Interview with Ald. Scott Waguespack

Getting to Make Reforms Now

Ald. Scott Waguespack was first elected alder of the 32nd Ward in 2007. While he has made many proposals for changing the way things “have always been done” in city government over the years, being named Chair of the Finance Committee in 2018 has allowed him the opportunity to implement some of them, including increasing transparency.

Prior to 2018, the Finance Committee had around 30 staff people. Ald. Waguespack said that there are now three or four key people. The administration of workers’ compensation claims, previously under the Finance Committee, is now under the City Comptroller, where the process has been revamped, and the number of claims has dropped with greater oversight.

Watch the full interview or read the highlights:

• As chair of the Finance Committee, Ald. Waguespack is also a member of the City’s Plan Commission, which reviews larger projects, like the 78 development, which was approved under the last mayor. Ald. Waguespack said that the Commission now has a set of standards it applies with a more robust focus on affordable housing and environmental concerns.

• Among the key items he would like to see improved with the operation of the City Council is greater transparency (which LWV Chicago’s City Government Committee is working on) and creating more policies for the way the Council and its Committee should function.  He is working on a handbook for all the Committees.

• The top issues he is working on now include:

  • Helping to get a new Chief Risk Officer for the Risk Management Department who will review the workings of all departments and outline procedures to help reduce lawsuits, and will review settlements and help translate the bases for those settlements into improved procedures and management.

  • Creating an environmental office in City government.

• The 32nd Ward is on the northwest side, running from North Avenue north to Addison and west from Racine to Kedzie.  It includes part of Logan Square, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and Bucktown. When he first was elected alder, he met with people from each area, and if the area didn’t already have a neighborhood group, he encouraged key people to start one. These groups provide a key communication tool to and from his office.