Alderman George Cardenas is currently in his third term as Alderman of the 12th Ward and is currently the Chair for the Committee on Health and Environmental Protection. The 12th Ward consists of portions of Little Village, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, and Back of the Yards. Alderman Cardenas' Committee memberships include: Budget, Committees, Rules and Ethics, Education, Finance, Housing and Real Estate, and License and Consumer Protection. As alderman, George Cardenas is committed to improving the quality of life for every resident of the ward. Cardenas' top priorities are improving the educational opportunities for our children, reducing crime, bringing real economic development and job opportunities into the ward, and providing the highest level of City Services possible. As a young child, George and his family came to Chicago in search of the American Dream. Working his way through school, George earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting and Master's degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University and has over a decade of experience working for Fortune 500 companies. This background gives him valuable insight into the needs of the community and a desire to be a voice for positive change for the area. As an entrepreneur, George Cardenas understands that we need government to be run with a business approach. From providing top quality constituent service to looking for ways to streamline government, Cardenas brings his business background into the decision making process of our City Council. George and his wife, Carolina, are the proud parents of two girls Arianna, 11 and Miranda, 7. They have lived in the community for over 25 years.