My Cousin The Alderman

CONGRATS TO MY 1ST & FAVORITE COUSIN

TONI FOULKES

15TH WARD ALDERMAN, CHICAGO IL. !!!!!!!

I didnt like the picture that was posted, so Im not going to use it.


Foulkes slices big victory in 15th
by Kalari GirtleyApril 18, 2007
After a long tough race, Toni Foulkes moved to a clean victory in the aldermadic election for the 15th Ward. Foulkes, 43, beat Felicia Simmons-Stovall, 41, who is an attorney and employee of the secretary of state, by capturing more than 60 percent of the votes. Foulkes, a Jewel baker, will take office for the first time. Foulkes ended the evening with a decisive 948-vote victory - 2,790 to 1,842. "This is a victory for working families," Foulkes said. "My vision for the ward is to bring it back to how beautiful it was when I was a little girl." Foulkes first line of business will be to attack the high crime rate in the ward. At Foulkes' celebration about 100 supporters applauded when Foulkes entered the room. John Knighton, volunteer for the Foulkes camp, said he feels motivated and happy with the turnout. "We got the message across, Toni is really a beautiful person," Knighton, 44, said. Down the street at Simmons-Stovall's camp the mood was somber. "I am a little disappointed, but I had fun doing the campaign," Simmons-Stovall said. "I met a lot of wonderful people, and I got people interested in a community that they were not interested in at first." Despite losing, many of Simmons-Stovall supporters felt that they had put their best foot forward and remain loyal to Simmons-Stovall. Kenneth Burks said he has been with Simmons-Stovall since the beginning. "She is a very honest person, she is for the community and change," Burks, 43, said. Foulkes will now have to face many issues in the community that range from vacant houses, low employment, high crime, schools that are in poor condition and economic development in the 15th Ward Foulkes, an activist with ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), whose campaign received more than $340,000 from the unions, grew up in the ward. Simmons-Stovall, product of the Robert Taylor Homes, has been an attorney for 10 years. She moved to the 15th Ward in the 1970s. Both candidates survived the general election that had 11 competitors running for Alderman Ted Thomas' seat. Thomas, who served two terms, was retiring due to health reasons. In February's election, Foulkes captured 33 percent of the votes while Simmons-Stovall received 26 percent.