Interested in Serving on a District Council?



Apply for the 24th District Council Vacancy!


As of March 31, District Council Member Edvette Jones will resign from his position on the Council. The remaining members of the District Council are responsible for recommending three candidates to fill the vacancy to the Commission by April 30. The Commission will then recommend one of the three names to the Mayor by May 30. According to state law, the Mayor must select a qualified person to fill the vacancy subject to the advice and consent of City Council. The appointed individual will serve the remainder of the existing District Council term, which ends in May 2027.

Instructions for applying for the vacancy:

  1. Click here to complete and submit an application form.
  2. Click here to complete and submit a candidate questionnaire form.
  3. Email your resume to Anna.Mangahas@cityofchicago.org.

The 24th District Council will accept applications on a rolling basis. However, for optimal consideration, please submit your application as soon as possible.

 

Process for District Council Recommendations for the Vacancy:

  • The remaining members of the 24th District Council have opened an application for the vacancy.
  • As applications come in, the Councilors will review the applications and select candidates for interviews on an ongoing basis.
  • When the Councilors identify a candidate for interview, we will schedule an interview as soon as possible.
  • The Councilors will continue to review applications and hold interviews until they identify three qualified candidates that they wish to recommend to the Commission.
  • Pursuant to Chicago municipal code, the latest possible date for a recommendation decision is April 30, 30 days after the creation of the vacancy.
  • Recommendations will be voted on and announced at a public meeting of the 24th District Council.

 

Qualifications for Serving on the Vacancy:

  • You must have lived in the 24th Police District for the last 365 days preceding the date of appointment by the mayor (estimated June or July 2024). Check here to confirm what police district you live in.
  • You must be registered to vote in the 24th Police District.
  • You must not have been employed by the Chicago Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or the Police Board within the last three years preceding the date of appointment by the mayor.
  • Per state law, you must not have been convicted of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony, unless you received a pardon from the Governor that included restoration of the right to hold office.
  • Per state law, if you have any debts with the City of Chicago, you must agree to either pay off all your debts to the City of Chicago or enroll in a payment plan by the time you take the oath of office.
  • You must be willing to submit all necessary ethics and financial disclosure information required by the City.


What are District Councils?

District Councils represent each of the City’s 22 police districts. They are made of three people elected in regular municipal elections every four years, starting in February 2023. But anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The District Councils have several key roles:

  • Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to solve problems and set priorities.
  • Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
  • Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work with the police on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
  • Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices.
  • Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
  • Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
  • Nominating members of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

 (Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))


Who is eligible to serve on the District Councils? 

  • You must be a registered voter
  • You must have lived in the police district where you want to run for at least one year before the election
  • You can’t be a member of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
  • You can’t have been an employee of the Chicago Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), or the Police Board any time in the three years preceding inauguration
  • Under state law, you can’t owe money to the City of Chicago, or have been convicted of a felony, unless it was expunged

 (Source: Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-5, and Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(b))


How much time does it take to be a District Council member?

  • District Councils are new, so the time commitment is uncertain, but anticipate that it will take about 20 hours per month.

 Are District Council members paid? 

  • District Council members receive a stipend of $500 every month.

What do I need to do if I want to run? 

The next municipal election will take place in February 2027. Prior to that election, you will need to do the following:

  • File a Statement of Candidacy with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
  • Gather signatures on nominating petitions from eligible voters who support you and file them with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
    • The number of signatures you need depends on the number of registered voters in your police district. It’s probably between 300-700 signatures
    • You can start collecting signatures in August 2026
    • You must submit signed petitions in November 2026
  • File a Statement of Economic Interest with the Cook County Clerk by a date in November 2026 (date to be determined)
  • File a Statement of Financial Interest with the City of Chicago Board of Ethics within five days of qualifying as a candidate
  • If you accept campaign contributions or spend more than $5000 on your campaign, you’ll need to file campaign disclosure documents with the Illinois State Board of Elections