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George A. Cardenas (born October 9, 1964) is alderman of the 12th Ward (map) of the City of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to his first term on the Chicago City Council in 2003.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Election 3 Aldermanic career 4 Political career 5 Professional career 6 Personal life 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Early life

Cardenas was born in Santiago, a small town in the mountains of central Mexico. Cardenas and his family moved to Chicago in 1978 where he attended Lane Tech High School. After graduation he joined the Navy for four years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University and went on to work as an auditor and a substitute teacher in public schools. Cardenas later became a business consultant and went back to school to earn his master’s in political science from NEIU.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Election

Cardenas first ran for alderman in 2003. Cardenas was supported by the powerful and controversial Hispanic Democratic Organization, a group with strong ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.^{[citation needed]} In a 3-way race in February, 2003, Cardenas and incumbent Alderman Ray Frias were the top two vote-getters, but neither earned a majority, forcing a run-off election scheduled for April, 2003. Frias withdrew his candidacy prior to the run-off, cancelling the run-off, and leaving Cardenas as the winner.^[1]

[edit] Aldermanic career

Cardenas serves on eight committees: Committees, Finance, Aviation, Budget, Education, Rules and Ethics; Health, License and Consumer Protection.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2007 Cardenas proposed a tax on bottled water to fill a $40 million shortfall.^{[citation needed]}

Cardenas is bringing approximately 200 million of infrastructure improvements to the Brighton Park community and Little Village with the building of several schools like a High School in Back of the Yards and two elementary schools in Brighton Park, a library in Little Village and a fire station. Cardenas is also working on a proposed park in Little Village and has secured approximately 18 million from various sources including the City, Park District, and the State.^{[citation needed]}

Cardenas supports the building of a Casino in the downtown area to stem the flow of tourist dollars to Hammond and Joliet and Elgin. Cardenas believes that a Casino will bring jobs badly needed in the unskilled labor market that predominates in the South and South West of Chicago.^{[citation needed]}

Cardenas has presented various resolutions in the City Council to strengthen surveillance technology, especially gun detection technology. Cardenas recently introduced a resolution calling for hearings on CPS cancelling of after school tutoring in many Latino Elementary Schools.^{[citation needed]}

Cardenas and his relatives bought the three-story building at 2454-60 W. 38th St. in the 12th ward for $715,000 in February 2007. Cardenas moved his ward office to the building shortly thereafter. Cardenas is one of seven owners of the limited liability corporation run by his brother that bought the building. Cardenas said he has a minority stake in the firm. In 2008 Cardenas paid $17,120 from his taxpayer-funded expense account to rent the ward office in the building he owns with relatives. The ordinance governing aldermanic expense accounts prohibits the spending of expense funds for "the direct monetary benefit of any alderman or any of his or her relatives."^[2]

Cardenas uses a taxpayer-funded payroll account available to alderman with no scrutiny to pay his father $13 an hour, according to city records that show Armando Cardenas puts in 180 hours a month - the equivalent of 45 hours a week. Armando Cardenas made $23,500 last year, when he was working less hours.^[3]

[edit] Political career

In 2006, Cardenas lost to Ald. Ricardo Muñoz in the race for state central committeeman for Illinois' 4th Congressional District (map), a Democratic Party post.

[edit] Professional career

Cardenas is a part-time alderman. Cardenas owns Cardenas and Associates, a business consulting firm,^[4] where he has worked for many fortune 500 companies including Centel Corporation, McDonalds Corporation, Andersen Worldwide, Tenneco Corporation, Ameritech/SBC Corporation.^{[citation needed]}

Cardenas is President of QuickDinero, Inc., a retail wire transfer service.^[4]

[edit] Personal life

Ald. Cardenas is married and has two children.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ald. Cardenas' Web site

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