George Cardenas

George Cárdenas
Cárdenas at a Cook County Board of Review meeting
Member of the Cook County Board of Review
from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byTammy Wendt
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 12th ward
In office
May 5, 2003 – November 30, 2022
Preceded byRay Frias
Succeeded byAnabel Abarca
Personal details
Born (1964-10-09) October 9, 1964
Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico
Political partyDemocratic
EducationNortheastern Illinois University (BA, MA, political science)

George A. Cárdenas (born October 9, 1964) is an American public official serving as a commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review for the 1st district. He previously represented Chicago’s 12th Ward on the Chicago City Council from 2003 to 2022, where he served in leadership roles including deputy floor leader and chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy.[1][2]

He won the Board of Review seat in 2022 and assumed office on December 5, 2022.[3] His district covers portions of Chicago and a range of suburban townships.[4]

Early life and education

Cárdenas was born in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico, and moved with his family to Chicago in 1978, where he attended Lane Tech High School. After graduating, he served four years in the United States Navy. He later earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in political science from Northeastern Illinois University.[5]

Professional career

Before entering public office, Cárdenas worked more than a decade in corporate roles, including at Centel, McDonald’s, Andersen Worldwide, Tenneco, and Ameritech/SBC; he also worked in auditing, tax policy and consulting.[6][7] He also worked as a substitute teacher and auditor earlier in his career.[8]

Chicago City Council

Elections and ward

Cárdenas first won election as 12th Ward alderman in 2003. He was backed by the Hispanic Democratic Organization. In the February general election, he finished first but short of a majority; a scheduled April runoff was canceled after incumbent Ray Frias withdrew, making Cárdenas the winner.[9][10][11]

He was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2015 (unopposed), and 2019.[12][13][14][15] During his tenure, the ward included parts of Little Village, Brighton Park and McKinley Park.[16]

Leadership, caucuses and committees

Cárdenas served as the City Council’s deputy floor leader and chaired the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy; he also served as vice chair of the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights.[17][18] He was a member of several committees at various times, including Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules & Ethics; Finance; License and Consumer Protection; Contracting Oversight and Equity; Economic, Capital and Technology Development; and Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.[19][20]

He chaired the City Council’s Latino Caucus.[21]

Policy and initiatives

As committee chair, Cárdenas introduced a City Council resolution supporting the state’s Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), which the Council adopted.[22][23] The committee’s jurisdiction includes matters relating to the abatement of air, water, and noise pollution.[24] He also supported environmental resiliency efforts alongside other aldermen during instances of lakefront erosion.[25]

Cárdenas endorsed Lori Lightfoot in the 2019 mayoral runoff,[26] and he served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.[27]

In 2006, he ran for Democratic State Central Committeeman in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District, losing to Ald. Ricardo Muñoz.[28]

Cook County Board of Review

Cárdenas won the 2022 Democratic primary for the Board of Review’s 1st district, defeating incumbent Tammy Wendt, and ran unopposed in the general election; he assumed office on December 5, 2022.[29][30][31]

The Board of Review is a three-member body that hears property assessment appeals under Illinois law; its rules cite 35 ILCS 200/9-5.[32] District 1 includes (among others) the townships of Barrington, Berwyn, Cicero, Elk Grove, Hanover, Jefferson, Lake, Leyden, Lyons, Palatine, Palos, Proviso, Riverside, Schaumburg, South Chicago, Stickney, West Chicago, Wheeling, and Worth.[33][34] He has presented the district’s functions to the public through property assessment appeal workshops.[35]

Personal life

Cárdenas resides with his family in the McKinley Park area of Chicago.[36][37]

Electoral history

Chicago 12th Ward alderman

2003 Chicago 12th ward aldermanic election
Candidate General election[38] Runoff election
Votes % Votes %
George A. Cárdenas 2,173 46.10 Runoff cancelled after Frias withdrew as a candidate[39]
Rafael "Ray" Frias (incumbent) 2,121 44.99
Jose I. "Chavelo" Rodriguez 420 8.91
Total 4,714 100
2007 Chicago 12th Ward aldermanic election[40]
Candidate Votes %
George A. Cárdenas (incumbent) 2,592 59.19
Carina E. Sanchez 1,225 27.97
Jesús G. Salazar 180 4.11
Alberto Bocanegra Jr. 163 3.72
Alan R. Mercado 158 3.61
Jesús "Jesse" Iñiguez 61 1.39
Total votes 4,379 100
2011 Chicago 12th Ward aldermanic election[41]
Candidate Votes %
George A. Cárdenas (incumbent) 2,697 55.36
Jose Guereca 915 18.78
Jesús "Jesse" Iñiguez 798 16.38
Alberto Bocanegra Jr. 324 6.65
Maria E. "Chula" Ortiz 138 2.83
Total votes 4,872 100
2015 Chicago 12th Ward aldermanic election[42]
Candidate Votes %
George A. Cárdenas (incumbent) 3,379 100
Total votes 3,379 100
2019 Chicago 12th Ward aldermanic election[43]
Candidate Votes %
George A. Cárdenas (incumbent) 2,987 50.21
Pete DeMay 1,019 17.13
Jose Rico 1,006 16.91
Martha Yerania Rangel 929 15.62
Samuel Alcantar (Write-in candidate) 8 0.13
Total votes 5,949 100

Cook County Board of Review

2022 Cook County Board of Review, 1st district Democratic primary[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George A. Cárdenas 61,278 57.24
Democratic Tammy Wendt (incumbent) 45,781 42.76
Total votes 107,059 100
2022 Cook County Board of Review, 1st district general election[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George A. Cárdenas 289,067 100
Total votes 289,067 100

Democratic state committeeman

2006 Illinois 6th District Democratic Central State Committeeman[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ricardo Muñoz 20,349 55.36
Democratic George Cárdenas 16,404 44.63
Total votes 36,753 100

References

  1. ^ Savedra, Madison (November 1, 2022). "Southwest Side Ald. George Cardenas Will Resign Nov. 30 To Join Cook County Board Of Review". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  2. ^ "McKinley Park Ald. George Cardenas Resigns in Preparation To Take Seat on Cook County Board of Review". WTTW. November 1, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  3. ^ Quig, A.D. (December 6, 2022). "Will property tax bills be late again next year? Muddy picture frustrates commissioners, offers challenge for fresh faces". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  4. ^ "District 1". Cook County Board of Review. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Chicago City Council: George A. Cardenas". NBC Chicago. October 27, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  6. ^ Mihalopoulos, Dan (May 2, 2008). "What's your alderman's side job?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  7. ^ "Candidate statement & Q&A: George A. Cardenas". WTTW Voters Guide. 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. ^ "Chicago City Council: George A. Cardenas". NBC Chicago. October 27, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  9. ^ Lutton, Linda (February 6, 2003). "Dumped for Another Man". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  10. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 25, 2003" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. 2003. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  11. ^ Washburn, Gary (March 13, 2003). "Frias bows out of Ward 12 runoff". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 27, 2007" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 22, 2011" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  14. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 24, 2015" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  15. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 26, 2019" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  16. ^ "McKinley Park Ald. George Cardenas Resigns in Preparation To Take Seat on Cook County Board of Review". WTTW. November 1, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  17. ^ Savedra, Madison (November 1, 2022). "Southwest Side Ald. George Cardenas Will Resign Nov. 30 To Join Cook County Board Of Review". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  18. ^ "Cook County Democratic Party — George A. Cárdenas". Cook County Democratic Party. January 16, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  19. ^ "Committee on Rules — Members (archived roster listing Ward 12)". City of Chicago. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  20. ^ "Cardenas, George A. — Chicago Councilmatic profile". Chicago Councilmatic. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  21. ^ "Chicago's Black and Latino Caucuses". WBEZ. June 2, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  22. ^ "Chicago City Council supports CEJA, "puts us on the right path to a clean energy future"". Citizens Utility Board. November 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  23. ^ "Resolution supporting Clean Energy Jobs Act (text)" (PDF). City of Chicago. November 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  24. ^ "Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy — body details". Office of the City Clerk. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  25. ^ "'Catastrophic' Lakefront Erosion Targeted By Aldermen Who Want More Environmental Action". Block Club Chicago. February 11, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "List of Endorsements in the Race for Chicago Mayor". NBC Chicago. March 18, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  27. ^ Newman, Craig (September 2, 2012). "Who are the Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention?". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  28. ^ "Downloadable Vote Totals (2006 Primary)". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  29. ^ "Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election — Combined Summary (June 28, 2022)" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  30. ^ "Proclamation — November 8, 2022 General Election (Cook County and City of Chicago)" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. December 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  31. ^ Quig, A.D. (December 6, 2022). "Will property tax bills be late again next year? Muddy picture frustrates commissioners, offers challenge for fresh faces". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  32. ^ "Board of Review Official Rules". Cook County Board of Review. June 24, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  33. ^ "District 1". Cook County Board of Review. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  34. ^ "Cook County Board of Review Districts (map)" (PDF). Cook County. December 2, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  35. ^ "Commissioner George A. Cárdenas". Cook County Board of Review. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  36. ^ "12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas resigns, set for seat on Cook County Board of Review". ABC7 Chicago. November 1, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  37. ^ "Commissioner George A. Cárdenas". Cook County Board of Review. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  38. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, Feb. 25, 2003" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  39. ^ Washburn, Gary (March 13, 2003). "Frias bows out of Ward 12 runoff". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 27, 2007" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  41. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 22, 2011" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  42. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 24, 2015" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  43. ^ "Proclamation — Municipal General Election, February 26, 2019" (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  44. ^ "Cook County & City of Chicago Primary Election — Combined Summary" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  45. ^ "Proclamation — November 8, 2022 General Election" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  46. ^ "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
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