Creative Scott, 50, is running for 24th Ward Alderman | Facebook
Creative Scott, 50, is running for 24th Ward Alderman | Facebook
A West Side barber who made the run-off in Chicago's 24th Ward looking to unseat Ald. Monique Scott has pitched himself to voters as mentor to local youth interested in a career in cosmetology.
Creative Scott, owner of Creative Salon, 3946 W 16th St, told Block Club Chicago that he also runs a "young barbers program for kids and teens ages 5-15 out of his salon, which helps youth learn the history and business of barbering.”
The 50 year-old aldermanic candidate from Lawndale, who slipped into the April 8 run-off election with 14.83 percent of the vote, claimed to be a "licensed barber" on his Chicago financial disclosure statement filed in July 2022.
State and county records, however, suggest Creative Scott's barbering business is a two-time tax scofflaw currently operating without a state license.
Creative Scott's state cosmetology license hasn't been renewed since September 2021, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Also, his state cosmetology license was suspended in 2019 and 2022 for failing to pay Illinois income taxes, according to state records.
The 24th Ward includes parts of Lawndale, North Lawndale, Homan Square and West Garfield Park. It also includes Cook County Jail, from which 1,137 ballots were cast on Feb. 28.
Of 6,492 votes cast in the 24th Ward aldermanic race, Monique Scott won 2,945 (45%) to Creative Scott's 963 votes. Six other candidates split up the rest.
Monique Scott's total topped that of Lori Lightfoot (2,440/36%) who won the 24th ward in the race for mayor, besting Willie Wilson (1,731/26%) and Brandon Johnson (1,198/18%).
Unpaid child support, car loan
According to Cook County court records, Creative Scott's financial problems haven't been limited to his barbering business.
The first-time aldermanic candidate has had his earnings garnished for not paying child support to three women with whom he has children.
On Nov. 19, 2022, court records show Creative Scott was served with an affidavit giving notice of the court's ruling to withhold from his earnings unpaid child support payments due to the child's mother, a felon who was charged with murder and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 1995.
Earlier that year, on July 2, 2022, state child support enforcement issued an affidavit giving notice to Creative Scott that unpaid child support payments due to a different woman, the mother of another of his children, would be withheld from his earnings.
In 2019, state child support enforcement officers filed an affidavit giving Creative Scott notice that unpaid child support payments due to a third woman who shares a child with him would be withheld from his earnings.
Creative Scott also has struggled to pay personal bills, court records show.
On Aug. 9, 2019, Cook County filed an administrative judgement against Creative Scott for $448.86 for failing to pay tax on a 2007 Mercedes
And on Oct. 26, 2022, Overland Bond Chicago, a car loan company won a $9,281 judgement against Creative Scott, according to Cook County court records.
In Aug. 2016, a Cook County court judgment was entered against Creative Scott for more than $3,900 for breach of contract with a martial arts training center
Creative Scott did not return a phone call or email seeking his comment on this story.
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Creative Scott's state cosmetology license hasn't been renewed since September 2021
Source: Illinois State Department of Regulation
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