Aldermanic career
Waguespack was first elected as Chicago alderman for the 32nd Ward in 2007,unseating incumbent alderman Ted Matlak. He has subsequently been reelected in 2011,2015,2019,and 2023.
He is a founding member of the Chicago City Council's Progressive Reform Coalition,and has chaired the Progressive Reform Caucus from 2015 to 2019. [5] Waguespack is the Democratic Committeeman for the 32nd ward. [4] [6] [7] [8]
In the 2019 Chicago mayoral election,Waguespack endorsed Lori Lightfoot,publicly declaring his support of her candidacy in advance of the first round of the election. [9] Waguespack was a City Council ally of Lightfoot during her mayoralty. [10] [11] He endorsed her for reelection in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election. [12] During Lightfoot's mayoralty,Waguespack chaired the City Council's Committee on Finance. [11]
In January 2020,Waguespack proposed legislation that would have placed limits on single-use plastics and foam food containers by giving restaurants and take-out establishments until January 1,2021,to stop selling or serving food in polystyrene containers and limit use of plastic utensils and straws. [10] [13]
Waguespack currently serves on the following committees –Aviation,Committees and Rules,Economic,Capital and Technology Development,Ethics and Government Oversight,Finance,License and Consumer Protection,Special Events,Cultural Affairs and Recreation,and Transportation and Public Way. [4]
Parking Meter Deal
To close the City of Chicago’s 2009 budget deficit,Mayor Richard M. Daley proposed leasing Chicago’s parking meters to a private investor for 75 years in exchange for a one-time $1.15 billion payment,most of which was spent in the next two years. Despite only a few days between the introduction of the Chicago Metered Parking System Concession Agreement and its passage,Waguespack was one of only five members of the City Council who voted against it. [14] Waguespack conducted an independent study of the sale,later cited in the City of Chicago Inspector General’s report on the sale,concluding that the $1.15 billion paid in the contract was substantially less than the actual value of the asset over the proposed time period. [15]
Actions on housing
In 2012,Waguespack pushed to reduce the number of units in a proposed apartment building on the site of a gas station on North and Hermitage avenues. Initially proposed to be a five-story building with 44 units,Waguespack pushed to scale it down to a 30-unit 4-story building. [16]
In 2017,Waguespack blocked a proposed 6-story 27-unit apartment building on a vacant industrial lot at 1894 N. Milwaukee Ave in his district. Waguespack had concerns about the height of the building. [17]
In 2024,Waguespack sought his aldermanic privilege to block a 615-unit apartment building (of which 124 units were affordable housing) on the lot of a former industrial site in his ward. [18] [19] [20] Waguespack offered various explanations for opposing the increase in housing supply,including saying the building was too tall,the building would lead to congestion,and criticizing that the developer received tax breaks for including affordable housing units. [18] [19] [20] Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed for the building despite Waguespack's opposition. [19]
Government Transparency
Since his inauguration in 2007,Waguespack has been dedicated to government transparency and ethics reform. In 2009,Waguespack and Alderman Manny Flores passed the TIF Sunshine Ordinance,establishing transparency requirements around Chicago’s TIF districts. [21]
Upon assuming the role of chair of the City Council’s Committee on Finance in 2019,a position long held by Alderman Ed Burke,Waguespack began reforming the Committee’s handling of worker’s compensation,reducing headcount,and reducing spending. [22]
Waguespack has been a frequent critic of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration,especially of his ethics practices. In response to Johnson’s continued employment with Chicago Public Schools,Waguespack introduced an ordinance in early 2025 prohibiting the mayor and other executive officials from dual employment with sister agencies. [23] Waguespack also introduced a resolution with City Clerk Anna Valencia calling for more oversight of mayoral appointments to boards and commissions. [24]
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