Ald. James Gardiner wins reelection in 45th Ward

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Controversial incumbent Ald. James Gardiner is all but certain to win reelection for his runoff in the Northwest Side's 45th Ward.

Gardiner faced off against small business owner Megan Mathias. The ward includes Jefferson Park and Gladstone Park, and parts of Irving Park, Portage Park, Norwood Park, and Edgebrook.

CBS 2's Sabrina Franza reported Mathias conceded Tuesday evening. Franza also spoke with Gardiner – in the first time CBS 2 has spoken with him in multiple attempts.

"Very happy with the effort that our team put forward," Gardiner said. "I'm obviously very happy with the residents of our community and the support being shown to me, and I look forward to continue meeting the challenges that come when you're leading the community."

Franza asked Gardiner how he plans to incorporate voters who might have voted for Mathias, or others in the first round.

"I think a two-way street, like a lot of things. I think people have to want to be a part of a positive movement. We have always been very accepting in trying to reach out. We do a tremendous amount of outreach in our community, and it's a two-way street. But we're going to continue to be assertive and try to get people involved – and I think that's the number one thing, is that when people feel like they're involved. And I think that's the number-one thing, that when people feel like they're involved in the progress of the community, then they feel more content – and we'll do a better job," Gardiner said. "I mean, anything that you do in life, you learn. This first four years of me being an alderman, I've learned."

Gardiner said he was proud of how he ran his campaign.

"We're very proud of the fact that, you know, we ran a really clean campaign. We didn't get into the mud – and that's really hard to do nowadays. It's very rare to do in politics – especially in the city of Chicago," he said. "So I'm very proud of the fat that we ran our campaign with class, and it's rare that you see that,"

Mathias said she hoped Gardiner would learn from his opponents in the race, just like she says she has learned running.

"There's thousands of people that spoke their voice today. He did win. But a lot of people here want something different and more transparency," Mathias said.

Gardiner has been the subject of controversy, scrutiny, and accusations of intimidation and retribution in his term in office. He has been found guilty of violating the city's Ethics Code and is under federal investigation. But he won reelection easily nonetheless.  

Mathias earlier told CBS 2's Marie Saavedra she has been working in the community for many years – as an attorney, a business owner, and a Local School Council member. But the way she saw the community come together when her husband fell ill with cancer was what made her decide to seek out a leadership role.

"The catalyst here was really my spouse getting very sick with cancer, and he was sick for two years and passed away in 2019," Mathias said. "During that timeframe – I'm from Michigan and he's from Puerto Rico – so we relied a lot on our community, and those connections are very deep. It felt like family, so I felt like I was a little bit like mama bear over the neighborhood, and I could bring better leadership to my neighbors."

Mathias said the biggest issues for the ward are leadership and public safety. She said residents of the 45th Ward presently do not feel "heard."