Jane Grover, a former 7th Ward alderwoman who left Evanston's City Council more than a decade ago, announced Friday, Aug. 14, that she is running for mayor in the 2027 special election, becoming the sixth declared candidate in a race that is increasingly likely to require a primary.

Grover, 63, pitched herself in an email announcement as bringing the broad perspective and deep experience needed to address the city's problems, according to the Evanston RoundTable. She said she would focus on stabilizing city finances, making services more responsive and capitalizing on opportunities to move Evanston forward.

"I am committed to the entirety of the Evanston community and to finding common ground for the toughest decisions ahead of us," Grover said in her announcement.

A decade away from City Hall

Grover represented northeast Evanston's 7th Ward from 2009 to 2015. She first won the seat after incumbent Liz Tisdahl vacated it for a successful mayoral run, then won re-election unopposed. She resigned at the end of 2015 to become director of public engagement at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, a regional body covering Cook County and six surrounding counties. She still holds that CMAP position.

Grover told the RoundTable she would resign from it if elected mayor, citing the same conflict-of-interest reasoning she used when she left the council: avoiding any perception that Evanston has an inside track for CMAP resources.

Before joining the council, Grover worked as an attorney and as assistant director of the Evanston Community Foundation's Leadership Evanston program. She served eight years on the city's since-dissolved Mental Health Board and advocated for pedestrian safety projects in her neighborhood.

Since leaving office, Grover has served six years on the Equity and Empowerment Commission and supported Northwestern University's Ryan Field rebuild through Field of Opportunities. Her submission "Dog E-Town" won the city's contest to name the new fenced-in dog park at Grey Park.

Grover joins a growing field as candidates begin preparing for the 2027 special election. With six declared candidates now in the race, Evanston voters are likely to face a competitive primary before choosing who will serve the remainder of Mayor Daniel Biss' term.