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Proco Joe Moreno

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Proco Joe Moreno
Chicago Alderman from the 1st ward
In office
March 26, 2010 – May 20, 2019
Preceded byManny Flores
Succeeded byDaniel La Spata
Personal details
Born
Proco Joe Moreno III

(1972-05-19) May 19, 1972 (age 52)
Moline, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materDePaul University

Proco Joe Moreno III (born May 19, 1972) is an American politician who served as alderman from the 1st ward in the Chicago City Council. He was appointed to replace Manny Flores on March 26, 2010. His term ended on May 20, 2019, after his loss to Daniel La Spata in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic elections. The 1st Ward of Chicago incorporates areas including: Wicker Park, Bucktown, East Village, Ukrainian Village, Logan Square and the southeastern tip of Roscoe Village.

Early life and education

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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

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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

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

Appointment to City Council

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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

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Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 7243 73.56%
Ronald J. Baltierra 457 4.64%
Deborah Lopez 2147 21.80%[4]

Moreno won his first full term in the February 22, 2011, Chicago municipal elections, after receiving the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune[6] 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.[7]

2015 1st Ward Alderman Election

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Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 4205 51.08%
Anne Shaw 2037 24.74%
Ronda Locke 1680 20.41%
Andrew Hamilton 310 3.77%[4]

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.[8]

2019 1st Ward Alderman Election

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Candidate Votes Percentage
Proco "Joe" Moreno 4635 38.75%
Daniel La Spata 7325 61.25%[4]

In 2019, Moreno lost to political newcomer Daniel La Spata.

Chick-fil-A and gay marriage

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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.[9]

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 state on cable TV that the company's policies on gay marriage have not changed.[9]

Controversies and Scandals

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In May 2017, Moreno was caught on video threatening a property owner with zoning changes after a rent dispute at the former Double Door nightclub.[10]

In June 2018, Moreno was accused of impersonating a police officer after flashing the badge distributed to aldermen as “peace officers” to compel a woman to move her car, so he could take the parking spot in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.[11]

In January 2019, the Chicago Police Department opened an investigation into whether Moreno filed a false police report.[12] Moreno had reported his car was stolen, and police found the car and arrested the woman behind the wheel. However, she had proof that Moreno had loaned her the car, with text messages to back up her story.[13]

On May 14, 2019, Moreno turned himself in to local authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest, reportedly for filing a false police report and for insurance fraud.[14][15][16][17] He pleaded "not guilty" to the charges in June 2019.[18]

In February 2019, a former staffer accused Moreno of inappropriate behavior. She said in 2015 Moreno said to her and other aides, “OK, we’re gonna have a contest. Everyone’s gonna have to take off their shirts. The girls can keep their bras on. And if your body is better than mine, then you get a raise.”[19]

Moreno's name came up in the federal investigation of Ald. Ed Burke and Ald. Danny Solis, when a campaign donor said Moreno had steered property zoning tax work his way in exchange for support.[20]

In December 2020, Chicago police reported that Moreno had sideswiped eight cars over four street blocks.[21]

In 2021 he pleaded guilty to filing a false report.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "About Alderman Proco Joe Moreno". Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  2. ^ "Chicago's Latino leadership group molds next generation". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  3. ^ "Illinois Senate And House Results". The Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago". chicagoelections.gov. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mayor Richard Daley names 2 to City Council". The Chicago Tribune. March 10, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "For the city council". The Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Moreno relents, will allow Chick-fil-A". Chicago Tribune. September 19, 2012.
  8. ^ Hauser, Alisa. "Former Staffer to Ald. Joe Moreno, Ronda Locke, to Run Against Him in 1st". DNA Info Chicago. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Yue, Lorene (October 19, 2012). "Ald. Moreno dumps Chick-fil-A, again". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "Ald. Moreno Bullies Double Door Landlord on Video — and Has No Regrets - Wicker Park - Chicago - DNAinfo". Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  11. ^ "Ald. Joe Moreno accused of impersonating a police officer in parking dispute". June 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "Police investigate whether Chicago Ald. Moreno filed false police report after car he said was stolen found with woman he dated - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. February 6, 2019.
  13. ^ "A Chicago alderman, a stolen car and the single mother he claims he was trying to help". February 5, 2019.
  14. ^ FOX (May 15, 2019). "Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno in custody for reportedly filing false police report". WFLD. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno Turns Himself In To Authorities". May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno charged with insurance fraud, obstruction of justice". Chicago Tribune. May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  17. ^ Crepeau, Megan (May 15, 2019). "Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno charged with falsely reporting car stolen, trying to collect $30,000 in insurance". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  18. ^ Crepeau, Megan (June 18, 2019). "Ex-Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno pleads not guilty to insurance fraud". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "Chicago Alderman Told Staff to Take off Shirts for 'Contest,' Says Ex-Aide". February 20, 2019.
  20. ^ "Aldermen named in secretly recorded chat admit sending business to Reyes' firm". February 4, 2019.
  21. ^ "Former North Side alderman charged with DUI after police say he crashed into eight cars on Gold Coast street. 'It's a miracle no one was killed.' - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. December 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "1 down, 2 to go: Former alderman pleads guilty to filing false auto theft report, but his legal problems aren't over". July 16, 2021.
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