George Cardenas
Encyclopedia
George A. Cardenas is alderman of the 12th Ward of the City of Chicago
. A member of the Democratic Party
, he was elected to his first term on the Chicago City Council
in 2003.
. Cardenas and his family moved to Chicago in 1978 where he attended Lane Tech High School
. After graduation he joined the Navy for four years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University
and went on to work as an auditor and a substitute teacher in public schools. Cardenas later became a business consultant and went back to school to earn his master’s in political science from NEIU.
, a group with strong ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
. In a 3-way race in February, 2003, Cardenas and incumbent Alderman Ray Frias were the top two vote-getters, but neither earned a majority, forcing a run-off election scheduled for April, 2003. Frias withdrew his candidacy prior to the run-off, cancelling the run-off, and leaving Cardenas as the winner.
In August 2007 Cardenas proposed a tax on bottled water to fill a $40 million shortfall.
Cardenas is bringing approximately 200 million of infrastructure improvements to the Brighton Park community and Little Village with the building of several schools like a High School in Back of the Yards and two elementary schools in Brighton Park, a library in Little Village and a fire station. Cardenas is also working on a proposed park in Little Village and has secured approximately 18 million from various sources including the City, Park District, and the State.
Cardenas supports the building of a Casino in the downtown area to stem the flow of tourist dollars to Hammond and Joliet and Elgin. Cardenas believes that a Casino will bring jobs badly needed in the unskilled labor market that predominates in the South and South West of Chicago.
Cardenas has presented various resolutions in the City Council to strengthen surveillance technology, especially gun detection technology. Cardenas recently introduced a resolution calling for hearings on CPS cancelling of after school tutoring in many Latino Elementary Schools.
Cardenas will be up for re-election in 2011.
in the race for state central committeeman for Illinois' 4th Congressional District, a Democratic Party post.
Cardenas is President of QuickDinero, Inc., a retail wire transfer
service.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. A member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was elected to his first term on the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
in 2003.
Early life
Cardenas was born in Santiago, a small town in the mountains of central MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Cardenas and his family moved to Chicago in 1978 where he attended Lane Tech High School
Lane Technical College Prep High School
Albert G. Lane Technical College Preparatory High School , is a public, four-year, magnet high school located on the north side of Chicago...
. After graduation he joined the Navy for four years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
and went on to work as an auditor and a substitute teacher in public schools. Cardenas later became a business consultant and went back to school to earn his master’s in political science from NEIU.
Election
Cardenas first ran for alderman in 2003. Cardenas was supported by the powerful and controversial Hispanic Democratic OrganizationHispanic Democratic Organization
The Hispanic Democratic Organization was a political action committee officially started in 1993, to aid political power for Mayor Daley. HDO served as the lone Hispanic organization that was able to actually have an impact on the Latino political landscape of Chicago, and throughout the State of...
, a group with strong ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
. In a 3-way race in February, 2003, Cardenas and incumbent Alderman Ray Frias were the top two vote-getters, but neither earned a majority, forcing a run-off election scheduled for April, 2003. Frias withdrew his candidacy prior to the run-off, cancelling the run-off, and leaving Cardenas as the winner.
Aldermanic career
Cardenas serves on eight committees: Committees, Finance, Aviation, Budget, Education, Rules and Ethics; Health, License and Consumer Protection.In August 2007 Cardenas proposed a tax on bottled water to fill a $40 million shortfall.
Cardenas is bringing approximately 200 million of infrastructure improvements to the Brighton Park community and Little Village with the building of several schools like a High School in Back of the Yards and two elementary schools in Brighton Park, a library in Little Village and a fire station. Cardenas is also working on a proposed park in Little Village and has secured approximately 18 million from various sources including the City, Park District, and the State.
Cardenas supports the building of a Casino in the downtown area to stem the flow of tourist dollars to Hammond and Joliet and Elgin. Cardenas believes that a Casino will bring jobs badly needed in the unskilled labor market that predominates in the South and South West of Chicago.
Cardenas has presented various resolutions in the City Council to strengthen surveillance technology, especially gun detection technology. Cardenas recently introduced a resolution calling for hearings on CPS cancelling of after school tutoring in many Latino Elementary Schools.
Cardenas will be up for re-election in 2011.
Landlord of ward office
Cardenas and his relatives bought the three-story building at 2454-60 W. 38th St. in the 12th ward for $715,000 in February 2007. Cardenas moved his ward office to the building shortly thereafter. Cardenas is one of seven owners of the limited liability corporation run by his brother that bought the building. Cardenas said he has a minority stake in the firm. In 2008 Cardenas paid $17,120 from his taxpayer-funded expense account to rent the ward office in the building he owns with relatives. The ordinance governing aldermanic expense accounts prohibits the spending of expense funds for "the direct monetary benefit of any alderman or any of his or her relatives."Father on City Council payroll
Cardenas uses a taxpayer-funded payroll account available to alderman with no scrutiny to pay his father $13 an hour, according to city records that show Armando Cardenas puts in 180 hours a month - the equivalent of 45 hours a week. Armando Cardenas made $23,500 in 2008, when he was working less hours.Political career
In 2006, Cardenas lost to Ald. Ricardo MuñozRicardo Muñoz
Ricardo Muñoz is alderman of the 22nd ward of the City of Chicago. Muñoz was appointed to this position by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1993.-Aldermanic career:...
in the race for state central committeeman for Illinois' 4th Congressional District, a Democratic Party post.
Professional career
Cardenas is a part-time alderman. Cardenas owns Cardenas and Associates, a business consulting firm, where he has worked for many fortune 500 companies including Centel Corporation, McDonalds Corporation, Andersen Worldwide, Tenneco Corporation, Ameritech/SBC Corporation.Cardenas is President of QuickDinero, Inc., a retail wire transfer
Wire transfer
Wire transfer or credit transfer is a method of electronic funds transfer from one person or institution to another. A wire transfer can be made from one bank account to another bank account or through a transfer of cash at a cash office...
service.