Northwestern will welcome mayor-elect Steve Hagerty to campus June 8 at the new Kellogg School of Management’s Global Hub, University President Morton Schapiro told The Daily last week.

He said he had previously met Hagerty at Evanston MashUp, a community event that brings together more than 500 individuals for an annual gala. Schapiro said he had always admired Hagerty, a local businessman who “really cares about the community.”

Schapiro said he has been close to current Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, who will step down next month after serving for roughly eight years. Over that time, Schapiro said, she had become a mentor and a friend — even joining his family for Passover seders.

“She’s not Jewish, but she really loves to be with my family for Passover,” he said. “I told her, ‘You always have a seat at my seder.’ … It’s kind of unusual to have that kind of a relationship.”

The president added that while he was “very confident” about having a professional relationship with Hagerty, it would take time to develop a personal one.

This year’s mayoral contest featured a rare primary in which two of five candidates — Hagerty and Ald. Mark Tendam (6th) — advanced to the general election. Earlier this month, Tendam lost to Hagerty by 115 votes, capping off a roughly six-month long election season that included a slew of contentious legal challenges.

“It’s nice that a number of people put their names forward,” Schapiro said. “It’s a great commentary on the city of Evanston that we had two candidates who were fantastic. I don’t think everybody feels that was the case in the presidential election.”

Schapiro would not disclose whom he voted for, but said it was “a very tough decision.” He added that Tendam was a “sensational person” who will be missed by the community when he finishes his term as alderman next month.

“I hope Mark gets in a race for alderman again, gets back involved because he’s an extremely talented person,” Schapiro said.

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