Our latest aldermanic tracker with fundraising totals and endorsements can be found here.

The local political press is understandably focused on the race to replace Mayor Richard Daley atop Chicago's government. But this winter, Chicago voters will make another important choice when they head to the ballot box: Who will represent us on the Chicago City Council?

For the past 21 years, Chicago's aldermen (19 of who were first appointed by Daley) have basically served at the pleasure of the mayor's office. Time and time again, the body has provided the Daley administration with unlimited space to carry out its (often troublesome) agenda. Things could change in 2011. Some analysts think up to 20 of the city's coveted aldermanic seats could switch hands in next year's elections. Already, some heavy hitters -- Alds. Toni Preckwikle (4th Ward) and Helen Schiller (46th Ward), to name just two -- have announced plans to step aside. In an anti-incumbent year, other veterans could be upended, as well.

The composition of the City Council will affect everything from Chicago's tattered finances to affordable housing policy, environmental regulations, and who gets to serve on the city's commissions and the boards of its sister public agencies. Whether Daley's exit means there will be more debate and review of the next mayor's positions remains to be seen. (The current crop hasn't done so on important issues like crime and education.) In the individual wards, meanwhile, it's likely that aldermen will retain a fair degree of power over critical ward-level issues, like zoning and development.

To keep tabs on these crucial races, we've created a simple database tracking the 2011 aldermanic field. The candidates listed below have all filed petitions with the Chicago Board of Elections. We've included information about each nominee's experience and links to his or her campaign websites when available.