William Godwin
For City Council
First District
Fresh, Focused Leadership to boost Business Growth, Blight Removal, Public Safety & Tourism in Miller, Aetna, Glen Ryan & Emerson: We Are 1!
Fresh, Focused Leadership to boost Business Growth, Blight Removal, Public Safety & Tourism in Miller, Aetna, Glen Ryan & Emerson: We Are 1!
About William
Academic Preparation
– University of Chicago Law School
– Chicago Theological Seminary
– London School of Economics
– Georgetown University
Real World Experience
– Small Business Owner
Godwin Realty Company
-Commissioner/Secretary City of Gary Port Authority
-Attorney-at-Law
-Non-Profit Community and Government Relations Leader
Community Involvement
– 1st District Homeowner Since 2008
– Miller Business Association
– Friends of Marquette Park
– Charter School of the Dunes Board Selection Committee
As an Attorney, I’m trained to think critically and communicate effectively in creating, reviewing, and advocating for smart legislation to set our City on the right course.
As a Small Business Owner based in Gary’s 1st District, I understand first-hand the economic development needs and opportunities in our community.
As a local Real Estate Broker, every single day I hear the concerns, fears, hopes, and dreams of future homeowners preparing to make their life’s largest investment in our City. But, I sell more than real estate; I sell our community: its people, natural assets, and cultural diversity that make our area such a great place to live, work, play, and invest.
As an Involved Citizen, I’m aware of the issues and challenges AND the unique opportunities that results-focused leadership can advance to push the 1st District and the whole City of Gary toward greatness.
As your 1st District Councilman, I’ll offer prepared, experienced, and involved leadership. I’ll continue to be an advocate for public safety, blight removal, economic development, and fiscal responsibility. You’ll have a strong, respected voice on the City Council and across the region. Together, we will build a team of doers, innovators, and passionate neighbors in Aetna, Emerson, Glen Ryan and Miller to shine a bright light on ALL of our district, focusing on attracting new and keeping current investors, residents, and other stakeholders totally focused on pushing toward greatness.
About William
Academic Preparation
– University of Chicago Law School
– Chicago Theological Seminary
– London School of Economics
– Georgetown University
Real World Experience
– Small Business Owner
Godwin Realty Company
-Commissioner/Secretary City of Gary Port Authority
-Attorney-at-Law
-Non-Profit Community and Government Relations Leader
Community Involvement
– 1st District Homeowner Since 2008
– Miller Business Association
– Friends of Marquette Park
– Charter School of the Dunes Board Selection Committee
As an Attorney, I’m trained to think critically and communicate effectively in creating, reviewing, and advocating for smart legislation to set our City on the right course.
As a Small Business Owner based in Gary’s 1st District, I understand first-hand the economic development needs and opportunities in our community.
As a local Real Estate Broker, every single day I hear the concerns, fears, hopes, and dreams of future homeowners preparing to make their life’s largest investment in our City. But, I sell more than real estate; I sell our community: its people, natural assets, and cultural diversity that make our area such a great place to live, work, play, and invest.
As an Involved Citizen, I’m aware of the issues and challenges AND the unique opportunities that results-focused leadership can advance to push the 1st District and the whole City of Gary toward greatness.
As your 1st District Councilman, I’ll offer prepared, experienced, and involved leadership. I’ll continue to be an advocate for public safety, blight removal, economic development, and fiscal responsibility. You’ll have a strong, respected voice on the City Council and across the region. Together, we will build a team of doers, innovators, and passionate neighbors in Aetna, Emerson, Glen Ryan and Miller to shine a bright light on ALL of our district, focusing on attracting new and keeping current investors, residents, and other stakeholders totally focused on pushing toward greatness.
Policy Address
Key Issues
Public Safety
Ensuring that our police, fire, EMT, and other public safety personnel are sufficiently staffed, fairly compensated, and incentivized to provide high quality service is essential. We must fight for and with our brave men and women in uniform as strong advocates against crime, vandalism, and loitering while also creating pathways of opportunity centered around jobs, youth programs, and social and behavioral health services.
Public Safety
Ensuring that our police, fire, EMT, and other public safety personnel are sufficiently staffed, fairly compensated, and incentivized to provide high quality service is essential. We must fight for and with our brave men and women in uniform as strong advocates against crime, vandalism, and loitering while also creating pathways of opportunity centered around jobs, youth programs, and social and behavioral health services.
Blight Removal
Cleanliness is fundamental. It’s a reflection of our community. Our main entryways must be pristine. We must work with the Department of Public Works and local volunteer groups to ensure that our City looks its best. Owners of dilapidated buildings, especially investors and speculators must be held accountable to fix it up or give it up. We will be working hard, exploring a variety of non-conventional options to remove blight, especially in our business corridors and key entryways.
Blight Removal
Cleanliness is fundamental. It’s a reflection of our community. Our main entryways must be pristine. We must work with the Department of Public Works and local volunteer groups to ensure that our City looks its best. Owners of dilapidated buildings, especially investors and speculators must be held accountable to fix it up or give it up. We will be working hard, exploring a variety of non-conventional options to remove blight, especially in our business corridors and key entryways.
Economic Development
We have the space. We have the people. We have the location. We need a strong voice to market the opportunity our District offers. We must work in coordination with the City’s Department of Commerce, Redevelopment, and the Mayor’s Office to attract investors BUT ALSO to provide encouragement, support, and resources to locally-led, citizen-driven efforts to keep and grow small businesses already in our community.
Economic Development
We have the space. We have the people. We have the location. We need a strong voice to market the opportunity our District offers. We must work in coordination with the City’s Department of Commerce, Redevelopment, and the Mayor’s Office to attract investors BUT ALSO to provide encouragement, support, and resources to locally-led, citizen-driven efforts to keep and grow small businesses already in our community.
Fiscal Responsibility
We can talk a lot about what we’d like to see. But without the financial resources to pay for it, we’re simply dreaming. I want to get in office, roll my sleeves up, get out my calculator, and search high and low to look for the low-hanging fruit, the revenue that we are not collecting as a city. As a small business owner, I understand math, and I get what it takes to bring in revenue and cut costs while delivering high quality services. I’m a budget hawk. I will push for zero-based budgeting practices and put a laser focus on cost-saving measures by advocating for group-purchasing and urging City Departments to ensure they’re getting the best deal…and that government contractors are reinvesting in the City and hiring locally.
Fiscal Responsibility
We can talk a lot about what we’d like to see. But without the financial resources to pay for it, we’re simply dreaming. I want to get in office, roll my sleeves up, get out my calculator, and search high and low to look for the low-hanging fruit, the revenue that we are not collecting as a city. As a small business owner, I understand math, and I get what it takes to bring in revenue and cut costs while delivering high quality services. I’m a budget hawk. I will push for zero-based budgeting practices and put a laser focus on cost-saving measures by advocating for group-purchasing and urging City Departments to ensure they’re getting the best deal…and that government contractors are reinvesting in the City and hiring locally.
First District
Use the map to find out if you live in the 1st district!
First District
Use the map to find out if you live in the 1st district!
Latest News
Policy Address: The Godwin Plan
We’re on the Ballot!
African-Americans are leaving Chicago for a better quality of life in neighboring Indiana
For years, William Godwin toggled back and forth between Chicago and Gary, Indiana. In 2016, the 32-year-old black business owner decided to move full time to the quaint and artsy neighborhood of Miller Beach, a lakefront area in Gary.
“The benefits of living here are the affordability. The slower lifestyle, the ease of getting around,” Godwin said.
Northwest Indiana is the place where most blacks from Cook County are moving. The Illinois county has the largest black population in the country, but over the past decade, some of those residents have been leaving. The latest U.S. Census shows that more than 12,000 African-Americans moved out of the area in 2016.
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