Derrick Curtis

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Derrick Curtis

|office = Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 18th ward

|term_start = May 18, 2015

|term_end =

|predecessor = Lona Lane

|successor =

|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|30|1999|3|8}}

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

}}

Derrick G. Curtis (born 1968/69){{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Mike |title=Chicago Politics See Better Race Relations: Alderman's Support Among Black Ward One Example of Way Color Lines are Erasing |date=March 8, 1999 |work=Peoria Journal Star |via=NewsBank |page=B3 |department=International and National Wire News}} is an American politician who has served as the alderman of Chicago's 18th ward since 2015. He became the Democratic committeeman of the ward in 2011 after Lona Lane stepped down from that position.{{cite news |last1=Byrne |first1=John |title=Old-school aldermen try to hold on in runoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/241030673/ |url-access=subscription |accessdate=20 February 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |issue=Section 1 |page=9 |date=April 1, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} Curtis had previously been the ward's Streets and Sanitation superintendent, with more than 25 years of experience as a precinct captain.{{cite news |author=CST Editorial Board |title=18th Ward alderman election: Derrick Curtis |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/1/27/18400384/18th-ward-candidate-for-alderman-derrick-g-curtis |url-access=registration |accessdate=20 February 2020 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 27, 2019}} He ran against Lane in the 2015 aldermanic race and defeated her in a runoff.{{cite news |last1=Byrne |first1=John |last2=Dardick |first2=Hal |title=Mayor wins, but with council caveat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/241158203/ |url-access=subscription |accessdate=20 February 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |issue=Section 1 |page=11 |date=April 9, 2015 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was sworn into office on May 18, 2015.{{cite journal|last=Mendoza|first=Susanna|title=F2015-55: Oath of Office of Alderman Derrick G. Curtis (18th Ward)|journal=Chicago City Council Journal of Proceedings|volume=178|number=5|date=May 18, 2015|page=20|access-date=May 18, 2015|url=https://chicityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/document_uploads/journals-proceedings/2015/2015_05_18_Inaugural_0.pdf}}

He won reelection in 2019, defeating Chuks Onyezia in the first round.{{cite news |title=Chicago 2019 Mayor and Alderman Election Results |url=https://elections.suntimes.com/results/2019/ |accessdate=20 February 2020 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}} During her term in office, Curtis was considered to be a City council ally of Mayor Lori Lightfoot.{{cite web |last1=Cherone |first1=Heather |title=Ald. Derrick Curtis Fined $1K for Using His City Email to Tout Lightfoot's Reelection Kickoff |url=https://news.wttw.com/2022/08/15/ald-derrick-curtis-fined-1k-using-his-city-email-tout-lightfoot-s-reelection-kickoff |website=WTTW News |access-date=30 January 2023 |language=en |date=August 15, 2022}} He had originally endorsed her for reelection in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, but withdrew his endorsement after she did not reach out to Curtis after an incident in which Curtis accidentally shot himself while cleaning a gun.{{cite web |last1=Linfante |first1=Austin |title=Here's who each alderman is supporting in Chicago's mayoral election |url=https://heartlandsignal.com/2023/02/07/heres-who-each-alderman-is-supporting-in-chicagos-mayoral-election/ |website=Heartland Signal |access-date=15 February 2023 |language=en |date=7 February 2023}} Around three months after that incident, Curtis's adult daughter was accidentally shot during a firearm training session he was leading.{{cite news|last=Grimm|first=Andy|date=January 12, 2023|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1/12/23552823/chicago-city-council-member-shooting-instructor-derrick-curtis-concealed-carry|title=Another accidental shooting raises doubts about SW Side Chicago City Council member’s skills as firearm instructor|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=October 4, 2024}}