Rey Colon

Rey Colón
Rey Colón responding to constituent questions on CAN TV
City of Chicago Alderman
In office 2003–2015
Succeeded by	Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Constituency	35th Ward, Chicago
Personal details
Political party	Democratic Party
Residence	Chicago, Illinois  United States
Alma mater	Roosevelt University

Rey Colón was an alderman of the 35th Ward of the City of Chicago. He was first elected in 2003. He served three terms and was defeated in a reelection bid on February 24, 2015.

Colón grew up in the Logan Square neighborhood. He graduated from Carl Schurz High School and Roosevelt University with a degree in Community Management.

Before becoming alderman, Colón worked as Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Area Manager of the Chicago Park District, and Executive Director of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. While working with the McCormick Tribune YMCA in Logan Square, Colón raised $7.5 million and oversaw construction of the new YMCA.

Colón ran for alderman unsuccessfully in 1999, but was encouraged by community leaders to run again. Colón's campaign was organized at the grassroots level against the incumbent candidate who had the support of powerful Chicago aldermen, the mayor, and the governor. Colón's campaign had a strong focus on community input about zoning issues. Colón was elected alderman of the 35th Ward in 2003. He organized a zoning committee to evaluate all the requests that come through the alderman’s office.

Colón serves on six committees: Committees, Rules and Ethics; Economic, Capital, and Technology Development; Health; Human Relations; Special Events and Cultural Affairs; and Traffic Control and Safety.

Colón helped to secure Preliminary Landmark Designation for Logan, Kedzie, and Humboldt Boulevards.

Soon after he was first elected in 2003, Colón attracted controversy for allegedly using his zoning power as alderman to profit financially.

In August 2010, the Chicago Tribune reported that Colón was under investigation by state election officials and faced possible fines for failing to report $120,000 in campaign funds raised and $180,000 spent between 2007 through 2009.

Shortly after winning re-election in 2011, Colón abruptly announced a hearing to oppose waiving a permit fee for the Logan Square's Farmer's Market, which would have closed the weekly summerlong event. Colón stated that he was upset by political campaigning done at the market the previous summer; however, it was later reported that Colón's hearing was a personal retaliation against Paul Levin, the executive director of the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the market's operations. After newspapers and blogs picked up the story, Colón withdrew his request for a hearing and stated, '“I’d like to urge those that are involved with the market to...keep it free of high-fructose corn syrup, free of pesticides and free of political activity."