Chicago Heights Introduces a New City Council to a Packed House

It was a full house at the City Hall building in Chicago Heights Monday night, as the city council swore in a new mayor, three new aldermen and the first elected city clerk and treasurer.

The council chambers was packed, and many onlookers were huddled around a large screen in the hallway, where they could watch the swearing in. 

It started like any council meeting, with a pledge, a prayer and a roll call. After the usual business was over former city clerk Ethel Taylor kicked off the farewell remarks.

"I give thanks to God for allowing me eight wonderful years with this great city," Taylor said. "I knew what it entailed to be a city clerk. It was more than just paperwork. I tried to go above and beyond."

Taylor also thanked residents for their support and promised she would be around for a long time.

Former fourth ward alderman Joe Faso then gave his farewells, making note of his accomplishments and what the future holds.

"There's a lot of things I've done over the years," Faso said. "There's things that'll be undone when I leave. That's just the way it works."

Faso also congratulated the new mayor, David Gonzalez. Sixth ward alderman and former mayor Vincent Zaranti called Faso a "role model."

Next up was former fifth ward alderperson Lisa Aprati, who thanked residents for their support, noting the amount of women on the new city council.

"When I was first elected in 1999, I was the only female on the council," Aprati said, smiling.

Aprati also mentioned her long bout with cancer, thanking the community for supporting her. "In 2005, I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she said. "I am happy to say I am a six-year survivor of breast cancer."

After the former council members left, the new fourth, fifth and seventh ward aldermen took the stage. Joshua Deabel, Richard J. Amadio and Sylvia Torres were sworn into their respective seats, followed by the elected city clerk and treasurer, Lori Wilcox and James Dee.

Finally, David Gonzalez took the stage, with cheers, whistles and applause echoing throughout the room. Zaranti passed the gavel to the new mayor, and Gonzalez handed the outgoing mayor a gift before Zaranti returned to his sixth ward alderman seat.

The new council thanked their supporters and spoke of upcoming events. It was an emotional moment for third ward Ald. Wanda Rodgers as she spoke of her father and the late Mayor Alex Lopez, who passed away in August of 2010.

"This is kind of a bittersweet day for me," Rodgers said. "Four years ago when I ran, my father was with me, and my brother, I call him my brother, Alex Lopez."

After all of the council members, as well as the new clerk and treasurer, gave their opening remarks, Mayor Gonzalez closed out the night with a speech about the city and a special mention of his mother.

"She's always sat there, in the front row, supporting me," Gonzalez said, looking at Elsa Gonzalez.

On the business side of things, Gonzalez said it is time to look at the problems of the city more critically.

"We cannot continue to live in a bubble and downplay the brutal facts," he said. "We must always remember and never forget that we are working for the best interests of the city"

The new mayor ended his speech with a message of unity."I'm just one mayor, but we are 31,000 residents that share at least one common goal, and that is to make Chicago Heights the best place to live."