Fourth Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle recommended State Representative Will Burns (A.B. ’95, A.M. ’98) to Mayor Daley as a replacement should she win her bid for Cook County President. If Preckwinkle wins the bid, Daley will appoint a replacement until the next general election.

Burns, who has lived in the Fourth Ward since 1991, is currently 26th District Representative. His district includes Hyde Park and reaches from East Division Street to about 73rd Street. He was elected to the position in 2007 and is running for the seat again, uncontested. It is unclear how the seat would be filled if he were appointed alderman.

Preckwinkle said she wanted to recommend a candidate who would be interested in continuing to be alderman beyond the interim period, according to the Hyde Park Herald. She said she would campaign for him during the general election if other candidates ran against him.

As alderman, Preckwinkle has focused on vacant properties and redevelopment, work that Burns said he would like to see continued. Preckwinkle said it is work on issues like vacant properties that makes it essential that the alderman hold the position for enough time to accomplish longer-term goals.