Deb Mell among 12 candidates considered to replace father as alderman

Chicago, IL - Out lesbian state Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago) is among 11 other candidates to be considered for her father's 33rd Ward Aldermanic seat.

Last week after nearly 40 years of service, Ald. Richard Mell, 74, announced his resignation, effective July 24.

The mayor's office received 14 applicants and narrowed the list to 12 qualified candidates.

In addition to Deb Mell, the applicants were identified as: Robert F. Elrick; Elizabeth Lynn Gomez; Gretchen Carol Helmreich; Jonathan Andrew Markel; Mallen Elizabeth Pittman-Fernandez; Grace Trocollo Rink; Edmund Joseph Sieracki; Matthew Boyd Terry; Andrew Amador Tinajero; Annisa Michele Wanat and Sergiusz Piotr Zgrzebski.

A "blue ribbon" committee is responsible for selecting the top candidates for the job, then Mayor Rahm Emanuel will select Ald. Mell's replacement.  

The Sun-Times reports Deb Mell is the odds-on favorite.

If selected, Deb Mell, 44, would be the third openly LGBT alderman in Chicago, after Alds. Tom Tunney and James Cappleman. In 2010, Mell and her partner, Christin Baker, were married in Iowa.

Emanuel is expected to install a new alderman at the July 24 City Council meeting.