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<p><strong>Because we can't improve the 44th Ward without you.</strong></p><span class="image image-framed image-center" style="width: 100%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/aea27c9b-41c1-4f70-8f2d-0baa7eb0e2cf/bacf29ea-a39f-48c3-80ef-8e24024fecab/bacf29ea-a39f-48c3-80ef-8e24024fecab.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1024%2C1024&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="50" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span>

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<p>Join Team DJ in building something better for the 44th Ward</p>

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<p>Candidate for Alderman in Chicago's 44th Ward</p>

<h1>About DJ</h1>

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<p>DJ is running for 44th Ward Alderman because everyone deserves to feel safe, stay connected, and thrive economically — these pillars protect what we love about our neighborhood and prepare it for the future.</p>

<h2>What We're Fighting For</h2>

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<h2>Campaign Updates</h2>

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<h1>Issues</h1>

<h2>DJ Announces His Run for 44th Ward Alderman</h2><p><strong>"This campaign is going to be about neighborhood-first leadership."</strong></p>

<h2>Meet DJ in August</h2><p>Dates and locations on the Events page</p>

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<h4>Dennis (DJ) Doran is an entrepreneur, an Air Force veteran, a pilot, and a community advocate who has a demonstrated ability to build businesses and relationships across the city he loves.<br></h4><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/aea27c9b-41c1-4f70-8f2d-0baa7eb0e2cf/5f94891d-4c1d-45d3-92be-6de2e14011fb/5f94891d-4c1d-45d3-92be-6de2e14011fb.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=967%2C0%2C3065%2C2716&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="DJ learned to fly in the Air Force and remains an avid pilot." align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="">DJ learned to fly in the Air Force and remains an avid pilot.</span></span><p>As the founder of&nbsp;<strong>Chicago Deserves Better</strong>, a non-profit focused on civic accountability and governance reform, DJ has become a powerful voice for residents who feel overlooked by City Hall.</p><p>DJ is an entrepreneur who has led multiple companies in a 35-year business career, including as president and CEO of Aequalitas Media, which owned and operated print and digital publications as one of the fastest-growing LGBTQ+ media companies in the United States.</p><p>DJ was executive director of the National Equality Media Association, comprised of LGBTQ+ publishers nationwide. In 2022 he was named one of <a href="https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/eps-25-over-50,239459" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"25 over 50" by Editor and Publisher Magazine</a>, recognized as a publisher with a strong work ethic, transformational mindset, and a commitment to journalistic and publishing excellence, with ability to lead during challenging times.</p><p>Currently DJ is CEO of Aviator Development LLC and a real estate broker with Pearson Realty Group specializing in complex residential and commercial transactions. As CEO of Aviator Development, DJ acquires and modernizes properties and provides affordable housing throughout the city.</p><p>DJ is running for 44th Ward Alderman because he believes city government has become inefficient, ineffective, and disconnected from the needs of everyday Chicagoans. He will bring a neighborhood-focused, responsive style of leadership that improves public safety, increases smart development, strengthens transparency, unifies our diverse communities, and advocates for seniors, small businesses, homeowners, and renters.</p><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/aea27c9b-41c1-4f70-8f2d-0baa7eb0e2cf/36189ebb-449f-41ad-b0af-48e825038315/36189ebb-449f-41ad-b0af-48e825038315.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C478%2C2316%2C2610&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="DJ and his husband (and their dog) live in Lakeview. " align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="">DJ and his husband (and their dog) live in Lakeview. </span></span><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/aea27c9b-41c1-4f70-8f2d-0baa7eb0e2cf/f966e017-6316-46c7-9b13-e668a81df648/f966e017-6316-46c7-9b13-e668a81df648.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2267%2C3041&amp;w=1500" alt="Oliver in Balloons" caption="OLIVER" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="">OLIVER</span></span><p><br></p>

<h1>News</h1>

<p>We're building something better for the 44th Ward</p>

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<p><strong>Meet DJ and team throughout the 44th Ward!</strong></p>

<h2>Campaign Events</h2>

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<p><strong>Business leader. Air Force veteran. Community advocate.</strong> Dennis (DJ) Doran is an entrepreneur who has led multiple companies and organizations in a 35-year business career. He is currently the CEO of Aviator Development, a real estate development company, and a broker at Pearson Realty Group. DJ also served as executive director of the non-profit <strong>Chicago Deserves Better</strong>, which has worked to establish a commission to develop a city charter, a constitution to provide a pathway to better governance and to guide Chicago to a more prosperous future.</p><p><strong>"For almost 15 years, my husband, Joe, and I -- and our dog, Oliver -- have called Lakeview our home," Doran says. </strong>“Our neighborhoods need and deserve a strong, responsive leader with a practical, results-oriented approach to local government. The residents of the 44th Ward deserve a real choice and an independent, effective voice when they cast their ballots for Alderman.”</p><p><br></p>

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Campaign website of Dennis (DJ) Doran, candidate for alderman in Chicago's 44th Ward

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<h4>Campaign Launch</h4>

<h4>Coffee with DJ!</h4>

<p>Share your thoughts about the 44th Ward and learn about DJ's vision for our community.</p>

Coffee with DJ!

<p>Why it's necessary:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Active commercial corridors:</strong>&nbsp;Lakeview East's Belmont, Broadway, and Halsted corridors are full of small businesses, but post-pandemic recovery has been uneven.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ward-level priority:</strong>&nbsp;The 2025 44th Ward Community Plan (released after extensive resident input) explicitly lists "Local Businesses &amp; Commercial Corridors" as a top focus area, reflecting voter demand for balanced development.</p></li><li><p><strong>Broader pressure:</strong>&nbsp;Chicago's economic dashboard shows job postings rising in early 2026, but North Side neighborhoods like those in our Ward need targeted support to prevent vacancies and maintain the neighborhood's unique character.</p></li></ul><p>My plan is clear and practical:</p><ul><li><p>Streamline permitting so small businesses can open and grow faster.</p></li><li><p>Use menu funds for storefront improvements and corridor enhancements.</p></li><li><p>Partner with the Lakeview/Roscoe Village Chamber to attract the right kind of development that adds jobs while protecting our residential streets. I plan to work closely with all business stakeholders in the Ward as well as all of the organizations that are impacted by growth and development to ensure we maintain a balanced approach to both.</p></li></ul>

<p>Support the small businesses we love on Broadway, Belmont, and beyond — not just the big developments and national retailers. The 44th Ward needs jobs and growth that benefit the people who already live here.</p>

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

<h2>Smart Development</h2>

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<p>Why it's necessary:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Safety:</strong>&nbsp;In March 2026, a senior was beaten on the Belmont CTA platform in Lakeview East — a high-visibility case that underscores safety and accessibility gaps.</p></li><li><p><strong>Accessibility failures:</strong>&nbsp;Multiple CTA stations in the Ward lack full elevators or have narrow/inaccessible turnstiles, creating daily barriers for all residents, especially seniors and people with mobility issues.</p></li><li><p><strong>Demographics:</strong>&nbsp;The 44th Ward has roughly 8.6% residents aged 65+ (per recent ACS data). Lakeview East contains pockets of older homeowners and renters who rely heavily on the Red, Brown, and Purple Lines. Citywide, 1 in 5 Chicagoans risk losing reliable transit access if state funding isn't secured.</p></li></ul><p>My plan is clear:</p><ul><li><p>Push CTA for urgent elevator repairs and full accessibility upgrades at all 44th Ward stations</p></li><li><p>Partner with Pace to expand senior paratransit options</p></li><li><p>Fight for full state funding so service cuts don't hit the 44th Ward hardest</p></li></ul>

<p>Cleaner and more accessible CTA stations. More bike lanes and fewer "ghost buses." Residents should be able to travel throughout the city without fear or frustration.</p>

<h2>Public Transportation</h2>

<h4>Coffee Talk</h4>

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<p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">CHICAGO, IL, Monday, July 13, 2026 — Dennis (DJ) Doran today welcomed newfound attention to the issue of a city charter for Chicago, following a Substack article on the topic from Congressman Mike Quigley. Doran has championed this cause for years, founding the nonprofit Chicago Deserves Better specifically to lobby local government for meaningful reform.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">"I'm glad more voices are joining the call for a city charter," Doran said. "This isn't a new fight for me — it's one I've been leading for years, through Chicago Deserves Better and in direct conversations with local officials. The more people who recognize the urgency of this issue, the better off our city governance will be."</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Doran founded Chicago Deserves Better to garner support for a city charter: a constitution-style structure that delineates power and authority within the the City of Chicago.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Since then, Doran has gathered over 38,000 signatures in support of a ballot referendum to establish a city charter commission. And in collaboration with Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward, Chicago Deserves Better secured 24 aldermanic cosponsors to raise the issue with the full City Council.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">While Doran welcomes Quigley’s recent statements on the issue, he noted the importance of sustained, consistent advocacy over time. "Talking about a city charter is a good start," Doran said. "But real change comes from years of steady work, building coalitions, and staying engaged with local government.”</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Doran recently stepped aside as head of Chicago Deserves Better to focus on his run for Alderman of the 44th Ward. His campaign remains committed to advancing the city charter initiative, and he will continue working with community members and local officials to advance this goal.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">###</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">About DJ Doran</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Dennis (DJ) Doran is an entrepreneur, an Air Force veteran, a pilot, and a community advocate who has a demonstrated ability to build businesses and relationships across Chicago. He is formerly the executive director of the nonprofit Chicago Deserves Better, which works to establish a commission to develop a City Charter, a local constitution to guide Chicago’s future.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Doran’s campaign for 44th Ward Alderman focuses on restoring responsive neighborhood leadership, with an emphasis on improving public safety and public transit, strengthening accountability at City Hall, and supporting responsible economic development throughout the Ward.</span></p><p><br><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">CONTACT:</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Tom Ciavarella</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">(312) 539-1377</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><a href="mailto:tom@djdoran.com" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">tom@djdoran.com</a></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><a href="http://www.djdoran.com" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">www.djdoran.com</a></span></p>

<h4>Doran Welcomes Growing Consensus on City Charter, Notes His Years of Leadership on the Issue</h4>

<p>My plan is results-focused:</p><ul><li><p>More beat meetings and stronger CPD partnerships in high-risk areas</p></li><li><p>Expanded camera coverage and better lighting on key corridors (Belmont, Broadway, Surf)</p></li><li><p>Targeted prevention programs focused on retail theft, car break-ins, and gun violence</p></li><li><p>Faster response times and real accountability so residents feel safe again — day and night</p></li></ul>

<p>The 44th Ward should feel safe day and night<strong>. </strong>Real safety means fewer thefts, faster police response, and proactive prevention — not just more talk.</p>

<h2>Public Safety</h2>

<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p><p>DJ Doran Announces Candidacy for Alderman of Chicago’s 44th Ward</p><p>CHICAGO, IL, Tuesday, May 19, 2026 — Business executive, Air Force veteran, and Lakeview community advocate Dennis (DJ) Doran announces his candidacy for Alderman of Chicago’s 44th Ward today at 11 AM in front of a local icon, Stella’s Diner at 3042 North Broadway.</p><p>Doran’s campaign will focus on restoring responsive neighborhood leadership, with an emphasis on improving public safety and public transit, strengthening accountability at City Hall, and supporting responsible economic development throughout the Ward.</p><p>“For nearly 15 years my husband and I have called the 44th Ward our home,” Doran said. “Our neighborhoods need a strong leader with a practical, results-oriented approach to local government. The residents of the 44th Ward deserve a real choice and an independent voice when they cast their ballots for Alderman.”</p><p>Doran is an entrepreneur who has led multiple companies spanning a 35-year business career. He is currently CEO of Aviator Development, a real estate broker at Pearson Realty Group, and the executive director of the nonprofit Chicago Deserves Better, which works to establish a commission to develop a City Charter, a local constitution to guide Chicago’s future.&nbsp;</p><p>EVENT DETAILS:</p><p>What: Campaign Launch, Dennis (DJ) Doran for Alderman of the 44th Ward<br>Who: The event is open to Ward residents, supporters, media, and members of the public<br>When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11 AM<br>Where: Stella's Diner, 3042 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657</p><p><br>CONTACT:</p><p>Tom Ciavarella</p><p>(312) 539-1377</p><p><a href="mailto:tom@djdoran.com">tom@djdoran.com</a></p><p><br></p>

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<h4>DJ Doran Announces Candidacy for Alderman of Chicago’s 44th Ward</h4>

<p>Meet DJ and share your thoughts about the ward -- what's working, what's not, and what you'd like to see in the future.</p>

<h4>Coffee &amp; Convo w/ DJ!</h4>

<p>Meet DJ and share your thoughts on the neighborhood -- what's working, what's not, and what you'd like to see in the future.</p>

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