Chicago Heights gets new 1st Ward alderman

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | The city's 1st Ward has a new alderman, as Walter Mosby was sworn in Wednesday to fill the seat that had been held by Willie White, who died in December.

Mosby, 50, a lifelong city resident, is pastor at Greater Faith Baptist Church in Chicago Heights and works as a court services supervisor for Aunt Martha's Youth Service Centers.

Mosby also serves as president of the Park Forest-Chicago Heights Elementary District 163 School Board. His wife, Belinda, is Ward 1 Commissioner with the Chicago Heights Park District.

"It's such an easy appointment for me to make because it's an individual that's already given back to the community so much," Mayor David Gonzalez said. "I just know that he's going to continue that good work that Alderman White was doing out there in the 1st Ward."

The City Council approved Mosby's appointment by a 5-0 vote. Alderman Sylvia Torres, of the 7th Ward, was not present.

Mosby ran an unsuccessful campaign to unseat White in the 2003 election. At the time of his death, White was the senior alderman on the council, having served since 1999.

"I know there's going to be some huge shoes to fill, but I'm going to do my best," Mosby said.

Mosby has lived for the past 45 years in the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Ward 1, and he said the state of that neighborhood is one thing that prompted him to accept the appointment.

"We're raising a 10-year-old granddaughter, and at this time her friends will not come to our community to play with her because of the stigma of Beacon Hill," Mosby said.

He said the stigma involves the perception that residents of the area are drug dealers or murderers.

"There's a lot of professional people in the community," Mosby said.

Holding monthly board meetings, forming a citizens advisory council and appointing block club captains are ways Mosby plans to combat the problems of drugs and neglected homes in Ward 1.