Interview with Rudy Lozano Jr. Candidate for State Representative of the 21st District

Photo courtesy of Rudy Lozano's campaign office

Former teacher, Rudy Lozano Jr., grew up in the Little Village neighborhood and has geared his career path towards serving the community through education and community activism.

Lozano earned his bachelor’s degree in community and youth organizing at Northeastern Illinois University and later completed his master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  He is also a graduate of AmeriCorps, Public Allies Chicago and most recently, Leadership Greater Chicago.

Lozano taught at the Little Village Lawndale High School and later began his political career when running against state Rep. of the 23^rd District of Illinois Dan Burke in the 2010 elections where he lost by a tight margin. After the campaign, Lozano began working for Instituto del Progreso Latino where he connected unemployed workers with available jobs. Lozano has been a strong advocate of pro-immigration reform and the improvement of the public education system.

Lozano follows in the footsteps of his late activist father Rudy Lozano Sr., an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union who ran for alderman of the 22nd Ward in 1983.

He is the president of the Independent Political Organization – an independent and progressive political organization founded by his father Rudy Lozano Sr. He currently lives in Little Village with his wife, Celia, and his two daughters, Yarina and Mireya.

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Do you see yourself as someone continuing your father’s legacy or someone who is trying to shape your own identity, agenda and political career?

Why did you decide to run for state representative as opposed to running for alderman or state senator?

From your past experience running against State Representative Dan Burke, what did you learn and what are you doing differently to guarantee a seat?

Were you shocked that you will not be running against State Representative Dan Burke and instead you will be running against a Latina and former newspaper editor Silvana Tabares?

The 21st district is new and extends from Lyons to Cicero and Little Village. Given that the district covers an extended number of communities with different needs, how will you work to provide and promote the best policies for each community?

How will you use your role as state representative to decrease crime and implement strategies to keep youth off the street?

Latinos often stray away from polls because of their disbelief in government. How will your platform break away from this stigma and encourage Latinos to become civically engaged?

What is your opinion regarding charter schools?

What sort of initiatives will you implement in order to foster accountability of all schools?