Meet George

As an Alderman representing diverse neighborhoods, accountant, tax professional, and Cook County homeowner, George Cardenas is the right candidate to reform our property tax system.  He’ll work against unfair assessments and improve accuracy to avoid property tax hikes driven by mistaken calculations. He will serve with integrity and dedication.

George has dedicated his life to advocating for working families and small businesses. He has successfully sponsored laws critical to education, employment, economic development, public safety and more during his tenure as Alderman. His legislative successes include laws and policies that increased Chicago’s minimum wage, fundamentally reformed business policies, and made the city’s government more effective and transparent.

Since 2011 George has chaired the Environmental Protection and Energy Committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over various energy and environmental issues. He has earned a reputation at City Council as a results-oriented legislator who does his homework and gets things done for the communities he serves. In 2021, he was appointed as Deputy Floor Leader by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

George was born in Durango, Mexico. As a young child, Cardenas and his family came to Chicago in search of the American Dream. After graduating from Lane Technical High School in 1984, George joined the United States Navy. After earning an honorable discharge, he successfully earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University. Before joining government, Cardenas accumulated over a decade of experience in finance, management, and auditing working for Fortune 500 companies. George, his wife, and three daughters live in McKinley Park on Chicago’s southwest side.