From left, Michael S. Diaz, John Arena, Michelle Baert and John Garrido. View Full Caption File photos

JEFFERSON PARK — Four candidates filed to run in the Feb. 24 aldermanic election to represent the 45th Ward on the Chicago City Council.

Ald. John Arena (45th) is seeking a second term on the council, where he has become one of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's most frequent critics.

Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido, whom Arena defeated by 30 votes in 2011 after a bitter campaign that spawned a still-pending defamation suit, will run again.

Garrido has led the fight against a plan to reduce Milwaukee Avenue through Gladstone Park to two lanes in an effort to slow traffic and expand bicycle lanes.

Michelle Baert, who publishes a website and Facebook page filled with listings for family friendly activities as the 45th Ward Mom, announced her candidacy a year ago and has promised to reinvent the aldermanic office as a community center and serve only two terms if elected.

Michael S. Diaz, who works as an attorney for the state of Illinois in the department that regulates banks, was the last candidate to file to run to represent Jefferson Park, Gladstone Park, Old Irving Park, and parts of Portage Park and Forest Glen.

Diaz, who has deep ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, blasted Arena earlier this week for being one of four aldermen, to vote against the mayor's budget, which borrowed $17 million to expand pre-kindergarten services.

Arena raised $49,700 between July 1 and Sept. 30 and spent $19,300, leaving him with approximately $66,200 on hand, according to state records.

Garrido raised $23,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30 and spent about the same amount, including $10,000 he paid to himself to reduce his campaign's debt, which now stands at approximately $70,000. Garrido, who also works as a lawyer, has approximately $2,700 on hand, according to state records.

Diaz has not yet created a campaign finance committee, according to state records.

Each candidate had to file at least 473 signatures with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners by 5 p.m. Monday, said spokesman Jim Allen.

Objections to any of those signatures are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 3, Allen said.

Elections' officials will review all petitions to ensure they meet the minimum standard before setting the ballot order, which will be determined by lottery, since Arena, Baert and Garrido candidates filed at 9 a.m. Nov. 17, Allen said.

The election is set for Feb. 24. In races where no candidate earns 50 percent of the votes cast, a runoff between the top two candidates will take place April 7.

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