Proco Joe Moreno

Proco Joe Moreno
City of Chicago Alderman
Assumed office
March 26, 2010
Preceded by Manny Flores
Constituency 1st Ward, Chicago
Personal details
Born Proco Joe Moreno III
(1972-05-19) May 19, 1972
Moline, Illinois
Alma mater DePaul University

Proco Joe Moreno III (born May 19, 1972) was appointed to replace Manny Flores as Chicago's 1st Ward Alderman by Mayor Richard M. Daley on March 26, 2010. The 1st Ward of Chicago incorporates areas including: Wicker Park, Bucktown, East Village, Ukrainian Village, and Logan Square.

Early life and education

Moreno was born in Moline, Illinois and moved to Chicago after graduating from Augustana College, with a B.A. in Business and Art. Moreno has an M.B.A. from DePaul University and was vice president at a printing company before becoming Alderman.[1] Moreno graduated from the Metropolitan Leadership Institute of United Neighborhood Organization (UNO), which seeks to develop political leaders within the Hispanic community.[2]

Political career

In 2008, Moreno ran in the Democratic primary election against incumbent Illinois State Senator Willie Delgado in District 2 and lost.[3]

2008 2nd District State Senator Democratic Primary

Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 9945 40.43%
William "Willie" Delgado 14653 59.57%[4]

Appointment to City Council

After 1st ward alderman Manny Flores was appointed by then Gov. Pat Quinn to lead the Illinois Commerce Commission, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley appointed Moreno to fill the rest of his term as alderman in March 2010.[5]

2011 1st Ward Alderman Election

Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 7243 73.56%
Ronald J. Baltierra 457 4.64%
Deborah Lopez 2147 21.80%[6]

Moreno won his first full term in the February 22, 2011 Chicago municipal elections, after receiving the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune[7] and Chicago Sun-Times. It was during this term that Moreno attempted to block a Chick-fil-a chicken restaurant from being built in his ward due to the company's political views. Moreno demanded the company change its discriminatory policies while critics questioned his commitment to free speech, religious liberties and the first amendment.[8]

2015 1st Ward Alderman Election

Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 4205 51.08%
Anne Shaw 2037 24.74%
Ronda Locke 1680 20.41%
Andrew Hamilton 310 3.77%[9]

Moreno's bid for a second full term proved to be a greater challenge than his first, as he drew three challengers: Anne Shaw, an attorney; Andrew Hamilton, also an attorney; and Ronda Locke, a former staffer to the Alderman. Moreno won the election with over 51% overall vote.[10]

Chick-fil-A and gay marriage

In July 2012, Moreno said he denied the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant on North Elston Avenue. His stated reason was because the company's president held different beliefs on gay marriage (opposition) than Moreno. In September of that year, Moreno said he spoke to Chick-fil-A executives and that they told him they would distribute a "statement of tolerance" to their employees and operators.[11]

After speaking with the executives, Moreno said he would allow Chick-fil-A to open the restaurant. Later in October, Moreno again said he would block the permit after saying he heard the company president stay on cable TV that the company's policies on gay marriage have not changed.[11]

References

  1. "About Alderman Proco Joe Moreno". Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  2. "Chicago's Latino leadership group molds next generation". Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  3. "Illinois Senate And House Results". The Chicago Tribune. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  4. "http://www.chicagoelections.com". External link in |title= (help);
  5. "Mayor Richard Daley names 2 to City Council". The Chicago Tribune. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2015-010-19. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. "http://www.chicagoelections.com". External link in |title= (help);
  7. "For the city council". The Chicago Tribune. 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  8. "http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-19/news/ct-met-chick-fil-a-chicago-0919-20120919_1_gay-marriage-moreno-first-proco-joe-moreno". External link in |title= (help);
  9. "http://www.chicagoelections.com". External link in |title= (help);
  10. Hauser, Alisa. "Former Staffer to Ald. Joe Moreno, Ronda Locke, to Run Against Him in 1st". DNA Info Chicago. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  11. 1 2 Yue, Lorene (2012-10-19). "Ald. Moreno dumps Chick-fil-A, again". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
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