For the Latino community, there is an important election on Feb. 2nd. As you choose the candidates who will represent you at the city, county and state level, your decision will either honor or dishonor your children.



I interviewed all of the Democratic candidates running for Cook County Board President as well as most of the other Latinos running for office throughout the city. Each candidate came to EXTRA Bilingual Newspaper in Humboldt Park. Although we haven’t endorsed a candidate to date, we asked the incumbents and their challengers to tell their story so you can choose wisely.



What is curious about this election is how the incumbents and progressives each have Latino leaders supporting them throughout the community. When you read the interviews, look at who is supporting whom. That analysis will give you a real glimpse into the relationships that have been established.



I was pleasantly surprised on the knowledge current 8th District Cook Commissioner Edwin Reyes had about his home turf. At the same time, I was excited at the prospect of independent insightfulness his challenger, Xavier Nogueras, showed for his community. Both had strong suits in different ways.



I remember back in 1983 when EXTRA interviewed community activist Rudy Lozano for alderman. I mentioned this to his son Rudy Lozano, Jr. who is running one of the toughest campaigns in the Latino community on the Southwest Side. He is up against incumbent Dan Burke, who has held the position for 19 years.



When I interviewed 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, candidate for Cook County Board President, she said, “The decision to sell the parking meters to an outside corporation for 75 years will have a lasting effect on ...