Not About Politics — About People

I didn’t set out to be a candidate. I set out to help my neighborhood.

Rogers Park has always had its challenges — but it’s also full of strength, resilience, and heart. Over the years, I’ve been out in the community: walking the streets, helping local businesses, attending meetings, listening to stories. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s real.

Lately, more people have asked me, “Bill, are you thinking about running for Alderman?”

To be honest, I’ve thought about it — but not in the way most people think. I’m not interested in politics for the sake of politics. I’m interested in people. I believe this community deserves leadership that’s accessible, accountable, and already doing the work long before an election.

If I ever do decide to run, it won’t be to build a name — it will be to build a stronger Rogers Park.

For now, my focus hasn’t changed. I’ll keep showing up, helping where I can, and staying connected to the people who make this neighborhood what it is. Titles come and go. Trust takes time — and I’ve committed to earning it.

— Bill Morton

A Possibility Worth Considering

Over the past few years, I’ve done my best to be a positive presence here in Rogers Park — not because I was asked to, but because I love this community and believe it deserves better.

I’ve worked to support local businesses, bring people together, and call attention to the issues that matter most to our neighbors. I’ve spent more time at community meetings than I can count, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Lately, some people have asked me if I’d ever consider running for Alderman. That’s a big question.

I think real leadership starts before the campaign signs go up. It starts with showing up when nobody’s watching. It’s in doing the unglamorous work — cleaning up a street corner, helping someone find the right resources, or sticking around when an issue gets tough.

I’m thinking seriously about how I can best serve. Whether that’s through a campaign someday or simply continuing to advocate without a title — I’m open to the possibilities. But one thing is clear: I’m here for Rogers Park. Always.

If you’ve ever felt like your voice wasn’t being heard, I hear you. And I’ll keep working to make sure others do too.

— Bill Morton

Rogers Park Deserves Better

Every day, I walk through the streets of Rogers Park—our streets—and I see a neighborhood full of potential, but weighed down by neglect. It’s heartbreaking.

The 49th Ward should be thriving. Instead, our small businesses are shuttering, our streets are dirty, crime is creeping up, and longtime residents feel ignored. It’s clear that the current leadership under Alderman Joe Moore is failing us. I don’t say that lightly. I say it because I live it, every single day, alongside my neighbors.

Too often, concerns brought to the Alderman’s office go unanswered. Transparency is lacking. Community input feels like an afterthought. And while politics continues behind closed doors, real people are left without real solutions.

But I still believe in Rogers Park.

That’s why I continue to do what I can—highlighting local businesses, supporting neighborhood events, attending community meetings, and talking directly with residents about what matters most to them. I'm not a politician. I’m just someone who cares deeply about this neighborhood and refuses to sit by while it declines.

I'm not interested in titles. I'm interested in results.

We need leadership that listens. We need advocacy that doesn’t vanish after election season. And more than anything, we need neighbors to come together and remind City Hall that we are still here, still paying attention, and still demanding better.

Rogers Park deserves clean streets, safe blocks, thriving businesses, and honest leadership. Until we get that, I’ll keep doing what I can—day by day, block by block—to help move us forward.

—
Bill Morton
Resident, Rogers Park
Community Advocate