That unions deployed all the financial and human resources to turn back the public sector union reforms in Wisconsin and appeared to have come up short.
Wow. Rice losing was a significant slap in the face to former Ald. Banks. And your comment about Rahm is spot on. First he gets a landslide victory for Mayor and now a very compliant council. King Richard never had it so good in his first term. Although defeated Ald. Stone may have said it in anger after his loss, but his “Emperor Emmanuel” label for Rahm might also be spot on. It is gonna be fun in Chicago watching this political drama unfold over the next few weeks.
Rahm backed a few losers, Lyle and Rice. He didn’t endorse Cappleman or Smith either, and they will be independents. Not that great of a showing in my opinion. Let’s not forget the weakness of the mayoral field in February. Rahm mandate is a overstated.
36th ward: One win doesn’t make a King, however Nick Sposato’s win over the Deleo, Banks, Saviano, Harmon, Silvestri, and Calabrese crew was huge. Nick will represent the ward in a upstanding way. The only thing I’m concerned with is prehaps Nick doesn’t understand what the win represents.
The Stocks-Smith campaign train wreck shows how bad a campaign that Durbin’s people ran in thier hometown. Shiela got 19% in the primary and only managed to get 21% in the general while Houston went from 32% to 47%.
The School District 15 race was amazing. The teacher supported incumbants were thrown out by unknowns. In Palatine the taxpayers have finally woke up. We can’t afford it anymore.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:32 am:
The City of Highland Park turned down a $133 million bond issue request by their High School by a solid margin. Usually Highland Parkers are pleased to vote in favor of such referendums.
Heavily Democratic Highland Park turn down a tax increase? Wow!
Brendan Reilly’s proteges didn’t fare too well. Phelan seemed a toss up and she kinda got it handed to her. And Egan probably should have won. Jasper may have been right about Egan as a candidate largely lacking in substance, but he had a tremendous resource advantage in the runoff and darn near every endorsement.
Come to think of it, Hinz and Carol Marin exposing the policy slalom that got him those endorsements might have meant the difference.
I was actually surprised that the machine politics did not pull through for Phelan in the 46 Ward and that Cappleman won by a strong margin. I attribute it to his active 12-year history in the Ward resulting in significant name recognition and the backing of Ward favorites such as Emily Stewart, Heather Steans, and Jan Schakowsky.
One thing I have learned about Chicago/Illinois politics are following it for a few years now. The ones who shouldn’t either stay in or get in do. I feel this way about some of the ward election. I saw a video of Toni Foulkes and thought she shouldn’t remain on the city council and guess what she’s still an Alderman. What’s up with that 15th Ward.
Other than that there weren’t too many surprises. Let’s see what the makeover of the city council results.
–The City of Highland Park turned down a $133 million bond issue request by their High School by a solid margin.–
$133 million? Were they going to put a dome over the school — a real nice one? Are the kids going to have to park their Benzes outside now? When it rains?
Sen. Durbin has an amazing staff. However, if the cadidate isn’t in touch with the people, there is only so much you can do. It was not expected that Sheila would win, and she didn’t. You might want to think harder about the candidate before you go blaming hard working staffers for a loss. And no, I do not work there, I just know them all very well.
Word, LOL. If I have read correctly, we live in the same quaint village. We were one of the few ‘burbs to approve a referendum, despite a late push from local libertarians.
A Park District commissioner who skipped a scandalous pool party has defeated a challenger who was in the pool where a young politician later was found dead.
But whether a write-in challenger defeated a candidate who recently died won’t be known for possibly two weeks.
Sposato….epic. Arena up on Garrido. Rahm backing losers. The media doing their usual just mostly cover the lakefront dance. were there cameras in Sposato’s victory location? phoning people I thought would be more in line with Banks/DeLeo, the talk was that a message was being sent. wow, an actual Italian name in the ward seat!
I’m surprised to see a recount in the 45th ward. It’s unusual to have two really good candidates and to have a difference of only 29 votes out of more than 12,000 cast.
==That unions deployed all the financial and human resources to turn back the public sector union reforms in Wisconsin and appeared to have come up short.==
Oh, that’s far from over. The latest reports say that with 5 precincts left, Kloppenburg is up by 447 votes (out of 1.5 million). Yeah, there’ll be a recount, but it only takes one vote…
—I was actually surprised that the machine politics did not pull through for Phelan in the 46 Ward and that Cappleman won by a strong margin. I attribute it to his active 12-year history in the Ward resulting in significant name recognition and the backing of Ward favorites such as Emily Stewart, Heather Steans, and Jan Schakowsky. —
Dear Cappleman Staffer,
You won… stop spaming comment sections and take the day off man. Furthermore, I attribute his victory to his three pieces of lit that misled voters into thinking that he had the backing of Rahm (who stayed out of the race). An army of troops from the west side of the 2nd ward (Ald. Fioretti) decended on my neighborhood so I don’t really know what is more “machine-ish” than that.
Elsewhere, a recount in the 45th will be interesting. There are still 70 absentee ballots outstanding as well. I don’t think Garrido can cover though and avoid Republican extinction from the city council.
Hardly a big surprise, but there are now officially no Republicans on the Chicago City Council.
Granted, Doherty had been a pretty weak one at best. But his staffer lost yesterday and so did Garrido. Both seemed to run away from the R label in any case in the nonpartisan election.
Going to have to disagree with Tom B re the 46th ward. The noisiness of its residents might indicate it was a close race but the smell of desperation, particularly close to Tuesday, was coming from one camp and it wasn’t Cappleman.
If we’re talking margins I’d say the 36th or 50th is a better example of the unexpected.
One thing that struck me was the wide gap in total votes cast by ward. In the 41st Ward, more than 14,000 votes were cast. In the 15th and 16th Wards, only about 3,500-3,600 votes were cast.
5 wards had 6,000 or fewer total votes, and they were mainly African-American wards on the south side. 25 and 38, a Latino and White ward respectively, had more than 7,000 votes cast and the remaining wards (36, 43, 45, 46 and 50) all were above 9,000.
Now part of that is due to lost population in some wards, and part is due to the quality of the candidates/campaigns (or lack thereof). But at the end of the day, a candidate who lost in the 41st Ward still won more votes than 2 or 3 winning Aldermen combined.
I guess my point is that I’m surprised one ward can have 10,000 more votes cast than another ward in a head-to-head run-off election in the same city.
The Sheila Stocks-Smith loss showed two things, in my opinion. First, familiarity ruled the day and Mike Houston overwhelmed his three opponents. Second, voters in Springfield actually paid attention and noted that SSS received a lot of money from people well outside Springfield. Voters were right to wonder why SSS received those large donations and whether she would be owe these donors anything. It’s a fair question and a fair reason for her losing so badly. Durbin went for who he thought would be best candidate to support and his gamble went awry. Big deal. It happens all the time.
Looking north…disappointed in low turnout in Milwaukee. It seems that minorities were either overlooked in GOTV efforts or failed to find a common cause with the Dane County Democrats. There seems to be a disconnect. Imagine if just one thousand more voters turn out in the minority wards in Mlwaukee.
Great observations. As a city dweller and one more closely in tune with the tidal flows in the City, can you draw any conclusions or promote any theories as to why things occurred as they did? Do these results dovetail with the discussions we had last week about the census data?
It wasn’t Durbin’s campaign staff, except anyone that had urged the Senator to endorse Shelia Stocks-Smith. She had the wrong profile (community organizer) for the job. Huston was experienced and well established in Springfield. He ran a good campaign, and won against two well funded candidates.
Yes, I think it’s clear that the census declines are going to hit wards like 15 and 16 pretty hard. That part of the city includes Englewood, which has lost population and has some serious challenges that stem from deep poverty.
In a new map, I think we might see fewer high majority African American wards than the current map. That shouldn’t mean there would be fewer AA Alderman, simply that some new wards will be pluralistic and with no racial or ethnic advantage, the best candidates will win regardless of race. That’s probably wishful thinking on my part though. This is still Chicago.
I’m trying to avoid assuming that voters in low turnout wards don’t care as much about their city and their neighborhood as those voters in higher turnout wards. Again, part of it is the candidates and the local issues. Part of it is the resources of the campaigns and the media attention to the races. But I never understand why people don’t vote and always am curious about that.
“That shouldn’t mean there would be fewer AA Alderman, simply that some new wards will be pluralistic and with no racial or ethnic advantage, the best candidates will win regardless of race.”
As it should be, but won’t that run counter to the majority-minority districting requirements established in law?
Do you know how turnout compares to past local election turnout? Are the percentage trends down, up or flat?
Michael McAuliffe should not invest in any more houses where he is, as Michael Madigan will see the Doherty and Gavin loses as an opportunity to gobble up another seat in the IL House, and to keep Skip Saviano busy defending his friend’s seat, if it gets to that, which it will.
The Northwest Side Truce is now:
Roger McAullife - passed, but Michael has taken the mantle and is still in the seat.
Ralph Caparelli - Gone, kid tries and fails … no “organization” to lose to O’Connor or fend her off.
William “J.P” Banks - Retired by choice, didn’t carry Rahm, didn’t carry his heir to the seat … hadn’t carried any of his endorsements in 3-4 cycles.
Donald E. Stephens - passed, Bradley Stephens takes the reigns of the powerful Leyden organization, but the organization is a “money” organization now, and less an “army” on the streets.
Bradley works on gaming, spreads political “heavey-lifting to Jack Dorgan/Peter Silvestri/Skip Saviano …
Skip Saviano/Peter Silvestri - Elmwood Park’s dynamic duo are now in promenent positions in Illinois and Cook County, and with Bradley Stephens not being “like the Old Man”, they have gone off the reservation often, leaving any or all parts of the Truce exposed unlike any time when the “Old Man” was in charge.
Brian Doherty/Michael McAuliffe - Once the “dragon slayer” of “the old Roman” Roman’s was weak and feeble and Doherty, with Roger McAullife had the Republican outpost the allowed a Walter Dudycz to exist WITHIN that Truce witout being a cog in its unning of the Truce. Doherty went against all wisdom, and in hindsight, cost him what was left of the Roger McAuliffe Outpost. Bradley Stephens, Peter Silvestri, and Skip Saviano could very well sleep easier now, not having to guard the flank Roger’s death left. Doherty became the “emperor without any clothes” and Gavin made sure the message was delivered, clearly and soundly.
So,
Michael McAuliffe is allone, yet with Pete, Skip, Bradley and Jack Dorgan, but the Truce required that the Republicans WERE a threat to Banks, DeLeo, Caparelli …
Mary O’Connor is not scared to take them on … as she is packing up boxes to move to 121 N. LaSalle, so I do not think they are going to spook her anytime soon … DeLeoo and Banks are going to take their pensions, and thank the Truce for the lenght of those pension …and Michael McAuliffe will have to wait, and watch .. as a new map will define his life more than being sworn-in in a parking lot after his father’s death.
That is what happened in the 41st Ward last night.
The Nortwest Side Truce - is offically, and unquestionably … over
@ Anon at 10:30 AM
Cappleman’s margin did surprise me. As a 46th Warder myself, I did not see any Molly presence at all beyond a few pollwatchers at all in Lakeview. James ran a classy campaign, and people in conversation were talking about how turned off they were by Molly’s flyers for being so negative and rude. The 46th Ward is a very intellectual place, and people saw beyond the smears and bs.
Also what surprised me was the fact that Ald. Rice went down at all, and the margin Ald. Stone went down by. It was a shocker!
RMP:
You really don’t think Cappelman’s people enaged in smears?
Suggesting that the other side was biased against gays?
Personal insults directed against Phelan’s campaign manager’s wife?
Telling people that Phelan was a Republican?
Flyers strongly suggesting he was endorsed by Rahm and Preckwinkle?
Cappelman got into the dirt and did what he thought needed to be done to get elected. I definitely have to admire it. Hopefully he will bring that same toughness to City Hall to stand up for the people of people of the ward.
I would only add that it demonstrates what pathetic shape the IL GOP is in when you’ve got guys like Saviano and Stephens still running the show to a large extent.
Where did anyone attack the campaign manager’s wife in the 46th ward? Actually said “campaign manager” never got that title likely because of his online silliness that was outed.
Now there were suggestions that Phelan ran a homophobic campaign and the wife of the “campaign manager” jumped into the online fray to defend him. I think those suggestions were wrong, but the “tin ear” of Campaign Phelan brought them on with their stupid moves. Saying Cappleman wanted to spend the ward menu money on planters while she wanted to hire cops……..please. You can’t use menu money to hire cops and she didn’t even know that.
Also I have a moderate suspicion that the words people were using online to describe Cappleman such as meek, weak, wimp etc were part of talking points put out by Campaign Phelan. I could be wrong.
Anyway the truth is even if Phelan had run a perfect campaign she was unlikely to beat Cappleman. His support in the ward was deeper.
What really cost her any chance of winning was getting the open support of guys like Terry O’Brien and Ed Burke. Was it really worth the votes it cost her to take $1500 from Burke?
one other thing. Phelan got into the dirt before Cappleman. Weeks before. Her flyers suggesting he wanted to close all homeless shelters in the city and shelters for battered women were just evil. People can check out Uptown Update last week to see the flyers. Vile stuff.
===I would only add that it demonstrates what pathetic shape the IL GOP is in when you’ve got guys like Saviano and Stephens still running the show to a large extent.===
Remember, the “Truce” is/was never about being a Republican or Democrat, Italian or Irishman …
“The Truce” was about Feifdoms, and about power, the fact that each side had to be behind a party label was to make it wasier than to say I am on Side A or Side B.
The fact that the party labels were irrelevent to the power everyone was trying to hold …WAS what made THAT “Truce” so unique.
That is why I didn’t go down the “state of the ILGOP” road.
As has been pointed out by several others, Rahm Emanuel did back a few losing aldermanic candidates, plus he did not take an active role in a couple of wards where run-offs were held. I am not one hundred percent positive that Emanuel will be able to dictate to the council as often and as easily as Daley did. I think that Rahm may be tested until he proves himself. If he does that some more of the aldermen will fall into line.
“Granted, Doherty had been a pretty weak one at best. But his staffer lost yesterday and so did Garrido. Both seemed to run away from the R label in any case in the nonpartisan election.”
Ald Brendan Reilly’s failure to build a “Madigan” system in the City. He needs to rethink strategies to gain influence. Phone banks and mailers just don’t cut it.
In the few races I followed, I was surprised that the candidates who went negative the most actually lost. I guess that is because turn out was so incredibly low, meaning the type of voter who is easily convinced by negative campaigning didn’t vote.
If you’re surprised that Stone lost by such a big margin, you aren’t paying attention. Stone’s votes were the same percentage both in the primary and yesterday (38%). The guy has been neglecting the majority of his ward for years, and campaigned that “he wasn’t going to raise our taxes” while bragging that he supported the parking meter deal. Not sure if Debra Silverstein will be any better, but at least Stone is gone. Us 50th ward folks just got tired of never getting a pothole fixed (even when we called about it 15 times), vacant retail (when Joe Moore in the 49th just to the east revitalized Morse Avenue in the midst of a recession) and a guy who fell asleep in City Council meetings instead of represented us downtown.
Interesting that “Irish Pirate” would complain about things negative.
Somebody by that same name made a series of obnoxious posts on websites, concerning that race. Not funny. Not entertaining. A very poor reflection on Capplenman and the fact that he never denounced people like IP says a lot about the tactics that he prefers. He’s definitely willing to get in the mud and mix it up. Hopefully that will work for the ward.
Jasper - you have no idea what you’re talking about. Cappleman had to denounce an anonymous internet pirate? Please. Try to meet James Cappleman; you may actually like him and what he is going to do with the ward.
JC’s suppporters are making wild accusations against his opponent, and rude comments about the campaign manager’s wife, and he has no obligation to say anything?
No, that’s not the case. Any candidate has an obligation to put the boot down on people acting like idiots in his name.
His campaign manager - using her own name - did “put the foot down” on Uptown Update. Don’t make accusations of inaction before getting your facts straight. Jasper, get over it, Molly lost. Now when does she pick up the pieces and move on?
Ryan Tozer race against Sam Cahnman was a shocker.
For a team of house republicans to lose this one is startling. They need to take serious consideration of how much they “know” about the constituents in the areas the run in. Cahnman was arrested for solicitation among many other well publicized issues. Tozer camp completely misread the locals and their ‘needs and wants’ Tozer and friends lost an easy win with a misguided campaign. Hopefully, it is a humbling experience for that team and they see the error in their judgments.
Based on the campaign they ran, I am guessing they think those dumb locals judge failed to understand how “smart” and “right” the Tozer team really was.
Actually, 46, I was not involved in that race all all. No dog in the fight. An interested outsider watching that one, 45, 43, and a few others. Nothing to get over. However, you JC people do seem pretty obsessed with clearing his name. Is there a reason? Is there now a realization that to outsiders this sure looks like a pretty dirty race? I was watching this one because it was interesting seeing the mud fling. And it sure did fling.
You had no “dog” in the race. That’s interesting since the putative “campaign manager” of Campaign Phelan used to post anonymously on Uptown Update using a canine name. He also denied having any direct interest in the race.
You seem to be very interested in three things in your comments at da Capitol Fax. Fioretti, Reilly and the 46th Ward. Interesting interests.
Now you completely ignored Phelan’s mailers saying Cappleman wanted to close all shelters in the city. You ignore her denial of knowing about such mailers and her refusal to criticize the push poll calls from FOP members some of which talked about Halsted Street and planters.
Also NO one attacked the almost campaign manager’s wife. She defended him in a comment and I, who you demand be denounced, actually said I didn’t think Campaign Phelan was purposefully running a homophobic campaign.
As you can see Cappleman’s winning campaign manager stepped in and asked people to tone it down.
I denounce you for being an obfuscator of biblical proportions.
Phelan went negative early and often. Cappleman held back and went negative in the last week. His campaign was managed by professionals. Phelan’s………woof woof.
Now this is yesterday’s question, but if you want to keep fetching the ball for me in these comments let’s have at it.
Hmm, “no dog in the fight”, another person calling himself a dog, what can we conclude? Jasper must be in on this whole thing. Because, of course “no dog in the fight” is only used by people who call themselves dogs. Nobody else uses that term. Particuarly not outsiders who see two people fighting and want to come to watch.
But seriously, IP, you sound like Glenn Beck. Know who else talks about dogs, IP? Hitler!
And doing research to see what else I posted here? If you were wondering at what point you went from “Strong supporter of a candidate” to “crazed stalker”, that was it. Seriously, you have nothing better to do than review my old posts?
In any case, this discussion seems to have crossed the line that this blog has from “interested and at times spirited debate” to “weird conspiracy theories” so with this note, I’m out of this thread.
Actually I remembered your posts. I have that kind of memory. Also after I googled to confirm, which takes all of about 15 seconds, I decided to have some fun with your obfuscating self.
Now once Godwin’s law is invoked the conversation is essentially Kaput.
- Jasper - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 6:40 am:
John Rice losing big was a surprise.
I also thought Michelle Smith would win by a much bigger margin. Egan seemed like a pretty weak candidate.
And Rahm’s instincts seemed on. I don’t think he backed any losers.
- Downstate - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 6:51 am:
That unions deployed all the financial and human resources to turn back the public sector union reforms in Wisconsin and appeared to have come up short.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 6:54 am:
Pathetic voter turnout
- suburbanon - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 6:58 am:
Wow. Rice losing was a significant slap in the face to former Ald. Banks. And your comment about Rahm is spot on. First he gets a landslide victory for Mayor and now a very compliant council. King Richard never had it so good in his first term. Although defeated Ald. Stone may have said it in anger after his loss, but his “Emperor Emmanuel” label for Rahm might also be spot on. It is gonna be fun in Chicago watching this political drama unfold over the next few weeks.
- anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 7:03 am:
Rahm backed a few losers, Lyle and Rice. He didn’t endorse Cappleman or Smith either, and they will be independents. Not that great of a showing in my opinion. Let’s not forget the weakness of the mayoral field in February. Rahm mandate is a overstated.
- 36th Ward Chicago - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 7:40 am:
36th ward: One win doesn’t make a King, however Nick Sposato’s win over the Deleo, Banks, Saviano, Harmon, Silvestri, and Calabrese crew was huge. Nick will represent the ward in a upstanding way. The only thing I’m concerned with is prehaps Nick doesn’t understand what the win represents.
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 7:57 am:
No
Were U?
- Dirt Digger - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:06 am:
I’m surprised that Stone actually made a concession call. Beyond that, no; the runoffs were unsurprising.
- Dave Syverson - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:12 am:
What is surprising to me is this blog is so lame!
- Winfrey - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:16 am:
The Stocks-Smith campaign train wreck shows how bad a campaign that Durbin’s people ran in thier hometown. Shiela got 19% in the primary and only managed to get 21% in the general while Houston went from 32% to 47%.
Durbin needs to rethink his staff.
- Palatine - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:26 am:
The School District 15 race was amazing. The teacher supported incumbants were thrown out by unknowns. In Palatine the taxpayers have finally woke up. We can’t afford it anymore.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:32 am:
The City of Highland Park turned down a $133 million bond issue request by their High School by a solid margin. Usually Highland Parkers are pleased to vote in favor of such referendums.
Heavily Democratic Highland Park turn down a tax increase? Wow!
- Lightning McQueen - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:35 am:
Brendan Reilly’s proteges didn’t fare too well. Phelan seemed a toss up and she kinda got it handed to her. And Egan probably should have won. Jasper may have been right about Egan as a candidate largely lacking in substance, but he had a tremendous resource advantage in the runoff and darn near every endorsement.
Come to think of it, Hinz and Carol Marin exposing the policy slalom that got him those endorsements might have meant the difference.
- Solomon - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:36 am:
I’m surprised we broke 10% turnout… Just barely.
- anon - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:37 am:
I was surprised by the margin of Bernie Stone’s defeat, and the level of apparent voter fraud in the 25th ward.
- anon - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 8:38 am:
Policy slalom…I love that.
- Freight Train - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:00 am:
There were some old and young political activist that one some of these seats. Maybe getting ready for that bigger run.
- ward 46 watcher - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:20 am:
I was actually surprised that the machine politics did not pull through for Phelan in the 46 Ward and that Cappleman won by a strong margin. I attribute it to his active 12-year history in the Ward resulting in significant name recognition and the backing of Ward favorites such as Emily Stewart, Heather Steans, and Jan Schakowsky.
- levois - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:22 am:
One thing I have learned about Chicago/Illinois politics are following it for a few years now. The ones who shouldn’t either stay in or get in do. I feel this way about some of the ward election. I saw a video of Toni Foulkes and thought she shouldn’t remain on the city council and guess what she’s still an Alderman. What’s up with that 15th Ward.
Other than that there weren’t too many surprises. Let’s see what the makeover of the city council results.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:26 am:
–The City of Highland Park turned down a $133 million bond issue request by their High School by a solid margin.–
$133 million? Were they going to put a dome over the school — a real nice one? Are the kids going to have to park their Benzes outside now? When it rains?
- Soooo... - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:30 am:
Winfrey:
Sen. Durbin has an amazing staff. However, if the cadidate isn’t in touch with the people, there is only so much you can do. It was not expected that Sheila would win, and she didn’t. You might want to think harder about the candidate before you go blaming hard working staffers for a loss. And no, I do not work there, I just know them all very well.
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:32 am:
I was surprised that Stone was surprised by the results. Actually, that shouldn’t be surprising.
Lyle losing was a mild surprise. Solis won by a larger margin than I would have guessed.
- Bill F. - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:34 am:
Word, LOL. If I have read correctly, we live in the same quaint village. We were one of the few ‘burbs to approve a referendum, despite a late push from local libertarians.
- Dooley Dudright - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:35 am:
The Great Illinois Political Pulp Novel.
Page 1: It was a dark and stormy night.
Nah. Try again.
A Park District commissioner who skipped a scandalous pool party has defeated a challenger who was in the pool where a young politician later was found dead.
But whether a write-in challenger defeated a candidate who recently died won’t be known for possibly two weeks.
Actually — this is a true story today out of Blue Island. Read all about it: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/4667591-417/pool-party-sinks-bi-parks-commissioner.html)
- Deep South - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:37 am:
Not surprised Carbondale has a new mayor…the incumbent didn’t run.
A bit surprised the winner is Fritzler…but in my mind all the candidates were top notch.
The big surprise…the number of votes for the winner - 895. Talk about low turnout.
- amalia - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 9:51 am:
Sposato….epic. Arena up on Garrido. Rahm backing losers. The media doing their usual just mostly cover the lakefront dance. were there cameras in Sposato’s victory location? phoning people I thought would be more in line with Banks/DeLeo, the talk was that a message was being sent. wow, an actual Italian name in the ward seat!
- 45th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:15 am:
I’m surprised to see a recount in the 45th ward. It’s unusual to have two really good candidates and to have a difference of only 29 votes out of more than 12,000 cast.
- Tom B. - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:19 am:
I wasn’t surprised by too much yesterday. The margin of Phelan and Cappleman was probably the most unexpected thing out of the results.
- Tim - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:24 am:
==That unions deployed all the financial and human resources to turn back the public sector union reforms in Wisconsin and appeared to have come up short.==
Oh, that’s far from over. The latest reports say that with 5 precincts left, Kloppenburg is up by 447 votes (out of 1.5 million). Yeah, there’ll be a recount, but it only takes one vote…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:30 am:
—I was actually surprised that the machine politics did not pull through for Phelan in the 46 Ward and that Cappleman won by a strong margin. I attribute it to his active 12-year history in the Ward resulting in significant name recognition and the backing of Ward favorites such as Emily Stewart, Heather Steans, and Jan Schakowsky. —
Dear Cappleman Staffer,
You won… stop spaming comment sections and take the day off man. Furthermore, I attribute his victory to his three pieces of lit that misled voters into thinking that he had the backing of Rahm (who stayed out of the race). An army of troops from the west side of the 2nd ward (Ald. Fioretti) decended on my neighborhood so I don’t really know what is more “machine-ish” than that.
Elsewhere, a recount in the 45th will be interesting. There are still 70 absentee ballots outstanding as well. I don’t think Garrido can cover though and avoid Republican extinction from the city council.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:39 am:
I see Bernie Stone stayed classy til the end.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:45 am:
Hardly a big surprise, but there are now officially no Republicans on the Chicago City Council.
Granted, Doherty had been a pretty weak one at best. But his staffer lost yesterday and so did Garrido. Both seemed to run away from the R label in any case in the nonpartisan election.
- Dirt Digger - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:45 am:
Going to have to disagree with Tom B re the 46th ward. The noisiness of its residents might indicate it was a close race but the smell of desperation, particularly close to Tuesday, was coming from one camp and it wasn’t Cappleman.
If we’re talking margins I’d say the 36th or 50th is a better example of the unexpected.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:46 am:
Still angry about Ryan Tozer losing to Sam Cahnman…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 10:52 am:
“Durbin needs to rethink his staff.”
No, they needed to rethink their candidate choice.
- Conservative Veteran - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:09 am:
I’m surprised that John Garrido lost. He’ll request a recount, since he lost by 29 votes.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:19 am:
One thing that struck me was the wide gap in total votes cast by ward. In the 41st Ward, more than 14,000 votes were cast. In the 15th and 16th Wards, only about 3,500-3,600 votes were cast.
5 wards had 6,000 or fewer total votes, and they were mainly African-American wards on the south side. 25 and 38, a Latino and White ward respectively, had more than 7,000 votes cast and the remaining wards (36, 43, 45, 46 and 50) all were above 9,000.
Now part of that is due to lost population in some wards, and part is due to the quality of the candidates/campaigns (or lack thereof). But at the end of the day, a candidate who lost in the 41st Ward still won more votes than 2 or 3 winning Aldermen combined.
I guess my point is that I’m surprised one ward can have 10,000 more votes cast than another ward in a head-to-head run-off election in the same city.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:25 am:
The Sheila Stocks-Smith loss showed two things, in my opinion. First, familiarity ruled the day and Mike Houston overwhelmed his three opponents. Second, voters in Springfield actually paid attention and noted that SSS received a lot of money from people well outside Springfield. Voters were right to wonder why SSS received those large donations and whether she would be owe these donors anything. It’s a fair question and a fair reason for her losing so badly. Durbin went for who he thought would be best candidate to support and his gamble went awry. Big deal. It happens all the time.
- truthteller - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:25 am:
The only surprise here was to learn that Fioretti has an “army of troops” i.e. anon 10:30 am. What the Cappleman?
- Southside - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:28 am:
Looking north…disappointed in low turnout in Milwaukee. It seems that minorities were either overlooked in GOTV efforts or failed to find a common cause with the Dane County Democrats. There seems to be a disconnect. Imagine if just one thousand more voters turn out in the minority wards in Mlwaukee.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:47 am:
47th,
Great observations. As a city dweller and one more closely in tune with the tidal flows in the City, can you draw any conclusions or promote any theories as to why things occurred as they did? Do these results dovetail with the discussions we had last week about the census data?
- Louis Howe - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 11:54 am:
It wasn’t Durbin’s campaign staff, except anyone that had urged the Senator to endorse Shelia Stocks-Smith. She had the wrong profile (community organizer) for the job. Huston was experienced and well established in Springfield. He ran a good campaign, and won against two well funded candidates.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:01 pm:
Thanks Cinci,
Yes, I think it’s clear that the census declines are going to hit wards like 15 and 16 pretty hard. That part of the city includes Englewood, which has lost population and has some serious challenges that stem from deep poverty.
In a new map, I think we might see fewer high majority African American wards than the current map. That shouldn’t mean there would be fewer AA Alderman, simply that some new wards will be pluralistic and with no racial or ethnic advantage, the best candidates will win regardless of race. That’s probably wishful thinking on my part though. This is still Chicago.
I’m trying to avoid assuming that voters in low turnout wards don’t care as much about their city and their neighborhood as those voters in higher turnout wards. Again, part of it is the candidates and the local issues. Part of it is the resources of the campaigns and the media attention to the races. But I never understand why people don’t vote and always am curious about that.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
47th,
“That shouldn’t mean there would be fewer AA Alderman, simply that some new wards will be pluralistic and with no racial or ethnic advantage, the best candidates will win regardless of race.”
As it should be, but won’t that run counter to the majority-minority districting requirements established in law?
Do you know how turnout compares to past local election turnout? Are the percentage trends down, up or flat?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:25 pm:
===Do you know how turnout compares to past local election turnout? Are the percentage trends down, up or flat?===
No. I’m just a political geek, not a political science professor.
- Osewgo Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:41 pm:
Michael McAuliffe should not invest in any more houses where he is, as Michael Madigan will see the Doherty and Gavin loses as an opportunity to gobble up another seat in the IL House, and to keep Skip Saviano busy defending his friend’s seat, if it gets to that, which it will.
The Northwest Side Truce is now:
Roger McAullife - passed, but Michael has taken the mantle and is still in the seat.
Ralph Caparelli - Gone, kid tries and fails … no “organization” to lose to O’Connor or fend her off.
William “J.P” Banks - Retired by choice, didn’t carry Rahm, didn’t carry his heir to the seat … hadn’t carried any of his endorsements in 3-4 cycles.
Donald E. Stephens - passed, Bradley Stephens takes the reigns of the powerful Leyden organization, but the organization is a “money” organization now, and less an “army” on the streets.
Bradley works on gaming, spreads political “heavey-lifting to Jack Dorgan/Peter Silvestri/Skip Saviano …
Skip Saviano/Peter Silvestri - Elmwood Park’s dynamic duo are now in promenent positions in Illinois and Cook County, and with Bradley Stephens not being “like the Old Man”, they have gone off the reservation often, leaving any or all parts of the Truce exposed unlike any time when the “Old Man” was in charge.
Brian Doherty/Michael McAuliffe - Once the “dragon slayer” of “the old Roman” Roman’s was weak and feeble and Doherty, with Roger McAullife had the Republican outpost the allowed a Walter Dudycz to exist WITHIN that Truce witout being a cog in its unning of the Truce. Doherty went against all wisdom, and in hindsight, cost him what was left of the Roger McAuliffe Outpost. Bradley Stephens, Peter Silvestri, and Skip Saviano could very well sleep easier now, not having to guard the flank Roger’s death left. Doherty became the “emperor without any clothes” and Gavin made sure the message was delivered, clearly and soundly.
So,
Michael McAuliffe is allone, yet with Pete, Skip, Bradley and Jack Dorgan, but the Truce required that the Republicans WERE a threat to Banks, DeLeo, Caparelli …
Mary O’Connor is not scared to take them on … as she is packing up boxes to move to 121 N. LaSalle, so I do not think they are going to spook her anytime soon … DeLeoo and Banks are going to take their pensions, and thank the Truce for the lenght of those pension …and Michael McAuliffe will have to wait, and watch .. as a new map will define his life more than being sworn-in in a parking lot after his father’s death.
That is what happened in the 41st Ward last night.
The Nortwest Side Truce - is offically, and unquestionably … over
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:44 pm:
47th said,
“No. I’m just a political geek…”
Bwahahaha. I don’t restrict myself to political…
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:49 pm:
@ Anon at 10:30 AM
Cappleman’s margin did surprise me. As a 46th Warder myself, I did not see any Molly presence at all beyond a few pollwatchers at all in Lakeview. James ran a classy campaign, and people in conversation were talking about how turned off they were by Molly’s flyers for being so negative and rude. The 46th Ward is a very intellectual place, and people saw beyond the smears and bs.
Also what surprised me was the fact that Ald. Rice went down at all, and the margin Ald. Stone went down by. It was a shocker!
- Jasper - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
RMP:
You really don’t think Cappelman’s people enaged in smears?
Suggesting that the other side was biased against gays?
Personal insults directed against Phelan’s campaign manager’s wife?
Telling people that Phelan was a Republican?
Flyers strongly suggesting he was endorsed by Rahm and Preckwinkle?
Cappelman got into the dirt and did what he thought needed to be done to get elected. I definitely have to admire it. Hopefully he will bring that same toughness to City Hall to stand up for the people of people of the ward.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 1:00 pm:
A pretty decent summary by Oswego Willy.
I would only add that it demonstrates what pathetic shape the IL GOP is in when you’ve got guys like Saviano and Stephens still running the show to a large extent.
- IrishPirate - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 1:11 pm:
Where did anyone attack the campaign manager’s wife in the 46th ward? Actually said “campaign manager” never got that title likely because of his online silliness that was outed.
Now there were suggestions that Phelan ran a homophobic campaign and the wife of the “campaign manager” jumped into the online fray to defend him. I think those suggestions were wrong, but the “tin ear” of Campaign Phelan brought them on with their stupid moves. Saying Cappleman wanted to spend the ward menu money on planters while she wanted to hire cops……..please. You can’t use menu money to hire cops and she didn’t even know that.
Also I have a moderate suspicion that the words people were using online to describe Cappleman such as meek, weak, wimp etc were part of talking points put out by Campaign Phelan. I could be wrong.
Anyway the truth is even if Phelan had run a perfect campaign she was unlikely to beat Cappleman. His support in the ward was deeper.
What really cost her any chance of winning was getting the open support of guys like Terry O’Brien and Ed Burke. Was it really worth the votes it cost her to take $1500 from Burke?
- IrishPirate - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 1:13 pm:
Jasper,
one other thing. Phelan got into the dirt before Cappleman. Weeks before. Her flyers suggesting he wanted to close all homeless shelters in the city and shelters for battered women were just evil. People can check out Uptown Update last week to see the flyers. Vile stuff.
- Osewgo Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 1:36 pm:
Thanks, just sayin’ … however,
===I would only add that it demonstrates what pathetic shape the IL GOP is in when you’ve got guys like Saviano and Stephens still running the show to a large extent.===
Remember, the “Truce” is/was never about being a Republican or Democrat, Italian or Irishman …
“The Truce” was about Feifdoms, and about power, the fact that each side had to be behind a party label was to make it wasier than to say I am on Side A or Side B.
The fact that the party labels were irrelevent to the power everyone was trying to hold …WAS what made THAT “Truce” so unique.
That is why I didn’t go down the “state of the ILGOP” road.
Thanks for the kind words!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 2:36 pm:
Rich,
Who won the Caption Contest?
- Esquire - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
As has been pointed out by several others, Rahm Emanuel did back a few losing aldermanic candidates, plus he did not take an active role in a couple of wards where run-offs were held. I am not one hundred percent positive that Emanuel will be able to dictate to the council as often and as easily as Daley did. I think that Rahm may be tested until he proves himself. If he does that some more of the aldermen will fall into line.
- levois - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 2:51 pm:
“Granted, Doherty had been a pretty weak one at best. But his staffer lost yesterday and so did Garrido. Both seemed to run away from the R label in any case in the nonpartisan election.”
You saying they should’ve talked it up more?
- CLJ - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 2:52 pm:
Ald Brendan Reilly’s failure to build a “Madigan” system in the City. He needs to rethink strategies to gain influence. Phone banks and mailers just don’t cut it.
- Dirt Digger - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 3:12 pm:
Correction, CLJ: In-house phone banks and mailers don’t cut it.
- Not It - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
In the few races I followed, I was surprised that the candidates who went negative the most actually lost. I guess that is because turn out was so incredibly low, meaning the type of voter who is easily convinced by negative campaigning didn’t vote.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 4:02 pm:
I think there are still absentee & provisionals votes to be counted in the 45th so those results will change.
- CLJ - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 4:37 pm:
Thanks Dirt Digger. That’s what I meant.
- Cosdem - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 4:40 pm:
The nicest win was in Champaign where Birther Mayor Schweighert lost!
- 50th ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 4:52 pm:
If you’re surprised that Stone lost by such a big margin, you aren’t paying attention. Stone’s votes were the same percentage both in the primary and yesterday (38%). The guy has been neglecting the majority of his ward for years, and campaigned that “he wasn’t going to raise our taxes” while bragging that he supported the parking meter deal. Not sure if Debra Silverstein will be any better, but at least Stone is gone. Us 50th ward folks just got tired of never getting a pothole fixed (even when we called about it 15 times), vacant retail (when Joe Moore in the 49th just to the east revitalized Morse Avenue in the midst of a recession) and a guy who fell asleep in City Council meetings instead of represented us downtown.
- Jasper - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 5:03 pm:
Interesting that “Irish Pirate” would complain about things negative.
Somebody by that same name made a series of obnoxious posts on websites, concerning that race. Not funny. Not entertaining. A very poor reflection on Capplenman and the fact that he never denounced people like IP says a lot about the tactics that he prefers. He’s definitely willing to get in the mud and mix it up. Hopefully that will work for the ward.
- nah - Wednesday, Apr 6, 11 @ 6:08 pm:
Lyle losing was a surprise with Rahm, Burke, Cong. Rush and all the Unions and she still lost!!!
- 46 ward watchdog - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:29 am:
Jasper - you have no idea what you’re talking about. Cappleman had to denounce an anonymous internet pirate? Please. Try to meet James Cappleman; you may actually like him and what he is going to do with the ward.
- 46 ward watchdog - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:30 am:
Cosdem - that’s definitely a good thing!
- Jasper - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:35 am:
JC’s suppporters are making wild accusations against his opponent, and rude comments about the campaign manager’s wife, and he has no obligation to say anything?
No, that’s not the case. Any candidate has an obligation to put the boot down on people acting like idiots in his name.
- 46 ward watchdog - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:48 am:
His campaign manager - using her own name - did “put the foot down” on Uptown Update. Don’t make accusations of inaction before getting your facts straight. Jasper, get over it, Molly lost. Now when does she pick up the pieces and move on?
- wow - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:52 am:
Ryan Tozer race against Sam Cahnman was a shocker.
For a team of house republicans to lose this one is startling. They need to take serious consideration of how much they “know” about the constituents in the areas the run in. Cahnman was arrested for solicitation among many other well publicized issues. Tozer camp completely misread the locals and their ‘needs and wants’ Tozer and friends lost an easy win with a misguided campaign. Hopefully, it is a humbling experience for that team and they see the error in their judgments.
Based on the campaign they ran, I am guessing they think those dumb locals judge failed to understand how “smart” and “right” the Tozer team really was.
Anyone else have an opinion on this one?
- Jasper - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 8:55 am:
Actually, 46, I was not involved in that race all all. No dog in the fight. An interested outsider watching that one, 45, 43, and a few others. Nothing to get over. However, you JC people do seem pretty obsessed with clearing his name. Is there a reason? Is there now a realization that to outsiders this sure looks like a pretty dirty race? I was watching this one because it was interesting seeing the mud fling. And it sure did fling.
- 46 ward watchdog - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 9:03 am:
Jasper, relax. I just like both the man and Molly and don’t want silly people saying silly things that aren’t true.
- IrishPirate - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 11:54 am:
Jasper,
wah wah wah.
You had no “dog” in the race. That’s interesting since the putative “campaign manager” of Campaign Phelan used to post anonymously on Uptown Update using a canine name. He also denied having any direct interest in the race.
You seem to be very interested in three things in your comments at da Capitol Fax. Fioretti, Reilly and the 46th Ward. Interesting interests.
Now you completely ignored Phelan’s mailers saying Cappleman wanted to close all shelters in the city. You ignore her denial of knowing about such mailers and her refusal to criticize the push poll calls from FOP members some of which talked about Halsted Street and planters.
Also NO one attacked the almost campaign manager’s wife. She defended him in a comment and I, who you demand be denounced, actually said I didn’t think Campaign Phelan was purposefully running a homophobic campaign.
http://www.uptownupdate.com/2011/03/gay-chicago-magazine-phelan-picks-up.html
As you can see Cappleman’s winning campaign manager stepped in and asked people to tone it down.
I denounce you for being an obfuscator of biblical proportions.
Phelan went negative early and often. Cappleman held back and went negative in the last week. His campaign was managed by professionals. Phelan’s………woof woof.
Now this is yesterday’s question, but if you want to keep fetching the ball for me in these comments let’s have at it.
- Jasper - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 3:26 pm:
Hmm, “no dog in the fight”, another person calling himself a dog, what can we conclude? Jasper must be in on this whole thing. Because, of course “no dog in the fight” is only used by people who call themselves dogs. Nobody else uses that term. Particuarly not outsiders who see two people fighting and want to come to watch.
But seriously, IP, you sound like Glenn Beck. Know who else talks about dogs, IP? Hitler!
And doing research to see what else I posted here? If you were wondering at what point you went from “Strong supporter of a candidate” to “crazed stalker”, that was it. Seriously, you have nothing better to do than review my old posts?
In any case, this discussion seems to have crossed the line that this blog has from “interested and at times spirited debate” to “weird conspiracy theories” so with this note, I’m out of this thread.
- IrishPirate - Thursday, Apr 7, 11 @ 3:46 pm:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
Actually I remembered your posts. I have that kind of memory. Also after I googled to confirm, which takes all of about 15 seconds, I decided to have some fun with your obfuscating self.
Now once Godwin’s law is invoked the conversation is essentially Kaput.