Political consultant Bobby Burns has announced plans to run for the 5th Ward aldermanic seat being vacated by Robin Rue Simmons.
In an announcement posted to his Facebook page, Burns says Rue Simmons, who announced late Friday that she was not running for a second term, has endorsed him in the race.
Burns runs a consulting firm called Powering Campaigns and worked on the successful 2017 campaign of Mayor Steve Hagerty and on the unsuccessful campaign of Evanstonian Daniel Epstein for the Illinois Supreme Court.
He also worked for several months in mid-2017 as interim deputy clerk under City Clerk Devon Reid.
His mother, Martha Burns, is an Oakton Community College trustee and previously served 12 years on the Evanston Township High School board.
In August, Burns filed a statement of organization with the state board of elections naming himself as chairman and treasurer of a new group called the “Truth and Justice PAC.” He listed as its purpose: “to elect five alderman and a new mayor in Evanston’s 2021 municipal election.”
Burns is also listed as founder and business manager of a new website called The Informed Village that is promising to provide in-depth coverage of the 2021 Evanston election.