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connect with the kids is working with them in the schools and working with their fami- lies.”
Her time in CAPS has enabled Nodal to get an even deeper look at how the police can positively impact the community. And it has also enabled her to see the limitations the police have experienced in improving pub- lic safety.
And when she gets to Springfield, she will work on procuring those resources. Imagine what she could do on the floor of the House educating the liberal, socialist reps about how to achieve the type of public safety that their constituents deserve. It would be the best way for legislators to understand real policing, short of a ride-along.
As she started her door-to-door rounds to gather enough signatures on the petition to get on the ballot for the June 28 prima- ry election, Lodge 7 pledged its support for her candidacy. She will be an agent to fight against anti-police legislation and pursue other important missions like advocating for the health of public pensions.
“I think the experience of being a police officer will be important to legislation,” Nodal reasoned. “Sometimes, when you’re
not in it, you are not sure what’s going on. So I think I could bring that to it. And for those on the job, I would like to assure them that although things don’t look great now, I be- lieve they will get better.”
Nodal is from a police family. One brother, Eric Nodal, works in the 12th District. An- other brother, Marco Calderon, just came on in 014.
Clearly, there is a lot to like about Nodal. Alderman Felix Cardona of the 31st Ward, which is in the district, has been an ally of law enforcement. And Alderman James Gar- diner of the 45th Ward, which is also in the district, offered to make Nodal’s petitions for candidacy available available at his office.
It might not be easy to unseat an incum- bent, but Nodal know how to overcome ad- versity. She is one of six children raised by a single mother.
And she has been a female Chicago Police Officer for more than 20 years.
“That has never deterred me,” Nodal as- sured. “I think with the skills women have, we multitask to no end. We’ll do work at home. We’ll do work at work. When we get to a job, we listen. And we try to help out in whatever way we can.”
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