Shawn Iles is leading the 3rd Ward City Council race, according to preliminary results from the Cook County Clerk’s office as of 9 p.m. Tuesday night. With 825 votes, Iles surpassed Gennifer Geer and John Kennedy by 127 and 147 votes respectively. The three candidates are vying for the open seat left by retiring Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd). 

Out of 6,384 registered voters, 2,232 ballots were cast, according to the clerk’s office. Complete results are not immediately available for the race as mail-in ballots postmarked before April 1 still need to be counted. 

“I’m excited, and I’m a little humbled,” Iles told The Daily. “I worked really hard, and I’ve been really active in the community, and I’m really grateful to have the support of the people of the 3rd Ward.” 

Iles is currently the director of the overnight shelter at Interfaith Action of Evanston and has previously served as the president of the Evanston Public Library Board. 

Iles also led the PTA at Lincoln Elementary School, while also coaching several kids in soccer and running a bookery for students. Iles said this helped him grow closer with parents in the community and gain their trust. 

If elected, Iles said his top priority will be addressing affordability and homelessness. He added that he was a part of the Coalition to End Homelessness in Evanston and plans to revive the effort. 

Iles also wants to combat economic stagnation in downtown Evanston and focus on improving transit-oriented development, he said. 

“I have four teenagers, and I wanna turn over a situation that’s better than how I received it,” he said.

When asked about what he felt worked best in his campaign, Iles pointed to the moms in the Evanston community. Iles said he knocked on doors and was greeted by mothers who said they were already voting for him. 

Opponent Geer is a 27-year-old environmentalist and outreach coordinator for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. She received 698 votes, according to preliminary results Tuesday night.

At a March forum, she said she wants to prioritize expanding bike lanes and electric vehicle infrastructure if elected. She also wants to increase civic engagement through participatory budgeting and implement ranked choice voting. 

Geer did not respond to The Daily’s request for comment Tuesday night. 

Retired businessman Kennedy is currently at 678 votes as of 9 p.m. Kennedy has emphasized fiscal responsibility and transparency in his campaign. He argues the city has excessive funds and should reduce spending rather than raise property taxes. 

Another key issue broached in the race is the city proposal to rezone much of Chicago Avenue south of Dempster Street to increase the maximum allowable building height from 45 feet to 100 feet. 

All three candidates support maintaining the current 45-foot height limit. However, Kennedy says developers need taller buildings to make projects financially viable while Geer and Iles prioritize affordability and controlled growth. 

Kennedy said he still remains “cautiously optimistic” about the race. 

So far in the race, Iles said it has been gratifying to have people who trust him in the 3rd Ward. He looks forward to providing some of the support that’s been missing, he said. 

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Email: mishaoberoi2027@u.northwestern.edu

Email: a.sextou@dailynorthwestern.com 

Related Stories:

— 3rd Ward candidates, mayoral hopefuls discuss plans for city’s future at forum 

— Three candidates emerge in race for 3rd Ward City Council race 

— Q&A: 3rd Ward Ald. Melissa Wynne reflects on 28-year City Council career