George Cardenas
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{COI|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = George Cárdenas
| image = George Cardenas 2014 (1).png
| office = Member of the Cook County Board of Review
from the 1st district
| term_start = December 5, 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor = Tammy Wendt
| office1 = Former member of the Chicago City Council
from the 12th ward
| term_start1 = May 5, 2003
| term_end1 = November 30, 2022
| predecessor1 = Ray Frias
| successor1 = Anabel Abarca
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|10|9}}
| birth_place = Santiago Papasquiaro, Mexico
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Haby Perales
| education = Northeastern Illinois University (BA, MA)
}}
George A. Cárdenas (born October 9, 1964) was Alderman of the 12th Ward of the City of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to his first term on the Chicago City Council in 2003.{{Cite web|title=Ward 12|url=https://www.chicago.gov/content/city/en/about/wards/12.html|access-date=2021-06-29|website=www.chicago.gov|language=en}} He was elected commissioner of the 1st district of the Cook County Board of Review in the 2022 election, and subsequently resigned from the City Council.{{Cite web |last=Savedra |first=Madison |date=2022-06-29 |title=Ald. George Cardenas Wins Cook County Board Of Review Seat, Will Leave City Council By The End Of The Year |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/06/29/ald-george-cardenas-wins-cook-county-board-seat-will-leave-city-council-by-the-end-of-the-year/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Savedra |first=Madison |date=2022-12-12 |title=Anabel Abarca Picked To Lead 12th Ward After Cardenas Resigns |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/12/12/anabel-abarca-picked-to-lead-12th-ward-after-cardenas-resigns/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Quig |first1=A.D. |title=Will property tax bills be late again next year? Muddy picture frustrates commissioners, offers challenge for fresh faces |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-late-property-tax-bills-new-board-of-review-20221206-itxbydi5arfu5dp5yved635c7m-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=23 January 2023 |date=December 6, 2022}}
Early life
Cardenas was born in Santiago Papasquiaro in the mountains of northern Mexico. Cardenas and his family moved to Chicago in 1978 where he attended Lane Tech High School. After graduation, he joined the United States Navy for four years. He earned his bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University and went on to work as an auditor and a substitute teacher in public schools. Cardenas later became a tax and business consultant and went back to school to earn his master's degree in political science from Northeastern Illinois University.{{Cite web|title=12th Ward Chicago {{!}} 12th ward of Chicago Alderman George Cardenas' office.|url=http://www.12thwardchicago.com/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=www.12thwardchicago.com}}
Election
Cardenas first ran for alderman in 2003. Cardenas was supported by the powerful Hispanic Democratic Organization, a group with strong ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.{{Cite web|last=Lutton|first=Linda|title=Dumped for Another Man|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/dumped-for-another-man/Content?oid=911136|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Chicago Reader|date=February 6, 2003 |language=en}} In a 3-way race in February 2003, Cardenas and incumbent Alderman Ray Frias were the top two vote-getters, but neither earned a majority, forcing a run-off election scheduled for April 2003. Frias withdrew his candidacy prior to the run-off, cancelling the run-off, and leaving Cardenas as the winner.{{cite web |title=Election results |url=http://www.chicagoelections.com/election3.asp |publisher=Board of Election Commissioners for the city of Chicago |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206150735/http://chicagoelections.com/election3.asp |archivedate=February 6, 2010 }}
Aldermanic career
Cardenas won reelection in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019. Cardenas currently serves as the City Council Deputy Floor Leader and Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy. He is also a member of eight committees: Committees, Rules & Ethics; Finance, Budget, Contracting Oversight and Equity, Economic Capital and Technology Development, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, License and Consumer Protection and Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.{{cite web|title=City Clerk, City of Chicago|url=https://chicago.legistar.com/PersonDetail.aspx?ID=60958&GUID=2A391BBA-404A-4FC8-9452-F657D55C7D9D&Search=}}
In 2006, Cardenas lost to Ald. Ricardo Muñoz in the race for state central committeeman for Illinois' 4th Congressional District, a Democratic Party post.
In the runoff of the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Cardenas endorsed Lori Lightfoot.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-mayor-race-endorsements-507305521.html |title=List of Endorsements in the Race for Chicago Mayor |publisher=NBC Chicago |date= March 18, 2019|accessdate=April 2, 2019}}
Cardenas served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2012/09/who_are_the_illinois_delegates_to_the_democratic_national_convention.html|title=Who are the Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention?|accessdate=September 6, 2012|date=September 2, 2012|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Newman, Craig|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502142630/http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2012/09/who_are_the_illinois_delegates_to_the_democratic_national_convention.html|archivedate=May 2, 2013}}
Cook County Board of Review
He was elected commissioner of the 1st district of the Cook County Board of Review in the 2022 election, and subsequently resigned from the City Council to assume his seat.
Professional career
Before joining government, Cardenas accumulated over a decade of experience working for Fortune 500 companies, including Centel Corporation, McDonald's Corporation, Andersen Worldwide, Tenneco Corporation, Ameritech/SBC Corporation.{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Mihalopoulos |title=What's your alderman's side job? |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/05/what-side-job-d.html |accessdate=December 9, 2009 |date=May 2, 2008}}
Personal life
Cardenas lives with his wife and three daughters in McKinley Park.
Electoral history
| class=wikitable
!colspan=5|2003 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election |
| colspan=1 rowspan=2 |Candidate
!colspan=2 |Runoff election |
|---|
| Votes
!% !Votes !% |
| George A. Cardenas
| align="right" | 2,173 | align="right" | 46.10 | rowspan=2 colspan=2| Runoff cancelled after |
| Rafael "Ray" Frias (incumbent)
| align="right" | 2,121 | align="right" | 44.99 |
| Jose I. "Chavelo" Rodriguez
| align="right" | 420 | align="right" | 8.91 | colspan=2 bgcolor=darkgray | |
| Total
| align="right" | 47,14 | align="right" | 100 | colspan=2 bgcolor=darkgray | |
{{Election box begin no party no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = George A. Cardenas (incumbent)
| votes = 2,592
| percentage = 59.19
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Carina E. Sanchez
| votes = 1,225
| percentage = 27.97
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jesus G. Saladar
| votes = 180
| percentage = 4.11
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Alberto Bocanegra Jr.
| votes = 163
| percentage = 3.72
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Alan R. Mercado
| votes = 158
| percentage = 3.61
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez
| votes = 61
| percentage = 1.39
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 4,379
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = 2011 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election{{cite web |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 22, 2011 Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in All the Wards in the City of Chicago |url=https://app.chicagoelections.com/documents/proclamations/Proc-2011-02-22.pdf|website=app.chicagoelections.com |publisher=Chicago Board of Elections |access-date=9 February 2023}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = George A. Cardenas (incumbent)
| votes = 2,697
| percentage = 55.36
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jose Guereca
| votes =324
| percentage = 18.78
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez
| votes = 798
| percentage = 16.38
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Alberto Bocanegra Jr.
| votes = 324
| percentage = 6.65
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Maria E. "Chula" Ortiz
| votes = 138
| percentage = 2.83
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Alan R. Mercado
| votes = 158
| percentage = 3.61
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez
| votes = 61
| percentage = 1.39
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 4,872
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = 2015 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election{{cite web |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 24, 2015 Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in All the Wards in the City of Chicago |url=https://app.chicagoelections.com/documents/proclamations/Proc-2015-02-24.pdf|website=app.chicagoelections.com |publisher=Chicago Board of Elections |access-date=9 February 2023}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = George A. Cardenas (incumbent)
| votes = 3,379
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 3,379
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = 2019 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election{{cite web |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 24, 2015 Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in All the Wards in the City of Chicago |url=https://app.chicagoelections.com/documents/proclamations/Proc-2015-02-24.pdf|website=app.chicagoelections.com |publisher=Chicago Board of Elections |access-date=9 February 2023}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = George A. Cardenas (incumbent)
| votes = 2,987
| percentage = 50.21
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Pete DeMay
| votes = 1,019
| percentage = 17.13
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jose Rico
| votes = 1,006
| percentage = 16.91
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Martha Yerania Rangel
| votes = 929
| percentage = 15.62
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Samuel Alcantar (Write in candidate)
| votes = 8
| percentage = 0.13
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 5,949
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Cook County Board of Review=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Cook County Board of Review 1st district Democratic primary{{cite web |title=Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election June 28, 2022 Combined Summary |url=https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/Combined%20Summary%20Report_20220819133604030.pdf |website=Cook County Clerk |date=2022}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = George A. Cardenas
| votes = 61,278
| percentage = 57.24
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Tammy Wendt (incumbent)
| votes = 45,781
| percentage = 42.76
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 107,059
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Cook County Board of Review 1st district election{{cite web |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the November 8, 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in Cook County, Illinois Including the City of Chicago |url=https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/November%208%2C%202022%20Proclamation%20Cook%20and%20Chicago.pdf |website=www.cookcountyclerkil.gov |publisher=Cook County Clerk |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=2022}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = George A. Cardenas
| votes = 289,067
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 289,067
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Democratic state committeeman=
{{Election box begin no change | title=2006 Illinois 6th District Democratic Central State Committeeman{{cite web |title=Downloadable Vote Totals |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107185248/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx |url-status=dead }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Ricardo Muñoz`
|votes = 20,349
|percentage = 55.36
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = George Cardenas
|votes = 16,404
|percentage = 44.63
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes =36,753
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311022218/http://www.12thwardchicago.com/site/epage/37451_566.htm Ald. Cardenas' Web site]
{{Cook County Board of Review}}
{{Cook County Board of Review commissioners|state=collapsed}}
{{Cook county democratic committeemen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardenas, George}}
Category:21st-century Illinois politicians
Category:Chicago City Council members
Category:Hispanic and Latino American city council members
Category:Members of the Cook County Board of Review
Category:American politicians of Mexican descent
Category:Hispanic and Latino American people in Illinois politics