Roderick Sawyer
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 6th ward
In office
May 16, 2011 – May 15, 2023
Preceded byFreddrenna Lyle
Succeeded byWilliam Hall
Personal details
Born
Roderick Terrance Sawyer

(1963-04-12) April 12, 1963 (age 60)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Cheryll Aikens
​
(m. 1993)​
Children2
RelativesEugene Sawyer (father)
EducationDePaul University (BS)
Illinois Institute of Technology (JD)

Roderick Terrance Sawyer (born April 12, 1963) is an American politician and the former alderman of the 6th ward located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sawyer is also the former the Chairman of the Health and Human Relations Committee, a member of the Progressive Reform Caucus, and the former Chairman of the African American Caucus.[1]

Sawyer forwent reelection to the city council in 2023 to make an unsuccessful run for mayor of Chicago in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, winning 0.43% of the vote[1]

Background

Born one of three children in Chicago, Illinois to Eugene and Eleanor Sawyer (nee Taylor),[2] Sawyer grew up in the 6th ward on the south side. Sawyer is the son of Eugene Sawyer, who served as Mayor of Chicago after the sudden death of Harold Washington from December 1987 until April 1989. His father is also noted as the second African-American to hold the position.

For high school, Sawyer attended St. Ignatius College Prep, graduating in 1981. Sawyer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University, and a Juris Doctor from the Chicago Kent College of Law.[3]

Aldermanic career

Sawyer was first elected in 2011 after narrowly defeating incumbent Freddrenna Lyle,[4] and is currently serving his third term, having been re-elected in 2015 and 2019.[5][6]

In the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Sawyer endorsed Toni Preckwinkle, giving her his endorsement in the first round of the election.[7][8]

In June 2020, Sawyer proposed an ordinance which would end the Chicago Public Schools' contract to station Chicago Police Department officers at schools.[9]

Political campaigns

2011 campaign for City Council, Ward 6

Sawyer's first run for elective office was his campaign against city council incumbent Freddrenna Lyle in Chicago's aldermanic ward 6 in 2011. Four city council incumbents, including Lyle, lost in the April 2011 elections.[10]

2015 campaign for City Council, Ward 6

Sawyer had two opponents in the spring 2015 city council elections: Richard Wooten and Brian Garner. Sawyer received 10,659 votes in the February 2015 general election. This was 56.2% of the vote and as a result, he was declared the winner of the contest without it proceeding to a runoff.[11]

2023 Chicago mayoral candidacy

Main article: 2023 Chicago mayoral election

In June 2022, Sawyer announced his candidacy for mayor in the 2023 election, challenging incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot.[12]

When he announced his run for mayor, Sawyer said that crime is the first issue on his mind, and that if elected, he would fire Chicago Police Supt. David Brown.[12]

Sawyer has been critical of incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot on several issues. These include her late September 2022 removal of a $42.7 million property tax increase that would have taken effect prior to the 2023 election. The tax increase would have gone through on an automatic escalator basis had Lightfoot not revoked it. Sawyer said, "If you thought it was responsible to have a modest tax increase, you should stand by that. And if you feel it's not, you should stand by that. If you're not gonna do that, you're just blowing with the wind."[13]

In the initial round of the election, Sawyer was defeated, placing last of nine candidates with less than 2,500 votes (0.43% of the election's overall vote). A week after the first round, Sawyer endorsed Paul Vallas in the runoff election.[14]

Personal

Sawyer is married to Cheryll Aikens Sawyer.[15] They have two children, Sydni Celeste Sawyer and Roderick T. Sawyer Jr.[15]

Sawyer is the son of former Chicago mayor Eugene Sawyer.[12]

Electoral history

City Council

2011 Chicago 6th ward aldermanic election
Candidate General election[16] Runoff election[17]
Votes % Votes %
Roderick T. Sawyer 3,758 24.98 5,109 50.51
Freddrenna M. Lyle 6,696 44.51 5,005 49.49
Richard A. Wooten 2,985 19.84
Cassandra Goodrum-Burton 950 6.31
Sekum Walker 343 2.28
Brian E. Sleet 313 2.08
Total 15,045 100.00 10,114 100.00
2015 Chicago 6th ward aldermanic election[18]
Candidate Votes %
Roderick T. Sawyer (incumbent) 5,990 56.20
Richard A. Wooten 2,800 25.27
Brain T. Garner 1,869 17.53
Total votes 10,659 100.00
2019 Chicago 6th ward aldermanic election
Candidate General election[19] Runoff election[20]
Votes % Votes %
Roderick T. Sawyer (incumbent) 5,053 49.94 5,966 53.67
Richard A. Wooten 1,900 18.78 5,151 46.33
Deborah A. Foster-Bonner 3,159 31.22
Write-ins 7 0.07
Total 10,119 100.00 11,117 100.00

Mayoral

2023 Chicago mayoral election
Candidate General election[21] Runoff election[22]
Votes % Votes %
Brandon Johnson 122,093 21.63 319,481 52.16
Paul Vallas 185,743 32.90 293,033 47.84
Lori Lightfoot (incumbent) 94,890 16.81
Chuy García 77,222 13.68
Willie Wilson 51,567 9.13
Ja'Mal Green 12,257 2.17
Kam Buckner 11,092 1.96
Sophia King 7,191 1.27
Roderick Sawyer 2,440 0.43
Write-ins 29 0.01
Total 564,524 100.00 612,514 100.00

External links

References

Wikiquote has quotations related to Roderick Sawyer.
  1. ^ a b Reed, Atavia (22 March 2023). "What's Next For Ald. Roderick Sawyer? For Now, Longtime 6th Ward Leader Says He's Focused On Backing Vallas". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ McCarron, Mitchell Locin and John (3 December 1987). "SAWYER UNKNOWN TO MOST CHICAGOANS". chicagotribune.com.
  3. ^ "Your Alderman: 6th Ward".
  4. ^ (April 2011). Lyle Loses Tight Race To Sawyer In 6th Ward, CBS Chicago
  5. ^ "Class Notes" (PDF). DePaul Magazine. Fall 2012.
  6. ^ Felsenthal, Carol (15 November 2012). His Father Moved Up from Chicago Alderman to Mayor; Does Rod Sawyer Want to Follow in His Footsteps?, Chicago (magazine)
  7. ^ "How Rahm Emanuel's surprise might shake up Chicago's mayoral race". 4 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  8. ^ Pratt, John Byrne, Gregory (4 September 2018). "What does Rahm Emanuel's decision mean for the Chicago mayor's race? Who's in so far, and who's out". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 September 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Byrne, John; Pratt, Gregory (17 June 2020). "Chicago cops-out-of-schools plan potentially blocked by Mayor Lori Lightfoot ally". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  10. ^ Roberts, Bob (6 April 2011). "Lyle Loses Tight Race To Sawyer In 6th Ward". CBS Chicago. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Election Results". Chicago Election Results (official page).
  12. ^ a b c Schulte, Sarah (2 June 2022). "Alderman Roderick Sawyer joins growing field for candidates for mayor of Chicago". ABC 7 Chicago. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  13. ^ Spielman, Fran (29 September 2022). "Lightfoot cancels pre-election property tax increase". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Dueling endorsements in race for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Roderick Sawyer biography". 6ward. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 22, 2011 Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Supplementary Aldermanic Election April 5, 2011 Summary Report Chicago Official" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 24, 2015 Municipal General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 26, 2019 Municipal General and Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the Municipal Run-Off Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago and for the Supplementary Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in Wards 5, 6, 15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 30, 31, 33, 39, 40, 43, 46 and 47 in the City of Chicago on April 2, 2019" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 28, 2023 Municipal General and Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the Municipal Runoff Election Held in Each of the Precincts in all the Wards in the City of Chicago and for the Supplementary Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in Wards 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 21, 24, 29, 30, 36, 43, 45, 46, and 48 in the City of Chicago on April 4, 2023" (PDF). Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
Categories