Michele Smith (politician)  Michele Smith (born February 12, 1955) is a member of the Chicago City Council, representing the 43rd Ward on Chicago's North Side. The 43rd ward includes much of the Lincoln Park and a small portions of the Near North Side Community areas. Smith earned a degree in Political Science from SUNY Buffalo in 1976 and a J.D. degree from University of Chicago Law School in 1979. After law school in 1979, Smith clerked for Judge William J. Bauer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for two years. She next joined the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago. During her time there, she prosecuted over 400 narcotics, white-collar, and political corruption cases. Beginning in 1989, Smith worked as for Navistar International Corporation, rising to General Counsel for the Engine Group. Among other accomplishments, she led the team responsible for bringing about changes in the Clean Air Act to reduce diesel emissions limits to near zero. In 2008, Smith was elected to serve as Democratic Committeeman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward, and re-elected in 2012. In 2011, Smith ran for 43rd Ward Alderman and assumed office on May 16, 2011. She was re-elected in 2015 and 2019. Smith has taken an active role in ensuring that new development is community-driven, most notably she renegotiated the Lincoln Park Hospital Redevelopment to decrease intensity of use on site. She also prioritizes constituent services. Since assuming office, her office concluded 5,307 constituent service requests, an increase of 50.59%, doubled the number of street lights repaired and street potholes filled, and tripled the number of sewer cleanings. Smith has also taken an active role in City Hall. In addition to co-sponsoring the elimination of the Head Tax, she fought and saved condominium refuse rebate for several more years and obtained funding of past years’ deficits. Smith also urged city council to reform the investment strategies of the city’s largest employee pension fund. The city council unanimously approved a resolution that urged the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago to divest from companies associated with Iran’s energy sector. During the 2012 City remap Smith successfully advocated against splitting Lincoln Park among five different wards. Smith sits on eight City Council Committees: