Longtime Chicago Latina lesbian activist Mona Noriega is continuing her push to be appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to fill the post vacated by incumbent Manny Flores. Whoever is appointed—and there are rumored to be 14 people seeking the post—would have to run for re-election in 2011 along with the 49 other city alderpersons.
If she is not appointed, Noriega will decide at that point if she will run for the seat anyway. For now, Noriega is urging letters of support be sent to Daley's office.
"I submitted a letter of intent and a resume two weeks ago and [ Feb. 9 ] I was interviewed in the city's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs," Noriega wrote in a letter to supporters. "I discussed my experience, issues facing the ward, why I feel I would be the best representative, and the intense public scrutiny that public officials must live with. Mayor Daley has 60 days in which to make the appointment, but it will be weeks before I will hear anything."
Noriega said she will "continue to meet with residents and organized interests in the 1st Ward as well as politicians in the neighboring wards and overlapping jurisdictions."
Read more story below....
She said that an important indicator of local support are letters to Mayor Daley stating why he should select her above other possible candidates. "If you believe I can add value to the City of Chicago and the 1st Ward, especially if you are a resident of the 1st Ward, and you believe I would be a good choice for the Mayor, please let him know," she said.
Letters of support can be sent to: Mayor Richard Daley, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle, room 507, Chicago, Ill., 60602.
