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Mark Hamberlin, a candidate for Police District Council (PDC) in the 8th District, confirmed in an interview with The TRiiBE that he is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and has accepted their endorsement.
The confirmation is a reversal of statements Hamberlin made at a forum for PDC candidates in the 7th and 8th District. The forum was hosted by a coalition of organizations including SouthWest Organizing for Power and GoodKids MadCity at Kennedy-King College in Englewood on Feb. 1.
Hamberlin, a technician at Rentokil Boecke and a union steward in the Teamsters Local 781, is one of four candidates running for PDC in the 8th District. All four have ties to the Chicago police or the FOP, which has spent at least $25,000 on PDC races and is backing candidates in several districts.
Hamberlin was the only 8th District candidate to attend the Feb. 1 forum. All of the 7th Police District candidates — Dion Terrell McGill, Teresa R. Chandler, Cherli Montgomery, Joseph Williams, Verna Swan, Linda J. Austin Sr., and Krystal Peters — attended.
When asked by a panel moderator if they were endorsed by the FOP, all of the candidates, including Hamberlin, said they were not. Later during the forum, the moderator asked Hamberlin directly whether he was supported by the FOP, citing the Reader’s 2023 Police District Council voter guide, which identifies him as having their endorsement. He replied that he wasn’t sure, but the FOP might have endorsed him because he’s in a union.
Asked by The TRiiBE after the forum about the inconsistency, Hamberlin said, “Well, actually, what I was saying is my union, I’m in 781, so I’m assuming I am endorsed, I guess, yeah. If they put it in there.” Asked why he initially said no, he replied, “I wasn’t too much aware. I’m gonna leave it alone. I hope you’re not recording. I don’t want to be recorded.”
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Reached by phone on Feb. 3, Hamberlin told The TRiiBE that he does have the FOP’s endorsement. “I’ve got their support,” he said. “They’re supporting me.” He also repeatedly said that he accepts the FOP’s endorsement.
Asked why he didn’t say that he had accepted the police union’s endorsement at the Feb. 1 forum, Hamberlin said, “We’re done with this. That’s it, I’m over it,” and ended the call.
Update Feb. 17, 2023: The Fraternal Order of Police released its list of official endorsements on Feb. 15, and did not include Hamberlin on the list. Reached by phone on Feb. 16, Hamberlin told The TRiiBE, “I’m done with that. It’s an election going on, and I’m not saying nothing about that.”
Hamberlin has also been endorsed by Alderperson David Moore (17th Ward) and State Senator Willie Preston (16th District). Hamberlin has also previously stated he is endorsed by Alderpersons Stephanie Coleman (16th Ward) and Derrick Curtis (18th Ward). Coleman told The TRiiBE she is not endorsing Hamberlin. Curtis did not immediately return requests for comment.
The 8th District is located on the Southwest Side and includes neighborhoods such as Gage Park, West Elsdon, Archer Heights, Chicago Lawn, Scottsdale and Ashburn.
Early voting in the municipal election has begun at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners supersite at 191 N. Clark. Citywide early voting starts on Feb. 13, and election day is Feb. 28. Find your voting location at bit.ly/ChiPrecincts, and find your police district and ward at The TRiiBE’s 2023 Election Center.