By Jim Sterne
News Editor
“I am proud to kick off my campaign for alderman of the 44th Ward,” Dean Maragos said to volunteers and citizens on Sunday, Jan. 5, in a private room at the Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 W. Addison St. “My particular areas of focus will be quality education, small business development, an end to residential over-development, increased public safety and crime prevention, and more and better services for your tax dollar.”
“Paul Vallas, Gery Chico and I all share the same goals of public service — to use our years of experience in city government to solve the urban problems of property taxes, fiscal shortfalls, over-development, parking, traffic congestion, education, assisting the elderly, stopping crime — especially hate-crimes, open space, recreational areas and parks, and representing all the diverse groups to the best of our ability to improve the lives of our fellow citizens,” Maragos said as his extended family and supporters stood behind him. Gery Chico, former Superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Dean Vallas, representing his brother, Paul Vallas, former CEO of CPS, were both in the group.
Maragos’ parents had the place of honor alongside his wife, Toni, and their five-year-old daughter, Anastasia. His father, Samuel Maragos, served as Circuit Court judge and as a state senator and representative. The meeting had the feeling of a Sunday family party with brothers and wives and in-laws. Handshakes and kisses to both men and women indicated the European roots of a family that has lived in the 44th Ward for over 30 years.
“The citizens of this ward must have an alderman who has the experience in city government to hit the ground running, not an alderman with virtually no experience in city government who will be doing on-the-job training,” Maragos said.” He rolled out his qualifications beginning with his appointment by Mayor Jane Byrne as Assistant Director of Revenue. “In that position I began managerial accountability programs and licensing systems to make it easier and faster to obtain city licenses.” Maragos is a lawyer and a CPA.
Outside the windows of the banquet room, Wrigley Field cast a shadow over all the candidates in the 44th Ward. “If the community’s issues such as parking, traffic, and toilets are all met, I will institute the expansion deal between the community and the Tribune in a city ordinance so that everyone understands what the issues are so the community comes out a winner,” Maragos said.
Treasurer of Lake View Citizens Council Lee Neubecker came to the party hoping to hear about Maragos’ zoning plans. “[Retired] Ald. Hansen (44th) did not introduce down-zoning to the Halsted St. district but Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) did. It is important to have an entertainment district but you can’t have high rise luxury living next to it. Without zoning in place before developers tear down a two or three story structure and build as high as possible, the community is left out of negotiations. I’m not against development but this is unfair to the community.”
“I’ll be going to the zoning board meeting on Jan. 10,” Maragos said. “The Halsted St. area must be downzoned to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood. It is the only C1 area in the ward and it must be preserved for all the people. We must ensure that residential development does not run rough-shod over the community.”
“I believe each development must have affordable housing and regardless of a citizen’s income everyone must be treated equally,” Maragos said in response to a constituent’s concern. “My intent is to have all the citizens who live in this ward make it their lifelong home and to have balanced policies and programs to achieve this goal.”
Maragos worked with Gery Chico and Paul Vallas on the Greek town revitalization program, bringing open spaces to the West Side Greek area and bringing back residential properties and working with small businesses to stabilize and maintain the financial and cultural heritage of Greek town. Currently, Maragos is the general counsel of the Greek town SSA.
In 1995 Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed him, and has continued to appoint him each year, to the Community Development Advisory Council. Maragos serves as Co-Chair of the Economic Development Sub-committee which distributes about $7 million in federal funds to city agencies such as chambers of commerce.
Maragos collected over 7,000 signatures for his aldermanic petition. He is also supported by Rabbi Dr. Victor Weissberg, and Jerry Ezgur, past president of the Chicago Chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. |
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