who earned a cosmetology license in 1987 and now runs Silk N Classy barber college in the south suburbs. Williams also ran for the Illinois House of Representatives as a Green Party candidate in 2010 and has made multiple attempts in Democratic primaries.
What’s at stake
The 9th Ward election will determine who continues to shape development, public safety, and community services in a historically underserved part of Chicago. Beave’s supporters argue that his experience and proven track record provide stability and ongoing investment, while challengers promise fresh perspectives on accountability and local health care concerns.
Voters should watch for the Board of Elections’ decision on the petition challenges and the upcoming ballot certification. The final list of candidates will be confirmed on December 17, giving residents time to evaluate each platform before heading to the polls on February 23.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
