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Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl has appointed  Peter Braithwaite to be Second Ward Alderman, filling the vacancy created by the appointment of Lionel Jean-Baptiste as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

“Peter will be a caring, responsive and idealistic alderman; I am delighted and honored to appoint him to be the Second Ward Alderman,” said Mayor Tisdahl.

Alderman Designate Braithwaite grew up in Evanston’s Second Ward. The youngest of five and the son of Jamaican immigrants, he attended Dewey Elementary School, Nichols Middle School and Evanston Township High School. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus in African-American studies and human development.

Mr. Braithwaite has worked with a variety of community and youth groups on strategic planning, program development and fundraising for more than fifteen years. He served as a case manager at Association House of Chicago, Project Coordinator for the Evanston “I Have a Dream Project” and interim Youth Director at the McGaw Y. Most recently, he has worked in medical sales and is currently an independent sales consultant.

He is married to Claudia Braithwaite, a teacher in District 65; the two have  four children and live in the Penny Park area. Mr. Braithwaite says  he looks forward to carrying on the community outreach and public service traditions of the late Alderman Dennis Drummer and the Hon. Lionel Jean-Baptiste.

He has served on many boards in Evanston. In 1999 he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation in 1999. In 2000, he received an  award from Leadership Evanston, part of  Evanston Community Foundation in 2000. He was awarded the Community Service Award from the Chessmen Club of the North Shore, Inc. in 2002.