07-02-2025
North Chicago Fifth Ward race to be decided by Democratic primary
Retired North Chicago water plant worker Jerry L. Gray wants to concentrate on people's concerns on small things that need attention, while Foss Park District Commissioner Kingston L. Neal wants to use his experience to help create intergovernmental synergy.
Neal and Gray are two of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the North Chicago Fifth Ward City Council seat along with Tabitha Ann Wray, who declined to be interviewed.
Voters will choose between Gray, Neal and Wray when they cast their ballots in the Democratic primary election on Feb. 25 in North Chicago in a contest which will determine the eventual winner of the April 1 general election.
With no candidates in the Republican primary or independent contenders running in the general election, the winner of the Democratic primary will be unopposed on April 1. Incumbent Ald. Kenneth Smith, 5th Ward, is running for mayor rather than reelection.
Currently in the fourth year of his second six-year term on the park board, Neal, 56, is the managing partner of North Chicago-based Illinois Builders & Associates, a company he started 25 years ago.
'I look at development like professional people do,' Neal said. 'That's what I do. I know how to work with local businesses. I know ways to help the city work toward economic growth. I can be a community development leader.'
Retiring after a 30-year career with the city of North Chicago's water department, Gray, 68, said he has looked for another way to contribute to the city and his ward. He is licensed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency as a Class A operator.
'I did lab work, and I was a mechanic,' Gray said. 'I didn't do any meter reading. I did everything else.'
From his work at the water plant, Gray said he learned how people complain about 'little things' which, if left unattended, can become a much larger problem. Those include neglecting property, poorly maintained sidewalks or uncontrolled pets.
'I could do a lot of good in the Fifth Ward helping people with these things,' he said. 'These are the little things I hear people complain about. They complain about too many cars parked by a house, or garbage cans in the yard.'
Taking a more general approach, Neal said he can bring his expertise from the Park District to the city as a whole. Residents of the community can benefit from the city, the Park District and North Chicago School District 187 working for the benefit of everyone.
'I want to be part of the conversation for the Fifth Ward and the city,' Neal said. 'I can be an advocate for everyone working together collectively for our common interests. I can be a thoughtful partner.'
As a builder, Neal said he can help as part of the conversation as the city tries to implement its master plan with a reinvigorated downtown and development at Sheridan Crossing. Public safety is paramount, and he thinks both the police and fire departments are doing a good job. Adding revenue is a priority.
'Business development will grow our tax base,' Neal said. 'If we grow our tax base, property taxes will be less of a burden on homeowners. We need to do that so we don't have to raise property taxes.'
A specific issue for Gray is getting the city to hire an animal warden like other communities employ. For that, like other situations that cannot be handled with a phone call to City Hall, he will make a motion and ask for a vote.
'There are a lot of stray dogs, even in my ward,' Gray said. 'Every city should have an animal warden. There are stray cats, too.'
Early voting is already underway. People can vote from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Building in Waukegan through Friday. They can vote there or at North Chicago City Hall starting Monday, according to the Lake Country Clerk's website.
For those voting on election day Feb. 25, Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said they can now vote at any polling place, not just their assigned preferred location.
