Local Elections Roundup *** Updated x1 ***
Thursday, Mar 1, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Does Natarus’s loss affect real estate?
Because of “aldermanic privilege,” the long-standing say over zoning that City Council members have in the wards they represent, Reilly can arm-twist design concessions from developers. His influence will be felt in such projects as the proposed 150-story lakefront “spire” by Santiago Calatrava and coming changes in the Loop’s Block 37.
* Natarus looks back on long career; defends record
* Natarus claims negative ads sunk his campaign
* Eric Zorn: Chicago duller without Natarus
But from everything he’s shown us, Reilly is unlikely to launch into windy soliloquies about “dog doo,” muse about why “Asian people, for someone reason or other, have a knack for numbers and figures,” issue a call for strip joints to post prices for “all services rendered” or otherwise serve as one of our town’s unofficial colorful characters, as he has for most of his 36 years in office.
* Daley downplays Election Day wins for labor
If union leaders were sending a message to City Hall about who will fill the political vacuum, Mayor Daley didn’t hear it. That’s even after labor spent more than $2 million, sent 20 mailings in some wards and put 2,000 pairs of boots on the ground on Election Day.
* Mark Brown: Voters seem happy with Daley, but will it last 4 more years?
* Cochran wins City Council seat in 20th ward
* Tidbits on city election results
* Editorial: Good election for unions, bad one for turnout
* Southwest side sets the turnout bar on election day
* One vote winner still cautious in 4th ward
* Kristin McQueary: Jackson on Sandi’s win, in own words
* Editorial: Too busy to vote? Too bad for you
* St. Charles mayoral candidates face run off
*** UPDATE *** Davlin won all 10 wards in practice run vs. Strom
- Pat Hickey - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 10:30 am:
Why does the Chicago press insist on using the plural ‘Unions’ when it is refering to SEIU?
This is and has been misleading journalism since the Big Box Burp in a Windstorm. Old Goose Guts Joe is Mr. SEIU and he’s in big old run-off.
Courtney Greve in her Daily Southtown points to real success at the polls - meeting your obligation as a voter - that is not artficial grassroots.
- Rosh - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 11:50 am:
Because union heads lack even a rudimentary understanding of economics, unions becoming too powerful is quite dangerous for the city. That is, unless Chicago wants to become another Detroit where unions have run things for seventy years. How is that going? Uber-powerful unions and a thriving business climate don’t go together. You have to pick which one you prefer.
- Pat Hickey - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:08 pm:
Rosh,
Unions = Plural the only Union being talked about is SEIU . Where are the Plumbers, Pipefitters, Engineers, Carpenters, . .. & etc.
Andy Stern has done a complete Bill Maher on the local media. It is goofy that SEIU claims power, where it has very little and gets way too much credit for having much influence at all.
The media continues to shoot more crap than a broken toilet.
- Garp - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 12:44 pm:
Well, I just watched the clip of Natarus blaming negative ads for his undoing and then the interview with Reilly who promptly blamed it on an ad agency and said he didn’t know about them till they were mailed out.
It looks to me like Reilly is a weasel who can’t even take the responsibility for his own campaign. Nothing like making your first interview as alderman elect a lie to the voter exercise.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:03 pm:
Garp, you didn’t pay attention. That was an SEIU mailer that Burton was complaining about. Before you accuse someone of lying or being a “weasel” - and I don’t care who it is - get your simple facts straight.
Please check the red text below for the warning about “excessively rabid comments” and “gratuitous insults.” Your comment falls right into that category. I should have just deleted you.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:04 pm:
Also, I posted that very mailer right here on the blog.
- Pat Hickey - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:07 pm:
Reilly is too smart to pull a stunt like that; Burton imploded all on his own, but SEIU will take credit - beyond me.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:17 pm:
Here is the mailer that Natarus was whining about…
Front
Back
Maybe he shouldn’t have accepted the feds’ immunity offer and the mailer would never have been sent.
- Squideshi - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:28 pm:
I want more information about how these unions make their endorsements. What criteria is used, and who actually makes the decision?
- i d - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 2:49 pm:
I don’t have a dog in this hunt, but this is my impartial opinion regarding the elections in Springfield. Are people going to vote for the star quarterback or the treasurer of the math club.
- True Observer - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 3:39 pm:
If what the mailer says is true, then why is Reilly apologizing?
Unless, he’s planning on heading in the same direction.
- JIM SMITH - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 6:59 pm:
Rich Gordon in 2011.
- HappyToaster - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 9:31 pm:
That St Charles is the one in Missouri.