Scott Waguespack

Scott Waguespack is the alderperson for Chicago's 32nd Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward32@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2657 North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago 60614, (773) 248-1330
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, (312) 744-6567/6574
Website: http://www.ward32.org
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 97.4% of 1164 key roll calls (30 absent)
Nay votes: 18
Voted with the majority on 77% of 87 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 131 (109 passed)
Most-filed topics: Signs/Signboards (82), Alley (27), Municipal Code Amendments (9), Property (5), Streets (3)

Committees

AI profile

AI-written synthesis from this member's votes, legislation, and words in 78 meetings. Each claim cites its source; estimates, not statements of intent.

Alderman Scott Waguespack of Ward 32 serves on eight City Council committees and has a 97.4% attendance record. He routinely votes for tax-increment-financing (TIF) agreements and redevelopment deals, while opposing several tax and regulatory measures such as a social-media amusement tax and restrictions on police political activity V1 V3 V5 V7 V10 V25. In council meetings he often raises questions on budget, ethics and transportation issues and has publicly criticized the city’s parking-meter contract as “the worst deal in municipal history” S1 S2 S3.

Priorities

Tax Increment Financing: Waguespack consistently supports TIF agreements for development projects, voting yes on multiple redevelopment and park improvement deals and filing related incentive renewals V1 V3 V5 V16 V19 V20 V21 L2
Parking-meter Contract: He publicly condemned the city’s parking-meter contract, calling it a mistake and the worst deal in municipal history S1 S2 S3
Ordinance Deferment: Waguespack backed motions to defer and publish substitute ordinances, confirming his second vote on the deferment motion S4 S5
Transportation Appointments: He moved to approve Metra and Pace appointments and asked nominees about their transit usage, indicating a focus on transportation governance S9 S10 S11
Animal Care: Waguespack supported the appointment of Susan Cappello as Executive Director of Chicago Animal Care and Control and later commended the appointment in council V18 S29
Fiscal Oversight: He opposed an ordinance directing the city comptroller to make advanced pension payments, reflecting scrutiny of municipal finance decisions S7

Positions

Tax Increment Financing: Supports the use of TIF for redevelopment and park projects, voting yes on numerous agreements V1 V3 V5 V16 V19 V20 V21
Social-media amusement tax: Opposed the tax, casting a no vote on the amendment V7
Police political activity restriction: Opposed the amendment restricting Chicago Police Department members from political activity, voting no V10
Public enforcement pilot program for recorded evidence: Opposed the pilot program, voting no on the amendment V25
Sweepstakes machine prohibition: Supported prohibiting sweepstakes machines, voting yes on the amendment V6
Parking-meter contract: Opposed the contract, describing it as the worst deal in municipal history S1 S2 S3
Ordinance deferment: Supported deferment motions, confirming his second vote on the measure S4 S5
City comptroller pension payments: Opposed an ordinance directing advanced pension payments, voting against it S7

Approach: In committee hearings Waguespack frequently asks clarifying questions on budget, ethics and tax-incentive details, and he moves to approve key appointments, indicating an active, inquisitive style of participation S9 S15 S16 S17 S19 S22 S23 S27 S10 S11.

What to watch: Given his record, Waguespack is likely to remain engaged on future parking-meter contract negotiations, TIF-related redevelopment projects, and legislative proposals affecting police political activity and municipal taxation V1 V7 V10 S1 S3.

Nay votes on key legislation

Jun 17, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 4-156 regarding social media amusement tax, Passed 47 yea, 2 nay, 1 absent
May 20, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 2 by amending Section 2-78-120 (e-5) and adding new Section 2-84-530 prohibiting members of Chicago Police Department from participating in any extremist activity, Passed 28 yea, 21 nay
Feb 18, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 9-108 by adding new Section 9-108-025 establishing public enforcement pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence of covered parking offenses, Failed to Pass 16 yea, 31 nay, 1 absent
May 7, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-44 by adding new Section 2-44-170 establishing not-for-profit residential investment corporation with the City's participation in the financing structure, acquisition, ownership, and on-going operations of affordable, mixed-income, environmentally sustainable housing, Passed 30 yea, 18 nay, 2 absent
Feb 26, 2025: Issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and transportation, loans and grants, acquisition of property, construction and maintenance of public buildings, economic programs, lead service line replacements, as amended, Passed 26 yea, 23 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 2, 7, 10, 11 and 18 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2025 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), as amended, Passed 34 yea, 16 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4, 9 and 10 (2025 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance) and Property Tax Levy for Year 2025, as amended, Passed 27 yea, 23 nay
Oct 30, 2024: Jarixon Medina as member of Regional Trnsportation Authority Board of Directors, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 25 nay
Oct 9, 2024: Refunding of General Obligation/Sales Tax Securitization Corporation Bond, Series 2024, Passed 35 yea, 12 nay, 2 absent
Oct 9, 2024: Issuance of City of Chicago Second Lien Wastewater Transmission Revenue Bonds, Project and Refunding Series 2024B, Passed 44 yea, 4 nay, 1 absent
Apr 19, 2024: 2024 Affordable Housing and Community Development Borrowing Ordinance, Passed 32 yea, 17 nay
Jan 31, 2024: Expression of support for United Nations Resolution 377 known as "Uniting for Peace", Adopted 23 yea, 23 nay
Nov 15, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 3, 9, 11 and 14 (2024 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance), Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 15, 2023: Annual Appropriation Ordinance Year 2024, as amended, Passed 41 yea, 8 nay, 1 absent
Nov 15, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 18 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2024 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 15, 2023: Intergovernmental agreement with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cook County for allocation of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds, Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 7, 2023: Proposal of new tax rates for Chicago R.E. transfer tax to set aside for homeless housing, Passed 32 yea, 17 nay
Oct 6, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-105 by modifying Section 6-105-030 regarding minimum hourly wage in occupations receiving gratuities, Passed 36 yea, 10 nay, 2 absent

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (32.48) to disallow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of N Western Ave (O2026-0023219), Passed Mar 18, 2026
Shared Housing M Districts (O2024-0013531), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (1.61) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Logan Blvd (O2023-0004752), Passed Nov 15, 2023

In their own words

Moments from meeting recordings, summarized by AI from the transcript. Each links to the video at that point.

Sep 29, 2026, City Council: Said the September 30 deadline was binding under the contract and that last-minute outside efforts to change the vote were improper. (watch at 1:28:36)
Sep 29, 2026, City Council: Supported the deal, describing the negotiated $75 million for pensions, 5% profit share, event closure changes, data-sharing limits and worker protections. (watch at 1:23:44)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Said it was inappropriate to move two items in different committees together. (watch at 4:34:58)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Praised Corporation Counsel Lowry's work, including on the parking meter deal, and urged support for it. (watch at 2:55:42)
Jul 22, 2026, City Council: Asked that the corporation counsel's opinion on independent counsel be shared with all members. (watch at 1:19:36)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Moved to recommend approval of Karen Tamley’s appointment. (watch at 2:18:53)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Moved to approve Christian Diaz’s appointment to Metra. (watch at 1:49:33)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Asked each nominee how often they ride transit. (watch at 1:18:20)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Started the question period for the five NITA nominees. (watch at 1:07:05)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Commented on the CDPH federal grant funding levels in the Fund 925 appropriation. (watch at 48:20)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Acknowledged the chair and introduced the substitute ordinance discussion. (watch at 31:40)
Jun 15, 2026, Committee on Finance: Commented on the need to consider litigation costs for the SMART tax. (watch at 1:36:06)