Longtime Ward 9 alderman Joe Ceci decided his fifth term in office will
be his swan song as he announced Thursday he will not seek re-election
in the fall.
The popular alderman and well-known music lover was an advocate for his
multi-cultural eastside ward since 1995. After 15 years, he announced he
would be leaving the position to pursue “private life.”
“I have some ideas about what I want to do, but I haven’t made any
decisions. I’m going to give it some time and reflect on what these 15
years has meant and try to figure out what’s next,” Ceci told reporters.
Ceci did rule out any possibility of running for the mayor’s chair, when
asked several times, but didn’t rule out future politics.
“I will not be running for mayor; I only run for mayor in my dreams,” he
joked.
Over the years, the liberal alderman fought for social causes like
affordable housing, culture and homelessness, and was an advocate for
the 17th Avenue SE region.
Southview resident Marilyn Brown has mixed emotions about the impending
departure.
“I am very surprised by the news. He was very young and popular so he
must have something else exciting to move onto,” she said.
“But I am looking forward to seeing who will come in next and what they
can do.”
