Two openly LGBTQ+ incumbents are running to keep their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) board this election.
MWRD Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, the first Black and transgender woman appointed to public office in Cook County, is running for a two-year term on the board after being selected for the role last year. Commissioner Marcelino Garcia, who has served on the MWRD board since 2018, is running for a full six-year term.
Brady-Davis was appointed to the role last summer to fill a vacancy left by Commissioner Kim du Buclet, who left the board when she was appointed to the Illinois General Assembly. She goes up against Republican candidate R. Cary Capparelli in the Nov. 5 election to finish the last two years of du Buclet’s term. If Brady-Davis wins, she will become the first Black transgender woman ever elected in Cook County.
Garcia is among several candidates running for a full six-year term on the MWRD board, which elects three commissioners every two years. Other candidates in the race include incumbent Kari K. Steele and Sharon Waller, who are both running as Democrats, as well as Republican candidates Claire Connelly, Richard F. Dale and Brendan Ehlers, and Green Party candidate Toneal M. Jackson.
In interviews with Windy City Times, Brady-Davis and Garcia discussed the future of MWRD, which is a nine-member board in charge of maintaining the water quality in Lake MIchigan and other bodies of water and protecting communities from flood damage.
“For 130 years this agency has been on the forefront of protecting our drinking water, and I think that we need that same ingenuity as climate change brings heavier storms and causes increased flooding across the country,” Brady-Davis said.
When Brady-Davis joined the MWRD board in July 2023, much of Cook County was reeling from the effects of severe storms and flooding that happened from June 29 through July 2, 2023. The commissioner visited communities most affected by the flooding and learned residents weren’t fully aware of what resources were available to them and where to go if they need help.
One of Brady-Davis’ first initiatives was to create resource cards rounding up all relevant information, which she passed out in communities across the county, she said.
“That was one of the hallmarks of my first year,” Brady-Davis said. “When I started, I felt there was not one place where folks could go to navigate contacting the water department or get resources when it comes to when your home floods. I’ve gotten some feedback on this, and the resource has been extremely helpful to folks.”
Some of Brady-Davis’s other proudest accomplishments include supporting 28 stormwater projects across the county and the MWRD’s Space to Grow program that transforms Chicago Public Schools yards into dynamic playspaces where kids can learn the importance of green infrastructure to manage stormwater, she said.
Brady-Davis also supported passing MWRD’s $1.4 billion balanced budget, which invests in public infrastructure, tackles flooding issues and continues a commitment to fully funding the Retirement Fund for MWRD workers, she said.
With two more years, Brady-Davis hopes to build on this work, she said.
“I’m going to continue serving the people of Cook County with excellence and integrity,” Brady-Davis said. “I will continue addressing climate change, advancing flooding mitigation projects across the country and moving the district to be carbon neutral.”
Addressing climate change and protecting communities from flooding is also top of mind for Garcia, he said.
“Two summers ago, we had a lot of localized, really bad storms, which affected a lot of areas around Cook County and flooded people’s homes,” Garcia said. “How do we keep being at the forefront of establishing green infrastructure and other programs to make sure storms don’t have that kind of devastating effect on people today?”
As commissioner, Garcia also supported the passage of the MWRD’s budget, which included investments into such green infrastructure and programs supporting communities affected by storms, he said.
One of Garcia’s other proudest accomplishments include co-leading the creation of the MWRD’s first commissioner-led Strategic Plan, which outlines a commitment to protecting and improving water quality in Cook County and protecting communities from flood damage.
Garcia also helped advance new policies relating to contract compliance and procurement, and established policies increasing contracts with businesses owned by LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities, he said.
“I’m a firm believer that small businesses help the economy overall,” Garcia said. “And with stronger small businesses in the area, Cook County will be able to endure many economic issues.”
With another term, Garcia will build on this groundwork, he said.
“I put a lot of time and effort into creating positive changes within the MWRD, and we’re only just starting,” Garcia said.