Women’s History Month honoree, 23rd Ward Alderman Silvana Tabares, is a go-getter, plain and simple.
If dynamite comes in small packages, Tabares is a much bigger blast. Her high energy and no-nonsense speaking style is typical of her get-it-done, native-born Chicago South Sider ability to get a job done.
Key to Tabares’ ability to move ward business forward is the way she prepares for a successful day, said Michael Normoyle, 23rd Ward legislative affairs director.
“She wakes up before everybody else,” Normoyle said. “The alderman is an early riser who is easily the most organized person I know. I don’t catch her drinking much coffee, so when it comes to her morning routine it’s just that she’s an early riser for sure.”
Being proactive when it comes to managing problems results in effective oversight of the 23rd Ward and leads to an ability to get in front of a problem before it develops, Normoyle added.
Being early to the table and her non-stop work ethic is a strategy Tabares has used from her beginning years in politics to the present day.
After getting her B.A. in broadcast journalism from Columbia College Chicago, Tabares’ transition from managing editor for a community newspaper to her 12-year political career started by leaping from the frying pan into the fire.
“I quit my job to run for Illinois State Representative in 2011 because I got tired of sitting on the sidelines just reporting on the issues,” Tabares told the Southwest News Herald. “I wanted to go down to Springfield and vote on these issues and make a bigger impact for my community.”
After serving as the 21st District’s representative for five years, Tabares applied for consideration to replace Ald. Mike Zalewski, who was set to retire. Tabares was the only woman applicant out of four who applied.
Her vetting process included a panel of people representative of the 23rd Ward.
“The community vetted me here in the 23rd Ward,” she said. “They interviewed me and gave the recommendation to former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel to appoint me and he did. So, I’ve been the alderman since 2018; almost eight years.”
Tabares is both a dedicated politician and a mother. She and her husband, a Chicago police officer, are the proud parents of a 7-year old child.
“When you serve as an alderman as a mom, you see the world, you see the city, through a different lens,” Tabares said. “I want to see the city thrive for families like mine and for all the families I represent in the 23rd Ward. The challenge is finding a balance to make sure you take care of yourself, your family and the ward as well. So, I always work to find time to spend with my son because that’s important for me as a mother.”
Asked if she was ever undermined in her position as a politician because of being a woman, Tabares said she doesn’t see herself as a victim.
“I don’t listen to the criticism and as aldermen in the city council we get criticized a lot. I take it with a grain of salt,” she said. “I always focus on doing the right thing, listening to my constituents and doing what’s best for my ward. That’s what I focus on. My advice is for other women to do the same.”
The 23rd Ward is Tabares’ passion and she remains singularly focused on it. Fighting for what constituents need her to fight for in the city council remains her top business priority.
“The undermining women issue? Honestly, my mom is a single mother. She always raised me to believe in myself, to work hard and to sacrifice,” Tabares said. “That’s what I’m doing in my ward; that’s what I believe in.”
Tabares’ personal touch is a hallmark of her leadership style. By using it, she positively affects women and future generations.
Tabares was the first politician who came to her home personally, which impressed her Chief of Staff and long-time ward resident, Rosaura Bocanegra said.
Going back further, the Bocanegra household began receiving Tabares’ mailings when she was running for state representative, she remembered.
One of Bocanegra’s children, a politics lover, noticed the mailings and decided she was going to vote for her. When Tabares next canvassed at their home, her two children raced to the door, prompting the candidate to take the time to sit down and answer the childrens’ political questions, Bocanegra said.
“When it came time for voting, I went to the polling place with my daughter and let her press Tabares’ name,” she said. “That’s how I met her. As a resident, that really impressed me and year after year, she came to my door. I have never seen any other politician do that in my community or on my block.”
A stay-at-home mom for 16 years, Bocanegra was also a full-time volunteer at her childrens’ school. Invitations to Tabares to attend school events never went unanswered; she showed up for every one despite the school being out of her district, she added.
Despite not looking for a job, a subsequent offer to work in the 23rd Ward office came next which she accepted.
“I started as part-time and then I was offered full-time maybe less than a year later and in 2023 she asked me to be her Chief of Staff,” said Bocanegra.
Tabares’ personal touch is a tool that allows the alderman to support other women in the community, she added.
“Personally, she has been a role model to both my girls. My daughter still follows her and is now a correspondent for a newspaper. She wants to go into politics. The alderman is who my daughter wants to live up to and be,” Bocanegra said.
Being open to learning every single day by watching what colleagues do in the City Council and building relationships are key lessons Tabares has learned.
“That’s my goal and I learn so much in the ward,” she said. “My heart is in this ward because [geographically] it’s compact. I can put faces to names to develop relationships with residents. Relationships are important in this position. Every day we’re building relationships with residents. We’re getting to know them.”
Being on top of resident concerns is very important to Tabares in order to keep robust relationships with ward organizations, police and the business community.
“It’s important for us all to work together and make our ward stronger,” she said.
“I think it’s really important for all residents to pay attention to the [political] climate we’re living through in this city,” Tabares said. “The mayor we have is polling very badly and continues to decrease his polling numbers. He is not listening to this city.”
The alderman believes city council members are especially important for ward residents to connect with to counter political fatigue.
“We are their voice,” she said. “Residents should continue to be encouraged to talk to their elected officials and let them know what is concerning them because right now, our city is hurting with the recent bond deal, the finances. They should not hesitate to reach out to let us know their thoughts whether it’s in an email, a call or office visit.”
With city elections coming in a few years, if an alderman is not responding to constituent needs, voters’ power is replacing a failing alderman, she said.
Letting aldermen know where they stand on issues is a tool voters can use to measure performance and then hold elected officials accountable at the ballot box, Tabares added.
I’ve worked with a few elected officials before,” ward Director of Legislative Affairs Michael Normoyle said. “Silvana is the only official that I would use the word protective to describe how she works. Protective of her ward and her neighborhood. If she sees bad policy, she takes it personally. Silvana is a reminder that we are delivering services to the taxpayers of the ward.”
Because the 23rd Ward consists of both Republican and Democratic voters, consistent delivery of ward services despite different political allegiances throughout her ward motivates Normoyle, he said.
“No matter the percentage of those two groups, whatever the number is, 100% of those voters depend on the city services they’re paying for and our job is to deliver those,” said Normoyle.
Speaking to residents, who are not shy about voicing concerns regularly, Tabares knew 23rd Ward residents wanted an empty lot on Archer Avenue to be a family-friendly business. Now the city’s only Andy’s Frozen Custard occupies that space, he said.
“I just see her as somebody who uses actions to speak louder than her words,” Normoyle added.
Bocanegra has worked for Tabares for five years, going on six at the end of 2025.
“Her strengths are that she listens to the community, she listens to residents,” said Bocanegra. “She takes the time to meet them in person or when staff can no longer help a resident and we go to her, she will reach out to the resident and try her hardest to solve the problem.”
That strength also influences her as well, according to Bocanegra.
“I think I’m strong but she is stronger than I am,” she said. “To go to City Hall and be able to vote against her colleagues because she is voting for what is right for the 23rd Ward and then take the criticism from people outside our ward takes strength.”
Bocanegra admires Tabares’ toughness when it comes to withstanding oppositional political opinions.
“Like any person, I would probably feel hurt and get mad,” she said. “You don’t see that in her because she fights the good fight. I know she doesn’t like to say this, but I still think it’s a man’s world. She can stand up straight and strong with her head held high in a man’s world. She is equal … she is equal.”
“There are more women serving this term than ever before,” Tabares said. “There are 18 of us—almost half the council. I’m proud to see there’s more Latino women serving in public office.”
The alderman stressed that believing in themselves is the positive life-altering mindset all 23rd Ward women must maintain.
“If they truly believe in something, work hard and sacrifice because that pays off,” Tabares emphasized. “If other people say you can’t do something or try to undermine you, don’t pay attention to that. Focus, move forward and don’t let anybody stop you in trying to make a difference.”
Editor’s Note: This is one of an occasional series of stories highlighting the accomplishments of local women in honor of Women’s History Month
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