George Cardenas

George Cárdenas
Member of the Cook County Board of Review from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Tammy Wendt
Succeeded by	Anabel Abarca
Former member of the Chicago City Council from the 12th ward
In office 2003–2022
Preceded by	Ray Frias
Succeeded by	Anabel Abarca
Personal details
Born	(1964-10-09) October 9, 1964 (age 60) Santiago Papasquiaro, Mexico
Political 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.^[1] 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.^[2][3][4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7]

Aldermanic career

Cardenas has 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Cardenas served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.^[10]

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.^[11]

Personal life

Cardenas lives with his wife and three daughters in McKinley Park.

Electoral history

2003 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election
Candidate	General election[12]		Runoff election
	Votes	%	Votes	%
George A. Cardenas	2,173	46.10	Runoff cancelled after Frias withdrew as a candidate[13][14]
Rafael "Ray" Frias (incumbent)	2,121	44.99
Jose I. "Chavelo" Rodriguez	420	8.91
Total	47,14	100

2007 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election^[15]

Candidate		Votes	%
George A. Cardenas (incumbent)		2,592	59.19
Carina E. Sanchez		1,225	27.97
Jesus G. Saladar		180	4.11
Alberto Bocanegra Jr.		163	3.72
Alan R. Mercado		158	3.61
Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez		61	1.39
Total votes		4,379	100

2011 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election^[16]

Candidate		Votes	%
George A. Cardenas (incumbent)		2,697	55.36
Jose Guereca		324	18.78
Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez		798	16.38
Alberto Bocanegra Jr.		324	6.65
Maria E. "Chula" Ortiz		138	2.83
Alan R. Mercado		158	3.61
Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez		61	1.39
Total votes		4,872	100

2015 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election^[17]

Candidate		Votes	%
George A. Cardenas (incumbent)		3,379	100
Total votes		3,379	100

2019 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election^[18]

Candidate		Votes	%
George A. Cardenas (incumbent)		2,987	50.21
Pete DeMay		1,019	17.13
Jose Rico		1,006	16.91
Martha Yerania Rangel		929	15.62
Samuel Alcantar (Write in candidate)		8	0.13
Total votes		5,949	100

Cook County Board of Review

2022 Cook County Board of Review 1st district Democratic primary^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George A. Cardenas	61,278	57.24
	Democratic	Tammy Wendt (incumbent)	45,781	42.76
Total votes			107,059	100

2022 Cook County Board of Review 1st district election^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George A. Cardenas	289,067	100
Total votes			289,067	100

Democratic state committeeman

2006 Illinois 6th District Democratic Central State Committeeman^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ricardo Muñoz`	20,349	55.36
	Democratic	George Cardenas	16,404	44.63
Total votes			36,753	100

References

1. "Ward 12". www.chicago.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
2. Savedra, Madison (June 29, 2022). "Ald. George Cardenas Wins Cook County Board Of Review Seat, Will Leave City Council By The End Of The Year". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
3. Savedra, Madison (December 12, 2022). "Anabel Abarca Picked To Lead 12th Ward After Cardenas Resigns". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
4. Quig, A.D. (December 6, 2022). "Will property tax bills be late again next year? Muddy picture frustrates commissioners, offers challenge for fresh faces". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
5. "12th Ward Chicago | 12th ward of Chicago Alderman George Cardenas' office". www.12thwardchicago.com. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
6. Lutton, Linda (February 6, 2003). "Dumped for Another Man". Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
7. "Election results". Board of Election Commissioners for the city of Chicago. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010.
8. "City Clerk, City of Chicago".
9. "List of Endorsements in the Race for Chicago Mayor". NBC Chicago. March 18, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
10. Newman, Craig (September 2, 2012). "Who are the Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention?". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
11. Mihalopoulos, Dan (May 2, 2008). "What's your alderman's side job?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
12. "Final Canvass Board for the City of Chicago Tabulated Statements of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago on Tuesday, February 25, 2003, A.D." (PDF). app.chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
13. Stewart, Russ (December 28, 2005). "Gutierrez' 2008 Retirement Stirs Hispanic Ambitions". www.russstewart.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
14. Washburn, Gary (March 13, 2003). "Chicago Tribune 13 Mar 2003, page Page 2-2". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Final Canvass Board for the City of Chicago Tabulated Statements of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago on Tuesday, February 27, 2007, A.D." (PDF). app.chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
16. "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" (PDF). app.chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
17. "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" (PDF). app.chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
18. "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" (PDF). app.chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
19. "Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election June 28, 2022 Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2022.
20. "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" (PDF). www.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Cook County Clerk. 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
21. "Downloadable Vote Totals". Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2023.

External links

• Ald. Cardenas' Web site