Joe Dunne, a businessman and longtime resident of Edgewater, kicked off his campaign for

Alderman of the 48th Ward Thursday surrounded by nearly 100 supporters at Moody’s Pub,

5910 N. Broadway.

Dunne’s parents bought a home in Edgewater in 1972 and brought him home from the hospital

to live there. Joe grew up in that house on Glenlake and Glenwood. Now he and his wife,

Jennifer, are raising their three children in the same home.

“This is a great community. This is a great ward,” Dunne told the crowd Thursday. “I’m proud to

be running as its next alderman. Together, we’ll keep the 48th Ward moving in the right

direction.”

Dunne was introduced by a trio of friends. Maria Rodriguez, who worked with him on the Peirce

Local School Council, read a series of qualities other members had shared about Dunne, such

as “dedicated” and “hardworking.”

Dan Gaughan, cofounder of Urban Pooch Canine Life Center, is a childhood friend. Gaughan

talked about when they rode around on Big Wheels there were more than 100 young children in

the neighborhood. Even then, he said, Dunne was always looking to help out.

“It takes a lot of guts to be alderman,” Gaughan said. Then looking at Dunne added, “You have

what it takes.”

Jackie Taylor Holsten, senior vice president and general counsel for Holsten Real Estate

Development Corporation, talked about first working with Dunne more than 20 years ago in the

City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. Even then he had “energy and

concern” for what needed to be done.

Dunne is vice president of Real Estate Development for Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation

with more than 15 years experience in affordable housing. He lives in Edgewater with his wife,

Jennifer, and their three children; Bridget, 15, Molly, 13, and Joe, 11. JoeDunneFor48.com