Toni Preckwinkle's Biography

Toni Preckwinkle has been a community leader for over two decades. For 10 years she served as a high school history teacher and is currently Alderman of the 4th Ward. Toni is married and the mother of two children.

Now in her fourth term as 4th Ward Alderman, she is striving to develop her ward. Her accomplishments include ensuring the redevelopment of neighborhoods, especially the creation of mixed income and affordable housing. She has secured funds for ward public schools and new commercial centers.

Alderman Preckwinkle was a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit to institute a more racially equitable map of Chicago's ward boundaries. She co-sponsored the Affordable Housing (1993 and 1999) ordinances that resulted in a 50% increase in city spending on low and moderate income housing. She also co-sponsored the Living Wage ordinances that passed in 1998 and 2002. Alderman Preckwinkle sponsored an ordinance that limits the establishment of payday loan stores (2000) and joined her colleagues in a lawsuit to replace punch card ballots with state-of-the-art technology.

Committed to her community, Toni Preckwinkle has worked to improve the quality of life of 4th Ward residents. She has been a leader of numerous community organizations. Toni served as President of the Disabled Adult Residential Enterprises (DARE) in 1985 and 1986. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. She has been involved in many other organizations including the Harvard School Board, the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Health Center, the Coalition for Athletic Facilities for Kenwood Academy, the Friends of Murray School Lot and the Nichols Park Advisory Council. She also served as Political Action Director of the Near South Chapter of the Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO). Professionally, she has been the Executive Director of the Chicago Jobs Council, a Coordinator of Economic Development for the City of Chicago, a development officer for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club and Ancona School, and a high schoolteacher.

Toni Preckwinkle has a history of commitment to independent reform politics. She was the recipient of the 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999 IVI-IPO Best Alderman Awards and the 1997 Leon Despres Award.

Toni Preckwinkle holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Chicago.