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Local Elections Roundup

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* County ties firm’s pay to how fast it counts votes

* Huntley: Is Daley still at the helm - Nothing will change unless Chicago institutes term limits

* Simpson: Did election sink Daley - Vote marked the beginning of the end of the Daley era

* Defender: A “new day” shines on 7th Ward

If Sandi Jackson’s victory party Tuesday night is any indication of what’s to come, the 7th Ward is in for quite a change.

Jackson’s post-election soiree at the South Shore Cultural Center ballroom had all the trimmings of big time politics - a large stage; live band; deejay; red, white and blue balloons, and two cash bars.

* New downtown alderman: Developers will see changes - But they shouldn’t fear him, says man who beat Natarus

In an interview, Alderman-elect Brendan Reilly said builders can expect their plans to receive a deeper, perhaps lengthier public airing than was the case under the outgoing alderman, Burton Natarus, and hinted that they’ll be expected to help clear the way for additional green space and parking in the congested ward.

The goal is to “balance the needs of the business community, the tourism economy and residents,” Mr. Reilly said. “I want to be an objective representative who can build consensus around innovative solutions.” […]

Mr. Reilly said he soon will leave his post as Midwest vice-president of public relations for AT&T Inc., and does not expect to hold any other job during his term as alderman.

* Unexpected development - After Natarus, how does downtown real estate picture change?

Jack Guthman, a zoning attorney for leading developers, said he has met Reilly and thinks “he’s a balanced and thoughtful person” who will entertain reasonable discussions.

* Ald. Natarus Looks Back At Long, Colorful Career

* Natarus waxes proud in loss - 42nd Ward blossomed on alderman’s watch

* A brand new day - Labor unions flex a little of their old muscle, adding an interesting wrinkle to some of the 12 wards that will have runoff elections April 17

* Editorial: Good election for unions, but a bad one for turnout

* Labor thinks it sent message Election Day

* Tough cop’s new beat: 20th Ward - Cochran wins City Council seat

* Lane, Stewart In 18th Ward Runoff Race

* Editorial: Rugai coasts to win with city-best vote

* Legal experts cast doubt on Troutman’s election fraud claims

* Mitts and Smith are easily re-elected - Carothers race was uncontested in the 29th Ward

* 1-vote winner bides time in N. Chicago

* Davlin, McNeil call for change to primary

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 9:06 am

Comments

  1. “As it stands, said Dan Johnson-Weinberger, a lobbyist working with a ballot-access group called FairVote, municipal elections are so close together that if an overseas voter participates in a February primary, there’s no time for the general election ballot to be certified and sent to that voter.

    An “instant runoff ballot” would allow overseas voters to list their preferences for several candidates for an office. That general election ballot could then be sent back with the primary ballot and used in the runoff election.

    Davlin discussed the idea with Johnson-Weinberger last fall. A proposition on the April 17 ballot will ask city voters if the system should take hold in Springfield with the 2011 elections.”

    Instant Runoff Voting seems to be gaining ground in Illinois. SB439 actually came out of the Local Government Committee yesterday!

    Comment by Squideshi Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 9:39 am

  2. Does Dick Simpson have one of those bow-ties that spin real fast when he talks - or posts his musings! He’s in the right neighborhood - Whata Maroon!

    Does ANYONE ever recall Dorothy Tillman being refered to as ‘ Big Hats’ Tillman?\\AND Daley’s landslide Defeat signals an end to the War in Iraq as well as the Advent of . . .

    Dick what does it mean when ice melts? I got to stop by at Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap and see if their doing needle beer in that joint.

    Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 11:06 am

  3. Hmmm, interesting articles on Daley. Winning a sixth term would be a good time to bow out. But I don’t know we’ll have to see. And there is definitely a need for term limits in Chicago.

    Comment by Levois Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 11:27 am

  4. I was scolded pretty good yesterday about my comments regarding Reilly denying advance knowledge of negative literature about Natarus sent out by SEIU and I agree I was too rabid.

    But it has been my experience that campaigns are very rarely unaware of negative ads sent out for their benefit. They almost always are aware of the material before it goes out and have to at least give tacit approval. They use other organizations to give plausible deniability. I hate when candidates don’t take responsibility for their campaigns.

    Having said that, SEIU may very well be an exception to my theory because they seem to have their own agenda. If I was wrong and Reilly was truly blind sided I apologize. I find it unlikely his campaign was unaware of the negative ads until they were mailed out but I guess it is possible.

    Comment by Garp Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 12:09 pm

  5. Garp, you were “scolded” because you claimed those were Reilly’s own mailers.

    Anyway, let’s move on.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 12:26 pm

  6. Leftist Dick Simpson is hysterical. He has been obsessively predicting the demise of the Daleys for years to no avail. Unsuccessful in his decades long attempt to make Chicago politics resemble that of San Francisco, he seems to have given in completely to desperate delusion. He fancies himself as a noble voice speaking for the oppressed silent majority, kind of like one of Karl Marx’s wise men who have to teach the proletariat what’s best for them.

    Comment by Rosh Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 5:22 pm

  7. Rosh,

    Truth be told, Dick Simpson ain’t such a bad guy and he’s doing as he’s tasked; the Sun Times needs feed for the boutique citizens who run on the ‘Controversy’ mill and think that Carol Marin is really ‘cutting edge.’

    The Times has Frannie Spielman doing the heavy lifting and they have Neil Steinberg for everyone over fourteen.

    Here’s a question - How many Eric Zorn devotees and burners of incense to Kass do you think actually voted on Tuesday? Now there’s a poll.

    Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Mar 2, 07 @ 5:47 pm

  8. That’s great journalism there, Zorn. Natarus was raving mad and a terrible alderman but isn’t it a shame he won’t be giving you stories on slow news days.

    Comment by 42nd Ward Resident Monday, Mar 5, 07 @ 2:15 pm

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