March 31, 2010
"THE NASTY, THE DUMB AND THE LUCKY" IN 2010 NW SIDE LEGISLATIVE RACEOS
To bastardize the title of the classic 1960s Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, it was "The Nasty, the Dumb and the Lucky" in three area Democratic state legislative primaries on Feb. 2. In the north Lakefront 7th senatorial district, centered on Chicago's 48th and 49th wards, the "Nasty" was gay law professor Jim Madigan, whose ugly campaign ripped 2-year incumbent Heather Steans' competence, character and connections. She and her husband had donated nearly $1 million to various politicians since 2000, including $200,000 to Rod Blagojevich. But Steans spent $250,000, and won with 64.8%. In the Ravenswood/Lakeview 11th House district, the "Dumb" was 47th Ward Alderman Gene Schulter, the ward's Democratic committeeman, who backed Son of Blob. Dan Farley, an attorney, absorbed the sins of the father -- namely: former state Senator Bruce Farley, who was ousted by Lisa Madigan in 1998. Deemed a "blob" for his propensity to suck a salary from a second city or county job throughout his 1973-98 tenure in Springfield, Bruce's "sins" were fatal to his son. Young Farley lost to Springfield lobbyist Ann Williams, getting only 32.1%. In the Evanston 18th House district, the "Lucky" was Robyn Gabel, who faced a field of four men, including two twenty something liberals. She won with just 27.1%, and had the backing of Evanston's Jan/Bob Machine. Had there been fewer men in the contest, Gabel would have lost.Full Article...
March 24, 2010
KIRK-GIANNOULIAS US SENATE RACE IS A "BATTLE OF BAGGAGE"
It's Metaphor Madness: The Illinois US Senate race between Mark Kirk (R) and Alexi Giannoulias (D) is a "Battle of Baggage." It's the windsock versus the empty sock. Both aspirants have plenty of flaws, and the winner will be the candidate whom voters perceive has the least worst judgment. In the Feb. 2 primary, in a turnout of 742,266, 43.4% of the Republicans voted against Kirk, the North Shore congressman and anointed frontrunner. Kirk's "baggage" is his calculated opportunism, flapping like a windsock, voting however the prevailing winds blow. "He's not trustworthy," say conservatives. Among Democrats, in a turnout of 904,771, 61.1% voted against Giannoulias, the state treasurer, Obama buddy, and party favorite. Former Chicago inspector general David Hoffman, despite a sluggish campaign, performed well, getting 33.7%, to Giannoulias's 38.9%, losing by just 47,445 votes. Giannoulias underperformed everywhere: 35.7% in Chicago, despite backing by pro-Daley committeemen, 41.5% in the collar counties, and 44.3% Downstate. Giannoulias lost the Chicago Lakefront and the North Shore townships. Giannoulias's "baggage" is his family bank, Broadway Bank, where he was a "chief loan officer," and which the FDIC has declared a troubled bank, entering a "consent order" to monitor operations. It may soon be insolvent. As treasurer, Giannoulias's tenure was marred by the Bright Start fiasco, losing $150 million in mortgage-backed security investments. Giannoulias is perceived as inept, inexperienced and unqualified. The outlook: Half of the Hoffman vote will go to Kirk, and all of the Republican vote will gravitate to Kirk. With the lighter baggage, Kirk is favored.Full Article...
March 17, 2010
"NIMBY" FACTOR DOOMS HAMOS' CONGRESSIONAL BID IN 10TH DIST.
Julie Hamos cannot quite be characterized as toxic waste, but a lot of voters didn't want her in their North Shore 10th congressional district. NIMBY (not in my back yard) sentiment was enough to give two-time loser Dan Seals a 959-vote win in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary. Hamos, from Evanston, is part of the Jan/Bob Machine, led by US Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9), which runs the town. After aborting a run for IL attorney general, Hamos was looking at other options. When Mark Kirk (R-10) announced for US Senator, Hamos decided that she wanted to be Evanston's second congresswoman -- even though she did not live in the 10th Dist. She lined up heavyweight endorsements, spread the word that there was "fatigue" with Seals, and jumped into the race. Then she polled, and her numbers were horrendous. Nobody knew her. And most Democrats thought Seals deserved a third chance. Hamos' downfall was in New Trier Township (Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe); she needed 70%, but got 57%; in Northfield, she got 53%; in Lake County, she got 46%. Hamos spent $1.5 million, but NIMBY prevailed. Now Seals faces Republican Bob Dold, and ITWY looms -- it's the wrong year. Seals is the pro-Obama insider in a year when voters appear to want an anti-Obama outsider. Dold is favored to beat Seals. Full Article...
March 10, 2010
"NO LOVE LOST" TOWARD MULROE AMONG DEM ST. SENATE LOSERS
Personal grief can be differentiated from political grief. In the former, the stages are anger, denial, bargaining and acceptance. In the latter, it's anger, denial, blame, calculation, optimism and expectation. In the Northwest Side Chicago 10th state senate district, the grief of Democratic primary losers abounds, which is causing grief for winner John Mulroe, who faces a daunting contest against Alderman Brian Doherty (R) in November, and ranks as a distinct underdog. Backed by all but one of the area Democratic ward and township committeemen, Mulroe got 42.5% of the 2/2/10 primary vote; he got 59.4% in his home 41st Ward, 46.5% in the 45th Ward, 35.2% in the 38th Ward, and 32.8% in the suburbs. Mulroe lost only the 36th Ward. But the vanquished -- Tom Ryan (24.5%), Mary Sendra Anslemo (22.3%) and Wanda Majcher (10.7%) -- are unimpressed and unforgiving. Their fervent hope: That Mulroe loses to Doherty, so that can run again in 2012. Majcher blames Anselmo for a flyer highlighting her DUI, which was dismissed; Ryan is enraged that the unions, of which he is an IBEW tradesman and member, backed lawyer Mulroe, and blames Cullerton and Allen. Anslemo grouses that she was overwhelmed by Mulroe's money. Committeemen Cullerton (38th), Levar (45th) and O'Connor (41st) delivered for Mulroe, as did Banks (36th) for Anselmo. The outlook: Doherty will beat Mulroe. And Mary O'Connor, Mulroe's ally, is set to run for Doherty's aldermanic seat if Mulroe loses, and Doherty goes to Springfield. Attached to the article is the ward-and-township vote in the Democratic primary .Full Article...
March 3, 2010
"PAY-TO-PLAY" BERRIOS WINS "UGLY" IN ASSESSOR'S PRIMARY
Snap. Crackle. Pop. That's the sound of King Joe Berrios's once-limitless political future immolating. No politician, in the sports vernacular, wants to "win ugly," but Berrios' lackluster 39.2% win in the 2/2/10 Democratic primary for Cook County assessor amply demonstrates his limitations. Facing two desultory opponents -- black ex-Board of Review commissioner Bob Shaw and ex-Judge Ray Figueroa -- Berrios should have won overwhelmingly. After all, he is a 22-year Board of Review commissioner, has raised nearly $4 million since 2007, is the Democratic county chairman, and is the 31st Ward Democratic committeeman and arguably the most clout-heavy Hispanic on Chicago's North Side and in the Puerto Rican community. He is also a well-paid lobbyist for the video gaming industry. That definitely doesn't make him a "reformer" when he becomes assessor. But some voters have scruples, and Berrios is known as "Mr. Pay-to-Play" in county politics. Those who get property tax reductions before the BOR seem compelled to donate liberally to Berrios. Shaw won 19 of 20 black-majority wards, while Figueroa won 5 of 6 white liberal Lakefront wards, and 3 of 6 Hispanic wards with Hispanic aldermen. Berrios prevailed because white Democratic committeemen on the Northwest and Southwest sides delivered big. Overall, Berrios won 22 of 50 Chicago wards, and 17 of 30 suburban townships. Berrios for mayor? That's now a joke. If Berrios continues his pay-to-play antics, he'll be lucky to get re-elected as assessor in 2014. In the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District primary (D), the slate won. Full Article...
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