November 24, 2010
THERE AIN'T NO PIÑATAS TO WHACK IN NW SIDE ALDERMANIC RACES
There ain't no piñatas. At Mexican festivals, blindfolded children use a stick to whack the clay receptacle. In Chicago, voters get to take a whack at their alderman every four years. 2011 is the next opportunity. But, in the Northwest Side's 41st, 45th, 38th and 36th wards, their ain't nobody to whack. Longtime aldermanic incumbents Doherty, Levar, Allen and Banks, respectively, have or are retiring. That means upcoming races won't be a referendum on the incumbent, but rather a choice among successors. Huge fields have already filed in each ward. The most surprising development was in the 45th Ward, where Levar, after circulating petitions, quit and endorsed an obscure union official. In the 38th Ward, the Cullerton Clan lives on. In the 36th Ward, Banks' driver and chief of staff faces a lot of competitors. And in the 41st Ward, Doherty has already been whacked, losing his state senate bid; he's retiring. All the races are analyzed. Full Article...
November 17, 2010
"SANCTUARY CITY" (CHICAGO) FUELS WINS BY QUINN, BERRIOS
Don't call Chicago the "Windy City," or even the "Windbag City." The Nov. 2 election results now make Chicago the "Sanctuary City." Liberal cities like San Francisco give sanctuary to illegal aliens. Chicago gives sanctuary to reprobates, rapscallions, and flawed, stupid and/or corrupt Democratic politicians. In any other political environment, the likes of Rod Blagojevich and Todd Stroger would cause their political party to be reviled and repudiated. Not in Chicago and Cook County. Despite the Democrats' odor and mendacity, voters are indifferent. In the governor's race, Pat Quinn's 399,533-vote margin in Chicago insured his election; he led Bill Brady (R) statewide by about 19,000 votes. In Chicago's black wards, Quinn trounced Brady by 263,386 votes. Quinn won Cook County by 498,987 votes. Downstate, Brady won with 63.1%, and carried the collar counties by 160,000 votes -- just not quite enough to win. Mark Kirk got 90,000 more votes than Brady, and won the Senate race. Abortion was Brady's silver bullet. In the county assessor's race, the black vote put Joe Berrios over the top. Independent Forrest Claypool was clobbered in the black wards and townships. There are some surprising developments in Chicago's 45th and 38th wards. Full Article...
November 10, 2010
DEMOCRATS' $800,000 BUYS NW SIDE SENATE SEAT
On Chicago's Northwest Side, the 3-D worked -- demonization, Daley and dollars. In the 10th state senate district, the favored Brian Doherty (R) lost to appointed incumbent John Mulroe (D) by 5,840 votes (55.3%). The principal reason: Springfield Democrats (meaning Senate President John Cullerton) spent $800,000 to demonize Doherty, a 19-year Chicago alderman, tying him to Mayor Daley and the litany of ills which beset the city. Plus, Democratic committeemen in the 45th, 38th and 36th wards produced solid margins for Mulroe. In Doherty's 41st Ward, where he expected -- and needed -- a margin in excess of 3,200 votes, Doherty won by an anemic 1,040 votes, and in the 29 suburban precincts, Doherty won by 436 votes, not his anticipated 1,000. Mulroe, also from the 41st Ward, campaigned heavily in his base. An off-the-radar issue was abortion, which Doherty opposes, and Mulroe supports. Personal PAC mailed heavily to district pro-choicers. In the assessor's race, "Independent" Forrest Claypool ran excedingly well in the area -- demonstrating an independent, anti-Machine base. If voters didn't want an income tax hike, they kept it secret, as Pat Quinn buried Bill Brady, even in the 41st Ward. A Northwest Side vote chart with ward-by-ward results is attached to this article. Full Article...
November 3, 2010
IT'S A DONE DEAL. CAN YOU SAY "MAYOR EMANUEL"?
It ain't over until it's over. That trite cliché applies to both sports and politics. Message to Chicagoans: The 2011 mayoral election is over. The deal is done. The fix is in. Can you say "Mayor Rahm Emanuel"? Tom Dart and Bob Fioretti are both out of the race. Lisa Madigan is still pondering, as is Ed Burke. The black field includes Rev. James Meeks, Rickey Hendon and Carol Moseley Braun; the Hispanic field includes Gery Chico and Miguel del Valle. There's no Harold Washington-like contender in that bunch. Emanuel has already raised $3.7 million, and has locked up support from every Northwest Side Democratic committeeman. His close tie to Obama is not a severe disadvantage. As the only credible white, he's sure to make the runoff, and will win easily. Dart will get his reward for folding -- either the U.S. Attorney's spot, a federal judgeship, or county state's attorney (with incumbent Anita Alvarez appointed to the federal bench). Emanuel ran unimpressively on the NW Side in his 2002 congressional primary, barely eclipsing half the vote in area wards. There was resistance then, and there will be resistance now. But it's more than probable that Chicago will have its first Jewish mayor, and he won't govern with a velvet glove. Full Article...
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