47th Ward: After Ald. Ameya Pawar confirmed he would honor his self-imposed two-term limit, nine candidates jumped into the race to replace him in this booming North Side ward that includes Lincoln Square, North Center and Ravenswood. Of note are two candidates with big backers: Michael Negron, a Harvard grad who has worked for Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren and Rahm Emanuel (and got a $20,000 campaign donation from Emanuel), and Heather Way Kitzes, a Cubs lobbyist who has received more than $30,000 from the Cubs and the Ricketts family. Negron and Kitzes bring appealing experiences to the race. Negron worked as Emanuel’s chief of policy and has a deep understanding of how Chicago government works — and doesn’t work. Kitzes, who headed the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, understands the challenges of small business owners. But those big donations — from a mayor who lives in the ward and says he’s staying even after he leaves office in May, and from a Wrigleyville power family that might like to have a friendly vote in the next ward over — stop us cold. Good thing Matt Martin is in the race. The civil rights lawyer for the Illinois attorney general’s office offers smarts, experience and pragmatism. Martin helped write the Chicago Police Department consent decree and says police reform is a high priority. He also has an independent streak and shares our determination that a new City Council put away its rubber stamp and flex its legislative muscle. We believe Martin can be an influential new voice on a re-energized council. Also running are social worker Eileen Dordek, CPS teacher Angie Maloney, small business owner Jeff Jenkins, restaurateur Gus Katsafaros, physician Kimball Ladien and firefighter/paramedic Thomas Schwartzers. Martin is endorsed.