LINCOLN PARK — Two predecessors of Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) are rallying behind one of his challengers in a contentious battle to represent Lincoln Park that’s involved attacks on campaign funding, dueling endorsements and 13-year-old defamation accusations.
Former alds. Michele Smith and Marty Oberman, who represented the ward from 2011-2022 and 1975-1987, issued a statement this week accusing Knudsen of bucking the ward’s tradition of independence from the mayor and transparent leadership.
Knudsen was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to the seat in September after Smith resigned.
Knudsen is “strongly aligned with the development community,” Smith and Oberman said, pointing to Knudsen’s previous role as chair of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and money his campaign received from the Illinois Realtors political action committee.
The former alderpeople said residents should vote for challenger Wendi Taylor Nations, a public affairs consultant and former chief marketing officer for World Business Chicago.
Knudsen refuted the claims and clapped back at Taylor Nations, launching a website accusing her of being a cyberbully. Two other former aldermen, Chuck Bernardini and Bill Singer, have endorsed Knudsen.
The Illinois Realtors’ political action committee donated $5,000 to Knudsen’s campaign in December and filed an additional $4,144 independent expenditure on his behalf, according to Illinois State Board of Elections reports. The PAC has also supported at least two...
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