Candidate Drops Out Of 5th Ward Alderman Race

CHICAGO, IL - A candidate in the 2019 5th Ward alderman race has dropped out. Joseph Michael Carr, one of three who announced early they would seek the political office, has withdrew his candidacy. That's according to Gabriel Piemonte, another 5th Ward aldermanic candidate.

“J. Michael has been the epitome of a gentleman throughout his campaign,” said Piemonte said in a statement on Tuesday. “He entered this race believing he would make our communities better by so doing, and I am certain he will continue to serve our neighbors as best he can through other avenues.”

Piemonte remains in the race as the only known challenger to incumbent 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston, who is seeking re-election to the post she's held since 1999. The deadline for candidates to file to run for all 50 seats on the City Council is not until November.

Piemonte is shown here with then-opponent Carr discussing "a common peace" in the community in the wake of the police-involved fatal shooting of 71st Street barber Harith Augustus.

Image: Joseph Michael Carr, via YouTube screenshot