Claudia Peralta wins Far Northwest Side District 1b Chicago School Board race

District 1b neighborhoods: Portage Park, Dunning, Irving Park, Belmont Cragin, North Park, Montclare, Albany ParkClaudia Peralta, a longtime political aide and Chicago Public Schools parent, won her first bid for office representing the Far North Side on Chicago’s fully elected school board, with her opponent saying Tuesday night she’ll call her with congratulations in the morning.In one of the city’s most expensive races, Peralta defeated education consultant Michelle Pierre, winning nearly 63% of the votes with all precincts reporting, according to Associated Press election results. That’s despite groups who support school choice and sought to fend off the Chicago Teachers Union spending more than $800,000 to defeat her.“I'm really excited,” Peralta said by telephone.She said she knocked on thousands of doors to talk with voters, a philosophy she plans to bring to the school board in January.“People power works,” she said. “We beat dark money today. Chicagoans on the Far Northwest Si