| Byron Sigcho-Lopez | |
| Office: | Member of the Chicago City Council from the 25th ward |
| Term Start: | May 20, 2019 |
| Predecessor: | Daniel Solis |
| Birth Date: | 7 July 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Ecuador[1] |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | Cumberland University (BA) University of Illinois, Chicago (MA) |
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (born July 7, 1983) is a Chicago politician and community activist. He is the alderman of Chicago's 25th ward, having taken office as a member of the Chicago City Council in May 2019. He won an open race to succeed outgoing alderman Daniel Solis in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election.[2] [3] He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[4] He was elected as 25th Ward Democratic Committeeperson in 2020.[5]
Sigcho-Lopez was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador.[6] Sigcho-Lopez earned a bachelor's degree from Cumberland University in Tennessee, and a Master's from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Sigcho-Lopez unsuccessfully challenged Danny Solis in the 2015 Chicago 25th Ward aldermanic election.
In 2019, Sigcho-Lopez was elected to succeed outgoing 25th Ward alderman Danny Solis.
On April 10, 2019, prior to being sworn in, Sigcho-Lopez joined six other newly elected members of the City Council in protesting against the approval of tax increment financing for the Lincoln Yards and The 78 real estate developments.[7]
Sigcho-Lopez assumed office May 20, 2019.
On June 12, 2019, Sigcho-Lopez demanded a review of all permits and licenses approved by disgraced former Alderman Danny Solis.[8]
In November 2019, Sigcho-Lopez was one of eleven aldermen to vote against Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first budget.[9] He joined all five other members of the Socialist Caucus in signing a letter to Lightfoot which criticized her budget for "an over-reliance on property taxes" and "regressive funding models" that are "burdensome to our working-class citizens, while giving the wealthy and large corporations a pass."[10] Sigcho-Lopez, over the course of Lightfoot's mayoralty, would be regarded to be a vocal critic of her.[11]
On March 22, 2024, Sigcho-Lopez spoke at a City Hall rally against the Israel–Hamas war where Marine veteran Zachary Kam had burned a flag that he had flown while on tour in Afghanistan, prompting some of Sigcho-Lopez's City Council colleagues to call for him step down as chairman of the Council's Housing Committee.[12] On April 1, 2024, a resolution to remove him as chair failed 29 to 16.[13]
Sigcho-Lopez is married to Loreen Targos. In June 2022, Sigcho-Lopez and Targos became parents to triplets.[14]