Former mayoral candidate Gary Gaspard took to Twitter on Saturday to endorse Ald. Mark Tendam (6th) for mayor.

Gaspard, a former Evanston Township supervisor, saw his own mayoral campaign cut short after he came in last of the five primary candidates with about 3.5 percent of the vote. Gaspard, a Haitian native, anchored the central message of his campaign around increasing diversity and inclusion in Evanston.

Gaspard told The Daily earlier this month he would look to his former supporters for advice on whom to endorse between the two remaining candidates, Tendam and businessman Steve Hagerty.

“In this municipal election, after weeks of careful consideration, I have decided that I will cast my vote for Mark Tendam for Evanston Mayor,” Gaspard wrote on Twitter.

Tendam, who has served on City Council for eight years, has said he hopes to prioritize job creation and affordable housing, focusing particularly on those who are homeless or struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse.

In last month’s primary, Tendam earned more than 20 percent of the vote and will go on to face Hagerty in the general election held on April 4. Hagerty has outspent Tendam by about $78,000 over the course of this election cycle, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Hagerty has received multiple endorsements, including one from Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and another from Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated a position Gaspard held. Gaspard is a former Evanston Township supervisor. The Daily regrets the error.

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