Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Today’s mailer
Next Post: Northwestern to hold Netsch memorial service
Posted in:
* Sun-Times…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel had some big shoes to fill when he took over for Mayor Richard M. Daley when he was inaugurated as mayor in May 2011. But according to a study released by the University of Illinois-Chicago, the City Council has been more compliant with Rahm in his first two years than they were with Richard J. Daley during his first two years in office and more than Richard M. Daley had in his final two years in office. Dick Simpson, a political science professor at UIC and a former alderman (44th ward, 1971-1979), headed the study which looked at “30 divided roll call votes since the current City Council began in May, 2011.” (Grain of salt #1: even just one alderman dissenting is enough to categorize a vote as a “divided roll call.”)
Per a press release on the study: “According to the study, 21 aldermen voted to support Mayor Emanuel’s position 100% of the time and 18 aldermen voted with him over 90% of the time. Only seven of the 30 issues drew six or more dissenting votes.” The study follows up that the issue with the most dissent was Mayor Emanuel’s proposal to put cameras in “Children Safety Zones” around schools. That vote had 33 vote in favor and 14 dissent (three voted absent).
The study continues: “The average level of support for Mayor Emanuel was 93% on all divided roll call votes, an increase from the overwhelming 88% Richard M. Daley enjoyed in his last term. It was also greater than the 83% achieved by Richard J. Daley in his first two years in office, 1955-56, or the 85% support the ‘Boss’ received in 1971-72. Emanuel even topped Mayor Edward J. Kelly’s 88% support earned in 1939-40.”
Aldermen claim that they voted more often with the mayor because Mayor Emanuel was more willing to compromise with them than Mayor Daley had been. When aldermen pushed back on cuts to staff and library service hours in the 2012 budget battles, the mayor agreed to reduce the cuts. Or when the rules for NATO Summit protests were too draconian and aldermen objected, the mayor made the rules less restrictive. So some aldermen argue that they vote with the mayor more often because they are able to work out compromises behind the scenes.
Yet, in two years since the mayor and the city council were sworn in, there have been only 30 divided roll call votes. The number remains at about the same level as under Mayor Daley at about two a month. Historically, the number of divided roll call votes has ranged between 50-100 a year and peaked at 387 divided votes during Mayor Eugene Sawyer’s two years in office during the chaos that which followed Council Wars from 1987 – 1989.
And a chart…
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 10:59 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Today’s mailer
Next Post: Northwestern to hold Netsch memorial service
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Gotta love the “independent reformers.”
Comment by justbabs Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 11:10 am
You may ask yourself, am I right, am I wrong?
You may say to yourself, my god, what have I done? . . .
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Comment by Anonymour Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 11:12 am
More than a lifetime ..
Comment by anon for a reason Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 11:48 am
That’s a very well-paid rubber stamp. Strong Council/Weak Mayor form of government, indeed.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:03 pm
Arena in the 45th is the only one under 50%. Hope he has something else lined up, as Rahm will surely run someone against him next time.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:14 pm
I’m glad Pawar and the other “independent progressives” formed that Paul Douglas caucus or whatever it’s called to show their independence!!!
(roll eyes)
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:25 pm
So Fioretti is at 52%? I am surprised it is that high!
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:38 pm
“Arena in the 45th is the only one under 50%. Hope he has something else lined up, as Rahm will surely run someone against him next time.” - This is true but he’s also really popular in the ward and has a strong base of volunteers. He’ll almost surely be a target of Rahm but he’s no slouch campaign-wise and would likely receive quite a bit of union support.
Comment by Spagnost Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:56 pm
To put these records in context, they examined 30 contested votes in two years. The fact is, there aren’t a lot of contested votes in the Council and there never have been. Most things pass with nary a nay vote.
Aldermen vote on the minutiae of city government: permits, easements, signs, awnings, licenses, etc. The budget is the big vote, and maybe a handful of other “big” ordinances.
I need to review the list of votes to see whether this has any significance, but the bottom line for me is that Rahm, like Daley, gets his ducks in a row before the vote. That’s generally what successful mayors do.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:16 pm
47th, click on the chart and the whole pdf will open . Table 4 at the end is the list of votes and their descriptions.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:02 pm