There is a pecking -- and pay -- order among Chicago politicians, who are constantly plotting an upgrade.

The pinnacle is a congressional seat, of which there are seven wholly or partially within Chicago. Five Democratic incumbents, Jan Schakowsky (D-9), Mike Quigley (D-5), Luis Gutierrez (D-4), Danny Davis (D-7) and Bobby Rush (D-1), had prior service as an alderman, a county commissioner or a state legislator. Dan Lipinski (D-3) is the son of a former congressman who was once an alderman. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2) is the son of a celebrated civil rights activist.

The post pays $169,300, and it stirs dreams of other offices. Rush ran for mayor. Quigley and Gutierrez may run for mayor in 2011. Davis is a candidate for Cook County Board president. Jackson, until his current ethics scrape, was deemed a future candidate for mayor or U.S. senator.

The second-best job is that of Chicago alderman, which has visibility, money-raising capability and career-enhancing potential. There are 50 aldermen, and they earn $110,556 annually.

Aldermen Pat O'Connor (40th), Howard Brookins (21st) and Tom Allen (38th) ran unsuccessfully for state's attorney; Toni Preckwinkle (5th) is running for county board president in 2010; Sandi Jackson (7th), Jesse Jackson's wife, is running for lieutenant governor in 2010; Pat Levar (45th) and Joe Moore (49th) ran for Circuit Court clerk; Berny Stone (50th) ran for recorder of deeds; and O'Connor ran for Congress in 2009, losing the primary to Quigley. The aldermanic victory quotient for countywide office: Zero for six. For Congress: Four for five.

Aldermen Brian Doherty (41st) and Allen (38th) are preparing to battle for the open Northwest Side Illinois Senate seat of Jim DeLeo (D-10) in 2010. Doherty is the City Council's only Republican, and he is deemed a formidable candidate. Allen is being pressured to run by Springfield Democrats, who view him as the only candidate capable of beating Doherty.

Is this a downgrade? The winner would earn less, would waste ungodly amounts of time in Springfield, and would have a 2-year term, but they can run without forfeiting their aldermanic seats. Doherty announced on Oct. 9; Allen has yet to publicly declare.

Ranking third, and rising rapidly in clout and prestige, is Cook County commissioner, of which there are 17, with 12 districts wholly or partially in Chicago. The job pays 85,000, with two meetings per month. Once an obscure backwater occupied by has-been hacks, the county's $3 billion budget and Todd Stroger's ineptitude has put every commissioner in the spotlight. That enhanced visibility translates into elevated ambitions, but not necessarily success.

Tony Peraica (R-16) lost twice countywide, for board president in 2006 and for state's attorney in 2008. Quigley won a congressional seat in 2009. Larry Suffredin (D-13) lost the 2008 primary for state's attorney. Forrest Claypool (D-12), lost the 2006 primary for board president. Maria Pappas, Quigley's predecessor, was elected county treasurer in 1998. Davis rose from alderman to commissioner to congressman.

The commissioners' victory quotient for higher office: Three for seven.

Bill Beavers, (D-4), a 23-year Chicago alderman, was picked to replace the ailing John Stroger as county commissioner in 2006, but he failed in his attempt to pass along his City Council seat to his daughter, who lost to Sandi Jackson. Roberto Maldonado, a 15-year commissioner and the 26th Ward Democratic committeeman, recently upgraded himself to alderman, via a mayoral appointment. The late Ted Lechowicz was a 22-year state legislator when he won the commissioner's post in 1990, but he lost a bid for board president that year.

In fourth position is state senator, of which there are 19 districts wholly or partially in Chicago, all held by Democrats. The job pays $67,836, and over a 10-year cycle each senator serves two 4-year terms and one 2-year term. Senators get an additional $10,000 if they serve as a committee chairman or spokesman or in the leadership. Spending inordinate time in Springfield, and under the thumb of the Senate president, senators get minimal coverage in the Chicago media market.

Although generally obscure, the post can be a viable steppingstone. Barack Obama went from state senator to U.S. senator to president; Lisa Madigan became state attorney general; Miguel del Valle became city clerk. But John Cullerton, Wally Dudycz and Emil Jones lost congressional bids. The senators' victory quotient: Three for six.

Rickey Hendon (D-5) is running for lieutenant governor in 2010. Republicans Kirk Dillard (R-24), Bill Brady (R-44), Dan Rutherford (R-53) and Matt Murphy (R-27), all from the suburbs or Downstate, are seeking statewide office.

Next is state representative, which pays $67,836, the same as a senator, plus the $10,000. There are 38 districts wholly or partially in Chicago, of which 37 are held by Democrats. The only Republican is Mike McAuliffe (R-20), from the Northwest Side. Generally, when a Senate vacancy arises, one of the district's two representatives seeks an upgrade. Rarely does a mere representative leapfrog beyond a Senate seat.

In 2009 state Representatives John Fritchey (D-11) and Sara Feigenholtz (D-12) both lost to Quigley in the congressional primary. In 2008 Rich Bradley lost a primary for state senator. Fritchey is seeking an upgrade in 2010 by running for county commissioner in the district vacated by Claypool. Likewise, David Miller (D-29) of Dolton is running from comptroller, and former representative Robin Kelly (D-38) of Matteson is running from treasurer; both are black Democrats.

The bottom feeder is Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, of which there are nine, earning $40,000 for two meetings per month. There is no job security, no visibility and no name identification. Each primary, in which three commissioners run, is a crapshoot. But several commissioners have upgraded, Aurie Pucinski to court clerk and Jerry Cosentino to state treasurer, and now water district President Terry O'Brien has an excellent shot at winning Todd Stroger's job.

Here's a look at developments in the 10th District:

More Democrats have exited than entered the race. Initially Mark Donovan, the son of a top aide to 36th Ward Democratic Committeeman Bill Banks, announced with Banks' blessing. So did Norwood Park Township Trustee Rob Martwick, the son of the township Democratic committeeman. Martwick lost races for state senator in 1996 and for county commissioner in 2002. But then 38th Ward Democratic Committeeman Patti Jo Cullerton decided she wanted the job, so Donovan and Martwick opted out. Then Cullerton, citing "family considerations," folded her 2-week-old campaign.

Donovan, having told his supporters than he was out, decided not to get back in. Martwick jumped back in, but he was told by Banks and Cullerton that he would not be slated, so he got out. Are you following this? Then Mary Anselmo, a chief deputy clerk in Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown's office, whose son is a Banks precinct captain, announced. She claims to have Banks' support, and she will run even if not slated.

Wanda Majcher, an employee of the state Department of Human Rights and a former executive director of the Copernicus Foundation, also is running. She will have a significant base among Polish-American voters.

Other possible candidates: John Mulroe, an Edison Park attorney backed by 41st Ward Democratic Committeeman Mary O'Connor who lost a 2008 primary for judge by just 1,190 votes, and John Nocita of Norwood Park, who got 13,485 votes (12.1 percent of the total cast) in a 2008 congressional primary against Schakowsky.

 Republicans in Springfield recruited Doherty, and they were ecstatic when he agreed to run. They promised him $400,000 in campaign assistance, and they expect him to raise $100,000. "That's doable," said Doherty, who has been an alderman since 1991 and who has never received less than 70 percent of the vote in four reelections.

"The state is in total disarray," Doherty said. "There is one-party rule. Republicans must gain two (Senate) seats in order to block an income tax hike. I can better serve my constituents in Springfield than in Chicago."

Springfield Democrats understandably have pressed the panic button. Doherty's visibility, credibility and energy make him a prohibitive favorite against the current field. "I've never voted for a tax increase," Doherty said. "People know that."

Hence, they are begging Allen to run. If he does, it will be at a great personal and financial sacrifice. He has been an alderman since 1993, and he would forfeit his powerful Transportation Committee chairmanship. He would take a $42,720 pay cut. He would cripple his Loop law practice, as he would spend endless days in Springfield during the April-June period. He'd be a junior senator, facing the voters again in 2012, and he would have to work his tail off for the next 12 months.

Allen really wanted to go to Congress in 2009, but he opted out of the campaign. Allen really doesn't want to go to Springfield in 2010. My prediction: If Allen doesn't run, Doherty is a cinch to go to Springfield.