September 29, 2004
DEVINE, BROWN FOCUS ON 2007 MAYORAL RACE
Two powerhouse Democratic Cook County officials -- State's Attorney Dick Devine and Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown -- are seeking re-election in November 2004, but they may soon be running against each other for a much bigger prize: the Chicago mayoralty. Devine, seeking his third term, is a close ally of Mayor Rich Daley, and once served as his first assistant state's attorney. If Daley retires in 2007, as is rumored, Devine may be the least unacceptable white successor, although Sheriff Mike Sheahan and Assessor Jim Houlihan are mentioned. Brown, seeking her second term, had her "reformer" image somewhat sullied in a nasty primary race, but she got an overwhelming vote in her black base. If Daley quits, Brown and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. rank as the most prominent black contenders for the job. Full Article...
September 22, 2004
BLACK MAYOR UNLIKELY IN CHICAGO'S FUTURE
Unlike New York City, Chicago has a Democratic mayor. Unlike New York City, Chicago's mayor is not limited to two terms. But, like New York City, Chicago has a white mayor, and, for the foreseeable future, both cities will have a succession of white mayors. Contrary to projections made during the 1960s and 1970s that both cities would have a black population majority -- and black mayors -- by the 1980s or 1990s, demographic trends have proved otherwise. Chicago is 44 percent white, and that racial segment is growing; blacks are 37 percent, and that is declining; and Hispanics are 19 percent, and growing slightly. As demonstrated in New York, in both the 2001 election and the upcoming 2005 election, blacks will not support Hispanics, and Hispanics will not support blacks. That means the white candidate wins. That's the likely scenario for Chicago, which will probably have a white mayor for the rest of this decade, and the next, and maybe into the 2020s. Full Article...
September 15, 2004
RECORDER'S RACE FEATURES "DUMBING-DOWN" SCENARIO
"Dumbing-down" can refer to reading a book below one's intellect, or taking a job below one's intelligence. But in politics, "dumbing-down" means running for a less powerful office after having lost a bid for a more powerful office. Al Salvi dumbed down and lost in 1998. In 2004, it's John Cox's turn, as he's running for Cook County Recorder of Deeds, after having lost bids for Senator and Congress. But when it comes to dumbness, incumbent Recorder Gene Moore is no slouch. He hired lobbyists to defeat a bill to raise recording fees, even though the Cook County Board hired lobbyists to pass it -- and the revenue would have gone to subsidize low-income housing. Moore's political base in Proviso Township is crumbling, and his record as recorder is, at best, mediocre. Cox mumbles about "corruption and inefficiency," but Moore will win another term -- his last. Full Article...
September 8, 2004
"POLITICAL ORIENTATION" MAY SINK COULSON'S RE-ELECTION
The Democrats are the self-proclaimed party of tolerance and diversity, battling discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. But they exhibit zero tolerance when it comes to "political orientation." In the North Shore 17th House District, four-term incumbent Beth Coulson's "political orientation" allegedly makes her unsuitable to hold office. The reason: She's a Republican in a district that went 60-40 for Al Gore. According to Michele Bromberg, her Democratic foe, Coulson's party affiliation means she "cannot and does not" reflect district values. Coulson is a liberal Republican, supporting abortion rights, gay rights, gun control, opposing charter schools, supporting tax and fee hikes, and opposing the governor's 2005 budget. Bromberg can't pinpoint a single "wrong" Coulson vote. Her whole campaign theme can be stated in five words: "I am not a Republican." It will probably be enough to elect her. Full Article...
September 1, 2004
GOP HOUSE MINORITY NOT OPTIMISTIC IN '04
Newt Gingrich's grand strategy was to "nationalize" congressional elections, and he was resoundingly successful in 1994. By backing local Republicans for Congress, voters could repudiate Clinton and the liberal Democrats in Washington. Tom Cross, the Illinois House Republican leader, will stay mired in his 52-66 minority until he divines a way to "Illinoisize" state legislative races. But with Governor Blagojevich squabbling with Speaker Madigan, and Madigan taking the more conservative stance on state spending, it's impossible for Republicans to demonize Madigan. Only when the Democrats can be tagged as the party THAT RAISES THE STATE INCOME TAX will Republicans surge to a majority. In 2004, there are six Democratic-held House seats in play, and two Republicans are vulnerable. Look for a net Republican gain of three seats. The 2004 roll-call votes of area incumbents can be viewed on the "2004 Illinois House Vote" chart. Full Article...
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