Lee Cabot (Kellogg ’86), a candidate for 1st Ward alderman, said she would prioritize affordable housing in Evanston at a campaign kickoff Monday evening.

Cabot unveiled her campaign platform in front of more than 30 supporters at Found Kitchen, 1631 Chicago Avenue. Cabot is currently the program assistant for the McCormick School of Engineering’s master of product design and development management program, and she has also worked at the Evanston Historical Society.

If elected, Cabot said she would focus on increasing affordable housing opportunities and balancing property taxes with school funding. The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board voted earlier this month to place an operating referendum on the April ballots that could raise the property tax and allocate the additional funds to the district.

“(Evanston’s schools are) dedicated to community and inclusion … Our schools are strong and, to be honest, the envy of a nation,” she said. “But we also know that to maintain that, we’re faced with the possibility of putting an additional strain on our households.”

Cabot’s campaign platform also includes fostering development in Evanston, attracting businesses to the area, preserving the lakefront and improving race relations in the city.

Former Evanston Mayor Lorraine H. Morton endorsed Cabot at the event. Morton said Cabot was the right person for the job.

“I am so delighted that Lee has put herself out here to run for the 1st Ward,” said Morton. “We have someone who will do what is right, say what is right, but say it with such class that everyone will feel good that they voted for her.”

Cabot said local government is more important than ever in light of the election of President Donald Trump. She praised Evanston’s status as a sanctuary city and encouraged Evanston to work to accomplish its goals despite potentially jeopardized federal funding and shaky state funding as a result of the budget stalemate.

Cabot also emphasized the importance of Evanston residents — especially those who are displeased with the state and national political climate — engaging with their local government.

“We must strive towards self-sufficiency, towards being creative, towards building our revenue sources in a way that respects what we cherish,” Cabot said. “We are a resource-rich community. We have a lot of zeal.”

Some of the attendees said they supported Cabot because they feel that she brings a challenge to the political “establishment” in Evanston.

Suzanne Whiting, a member of Cabot’s campaign, said Trump’s election inspired her to get involved in local politics.

“After this last presidential election, I was a little shell-shocked. And I thought, OK, it has to start at home, right?” Whiting said at the event. “Everybody has to effect change, everybody has to do what they can do to start from the ground up if we really want a change.”

Other supporters said they appreciated Cabot’s focus on bettering Evanston. First Ward resident Julie Cutter said Cabot’s initiatives would not only help the ward, but the whole city.

“I think that her ideas are more Evanston forward than our current alderman,” Cutter said.

Cabot will face off against incumbent 1st Ward alderman Judy Fiske in the April 4 election.

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