Three Candidates File for 13th Ward Seat
Al Cacciottolo, Skyler Cepek and Keith Judge filed nominating papers for the open Chicago aldermanic seat after Ald. Marty Quinn announced he would not seek reelection.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Three candidates filed nominating papers on Nov. 4 for the open 13th Ward aldermanic seat in Chicago. Ald. Marty Quinn, who has served four terms on City Council, announced in July that he would not seek reelection.
Why it matters
The filings set up a contest to succeed a longtime alderman in a ward covering Clearing, Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon and West Lawn. The outcome will determine who represents these neighborhoods on City Council.
Three candidates filed for the 13th Ward seat, which is open after Quinn's four terms on City Council. Little public information is available on the platforms of two of the three candidates.
The players
Al Cacciottolo
Cacciottolo is a Garfield Ridge resident and city Department of Streets and Sanitation division superintendent who has led the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch for nearly 20 years.
Marty Quinn
Quinn is the outgoing 13th Ward alderman who has served four terms on Chicago's City Council and endorsed Cacciottolo as his successor.
Skyler Cepek
Cepek is a legislative assistant to Democratic state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen and one of three candidates for the 13th Ward seat.
The details
Al Cacciottolo, a Garfield Ridge resident and city Department of Streets and Sanitation division superintendent, has led the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch for nearly 20 years and previously served on the Midway Chamber of Commerce board. Quinn has endorsed Cacciottolo, while Skyler Cepek, a legislative assistant to state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, and Keith Judge also filed papers.
Timeline
July 2026: Quinn announced he would not seek reelection.
Nov. 2, 2026: Deadline for objections to candidates' nominating papers.
Nov. 4, 2026: Three candidates filed nominating papers.
Dec. 17, 2026: Board of Elections scheduled to certify the ballot.
Feb. 23, 2027: Election for the 13th Ward seat.
Political Context
Chicago's aldermanic races are decided ward by ward, so an open seat like the 13th Ward can attract several candidates with little citywide attention. The Feb. 23 election will determine representation for neighborhoods that Quinn has represented through four terms.
Residents of Clearing, Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon and West Lawn will choose who represents their ward on City Council in the Feb. 23 election. The outcome will shape local decisions on city services and ward-level issues for the next term.
The takeaway
Residents who want to compare the three 13th Ward candidates should look for their campaign platforms before the Feb. 23 election, since little information is currently public. Checking the candidates' positions early leaves time to weigh them before voting.
What happens next
Objections to the nominating papers are due Nov. 2, the Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the ballot Dec. 17, and the election is set for Feb. 23, 2027.
Further reading
For background on how city races are decided, see Elections coverage for Chicago.
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