Neal Sales-Griffin

Neal Sales-Griffin was one of the earliest candidates to announce his run for mayor and the last to secure a spot on the ballot after surviving a challenge. The tech entrepreneur’s campaign had an early buzz and funding from a PAC chaired by Max Temkin, a creator of Cards Against Humanity. However, after Sales-Griffin admittedly “bombed” his campaign launch, the funding largely has dried up. He’s also produced a podcast about his campaign and his battle to get on the ballot.

Age: 31

Born: Chicago

Personal: Single

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Northwestern University

Neighborhood: Hyde Park

Current job: CEO of Code Now, a national nonprofit that teaches low-income high school students how to code. He also teaches at Northwestern University and University of Chicago.

Government experience: Co-chaired Chicago’s Technology Diversity Council and assisted with producing the city’s technology plan.

Political experience: This is SalesGriffin’s first run for public office.

Three top policy proposals: 1) Expand Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s universal pre-K program; 2) Overhaul and provide more funding for the city’s special education programs; 3) Make budgeting more transparent, including providing Chicagoans with a “receipt” showing taxes they’ve paid.

Three key positions: 1) Backs term limits for all city elected positions; 2) Favors campaign finance reform with stronger contribution limits; 3) Supports an elected school board.

Campaign slogan: “Neal for Mayor”

Campaign website: www.nealfor mayor.com