November 19, 2025

City Club event description:

Inside the 2026 City of Chicago budget: four aldermen, real tradeoffs, and fresh updates. With a welcome from Alderman Brian Hopkins, this program will include the latest in an ever-changing budget discussion, from closing gaps and funding public safety to pensions, transit, and equitable development across all 77 communities

As Alderman of the 39th Ward and President Pro Tempore of the City Council, Samantha “Sam” Nugent works across all 50 wards to ensure that City government is transparent, efficient, and focused on improving the lives of residents. 

Representing the 39th Ward – which stretches across the Mayfair, Edgebrook, Sauganash, Forest Glen, and North Park neighborhoods – Sam has secured more than $40 million in investments for local schools, parks, and infrastructure – from playground updates and public art installations to large-scale expansion projects. She has strengthened public safety by advocating for more officers and intelligence resources. She’s also led on sustainability by passing legislation to reduce single-use plastics and protect the 155-acre North Park Village campus. 

Sam has taken a consistently proactive and transparent approach to addressing homelessness in the ward, working to coordinate with city departments, outreach organizations, and local residents to connect individuals living in encampments with shelter, housing, and support services while working to ensure public spaces are safe and accessible for all. 

Prior to being elected, Sam served as Chief of Staff for Cook County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Vice Consul at the British Consulate General, and Director of Executive Engagement at the American Board of Medical Specialties. Her background in law, government, and communications has equipped her to be a trusted problem-solver and consensus-builder. 

Alderman Nugent continues to focus on building safer neighborhoods, stronger schools, thriving small businesses, and a cleaner, greener city for today and the next generation.

Matthew J. O’Shea serves as the Alderman of the 19th Ward, representing the communities of Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood. He is a graduate of Christ the King Grammar School (1983), Mount Carmel High School (1987) and Saint Mary’s University of Winona (1991). 

O’Shea was elected Alderman of the 19th Ward on February 22, 2011 and is serving his fourth term. In the Chicago City Council he serves on several committees: Aviation (Chairman), Budget & Government Operations, Committees & Rules, Education & Child Development, Ethics & Oversight, Finance, License & Consumer Protection and Special Events. As Alderman, he has worked tirelessly to enhance public safety, improve local schools and stimulate economic development. 

O’Shea is a lifelong resident of the 19th Ward community. He and his wife Cara, a Chicago Public School teacher, live in West Beverly and are members of Saint John Fisher Catholic Parish. They have three children, Brigid (23), Patrick (21), and Eileen (19). 

O’Shea is involved with several civic and charitable organizations, serving on the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (Board Member), Special Children’s Charities (Board Member), and the Chicago Police Chaplain’s Ministry (Board Member). O’Shea serves on the WINGS – Metro Leadership Council, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation (Advisory Board), and Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (Advisory Board), and Misericordia Home (Advisory Board). He is also President of the 19th Ward Youth & Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that supports and hosts a wide variety of safe, healthy, educational programs for children and seniors. 

O’Shea has been involved with numerous other organizations on the southwest side, volunteering his time with the Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry, Saint Vincent DePaul Society and Ronald McDonald House at Advocate Children’s Hospital.

City Club video

Jessie Fuentes, a queer Latina grassroots organizer, educator, and public policy advocate. As the Alderperson of the 26th Ward, she brings over a decade of experience in education, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, community development, and sustainability.

Growing up in Humboldt Park amidst the generational traumas of parental substance use, mental illness, and job instability, Jessie resorted to dealing with her own struggles of resentment and anger with the juvenile justice system, as experienced by far too many young Chicagoans.

Jessie found a home at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, an alternative high school in the heart of Humboldt Park. Jessie was politicized by educators who understood her life experiences. She graduated high school, earned a degree from NEIU, and returned home to Humboldt Park to serve as the Dean of Students of both Roberto Clemente Community Academy and her alma mater, ensuring Black and Latine students had the resources to transcend trauma and pursue their aspirations. As Director of Policy and Youth Advocacy at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, she championed community-driven solutions that address violence, housing affordability, and re-entry for returning citizens.

As the proud Alderperson of the 26th Ward, she has led legislative accomplishments, including sponsoring the resolution for the national fight for parole in place for the 11 million undocumented workers in the United States, the One Fair Wage ordinance to eliminate the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, and, most recently, the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance to protect communities from gentrification. She is currently working on developing a city-wide youth Peace Commission through the Peace Book Ordinance and establishing stronger networks of support for unhoused residents.

Jason C. Ervin, CPA was appointed Alderman of Chicago’s 28th Ward in January 2011 by then Mayor Richard M. Daley and elected to a full term by the people of the 28th Ward in February of 2011. Alderman Ervin has since been re-elected three times.

Alderman Ervin received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, a Masters in Public Administration from Governor’s State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant, Real Estate and Insurance Broker, and is completing an internship to become a Funeral Director.

Before serving as Alderman, Ervin served on the Local School Council at Tilton Elementary School and Westinghouse Career Academy. He is committed to improving education and creating stronger schools because a strong foundation in education is essential to providing the best opportunities for people.

Alderman Ervin is dedicated to public service and empowering communities through social change and political organizing. Prior, to becoming Alderman, he served as an Auditor for the public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, LLP where he learned the fundamentals of business and as City Manager for the Village of Maywood, where he implemented changes that made the government run more efficiently and better for residents. The same type of attitude and thinking has been brought to Chicago’s West Side to make government work for the people. Economic development, safety for children and working families are the top priorities for Alderman Ervin.

Alderman Ervin is the Chairman of the Chicago City Council’s Committee on the Budget & Government Operations, the former Chairman of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus, and the current Chair of the Black Caucus Foundation, which has provided over 100 $10,000 scholarships to graduating high school students on Chicago’s West and South sides. Alderman Ervin also serves on the Aviation, Contract Compliance & Equity, Police & Fire, Pedestrian & Traffic Safety, and Transportation Committees.

Alderman Ervin attends the Mt. Vernon MB Church and resides in the Garfield Park Community with his wife, Chicago City Treasurer, Melissa Conyears-Ervin, and eight-year-old daughter Jeneva.