Lake County Gazette

At its May 1 meeting, Waukegan City Council welcomed the four new council members who won their seats this spring. 

Jose A. Guzman of the 2nd Ward, Juan Martinez of the 3rd Ward, Victor Felix of the 4th Ward, and Michael Donnenwirth of the 7th Ward were sworn in by Judge John Joanem, who presides over the 19th Judicial Circuit Court. 

“So let me just say first, it's my privilege, my pleasure, and my honor to be here in my hometown to administer oaths of office to the members of the city council," Joanem said. "I saw some young people here tonight, I want to say to all of you after I'm gone, we're looking for you to be the next.”

Mayor Ann Taylor said the city was 60% Latino and three of the new council members reflected that.

“The City Council is now a reflection of our community," she said. "You’re starting to see it more and more.”

“We're here as a community, so I want to work with everyone,” Felix said. “You know, that's the whole point of moving the city, actually moving it forward. Moving Waukegan forward means us working together. And I think that this is a good representation of that. We have people here coming here together for those reasons.”

The council uploaded a livestream of its public meeting to the city’s YouTube channel.

The new aldermen thanked the community for supporting them through their campaigns and trusting them to represent the community.

Guzeman thanked his parents, his family, and his three daughters.

“It's been a journey some years coming," Guzeman said. "I got to first thank my dad. He's the one who pushed me into this. And it's been a couple of times, but we finally made it.” 

Martinez also recognized his parents in his speech, saying, “I am so proud to be here. I kind of lost the words because I thought I'd never visualize this day that it finally came because my mom and my dad, they sacrificed a lot. He came from Puerto Rico in 1951 to live the American dream. And through hard work and labor, they said anything's possible if you put your mind to it. But you have to serve the people.”

In other business, council discussed a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to make pathways and boardwalks through the Waukegan Dunes.

Council will meet again at 7 p.m. on Monday at the City Hall at 100 North Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.