Why We Run: Marianne Lalonde
Election Day in Chicago is right around the corner, and we’re gearing up to help elect new young progressive to local office. Marianne Lalonde is a PhD scientist and a community leader, who’s is running to be the first scientist on Chicago’s City Council. Her technical expertise will serve her not only to advocate for science based causes like sustainability, but to view data critically and effectively.
What’s the problem you’d like to solve by running for office?
Our ward is historically diverse, both economically and culturally. We have a lot of cool historic landmarks here. And, it’s one of the last affordable places on the North Side of Chicago.
But, the character of our neighborhood is under threat right now. The current alderman has approved a lot of luxury developments, and is really focused on increasing the level of wealth in the ward. My overall goal is to maintain our ward’s character, and to make sure it remains affordable, equitable and inclusive.
How did you get over the fear of fundraising or networking?
When I first started fundraising — before we had an office — I would sit in my house at my kitchen table where I could see the oven timer. I would set it for two hours. I would say to myself, “I can’t get up from this chair until the two hours have passed.” And I would just make phone calls, asking people for donations. It took a lot of self-discipline.
In terms of networking, especially in the city of Chicago, political circles are really tight knit and tough to get into. For me, it was definitely a challenge.
I was an insider in my ward and an outsider in political circles. I think the people in the inner circle in politics here in Chicago are slow to trust, and slow to build new relationships. You just have to keep showing up to events.
It’s really frustrating. But when you keep showing up, you start to earn people’s respect.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about running?
Don’t wait.
When I first started to think about running, I was thinking about 2023 and not 2019. But in the end, I thought, “I can’t wait another four years to have this incumbent run our neighborhood. We just can’t afford it.”
I think you can’t let “perfect” be the enemy of the good. There are certainly some things I would’ve done differently, and there are things that I’ve learned in the process. But I’m happy that I did it now, at this time.
I’m happy I did it while I’m younger, because I don’t have any dependents. I think it was hugely advantageous for me to be able to run my own schedule. I have immense respect for people who do this while they’re raising children. I have a friend who’s running in another ward who has an infant that is still breastfeeding. I have the utmost respect for her.
Has anything interesting happened during door knocking?
Sometimes people are really passionate at their doors. I had a woman run outside. Her husband had answered the door and said, “No. We’re having dinner.” But then, she ran out after him — in flip flops, in the snow — and said, “Please lower my property taxes.” The level of passion on doors can get pretty high, which is a lot of fun.
Do you have a favorite quote?
“You are what you do.” That’s really how I’ve lived my campaign, and how I’ve assured myself that running was the right choice.
A lot of my campaign is based on the fact that I’ve been hugely involved in our neighborhoods. I served as a block club president. I’m on a park advisory council. I am on a committee at a local high school. I served on the associate’s board of a women’s homeless shelter and on a task force that’s redesigning a major highway in our ward.
I’m always reminding myself that all the things I’ve done have contributed to who I am and what makes me a good candidate.
I think about that a lot in the mornings, while canvassing during the morning commute. I go to L stations and bus stations — and I have to remind myself that I have to do the work. It’s hard to get up at 5:30 a.m. and sit through two hours of somebody else’s morning commute. But, It’s totally worth it for me.
I have one more favorite quote. A candidate who’s running in another ward who I really admire asked me, “Where’s your hustle?” I thought about taping that to the ceiling of my bedroom. I’ll wake up in the morning and see it — “Where’s your hustle?”
To find out more about Marianne’s campaign, check out her website: https://marianneforuptown.com/
