58 Comments - Sen. Jeff Schoenberg - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:47 am: One of my favorite former IL Senate apprpriations staffers, UFCW #881 political director Marina Faz-Huppert, is running for 45th Ward alderman. - ZC - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:48 am: I believe Pat O’Connor (40th) emerged unscathed as well. My favorite candidate names this time around were Valencia “Mother Diva” Dantzler and Zdzislawa Popielarczyk (no offense to Poles; I just think that’s a great name, and I would love to see journalists have to spell Alderman Zdzislawa Popielarczyk on a regular basis). - Jo - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:49 am: Pat O’Connor is also running unopposed in the 40th. - under the bus - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:50 am: Why would Berrios help Schulter? Schulter backed Claypool against Berrios, doesn’t make sense. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:51 am: Roland and Danny Davis run for offices like other people buy Lotto tickets. Just hoping for lightning strikes. - just sayin' - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:51 am: My guess is Rahm’s tenant, Rob Halpin, has no idea what he’s getting in to. My sense is Meeks’ team is using him as a pawn to strengthen the residency case against Rahm, e.g., if another candidate lists that house as his residence, how could Rahm be a resident there? I think it’s too cute by half. Someone needs to pin down Meeks on all this. Are these kind of games and the using of a naive newbie the kind of thing a Baptist preacher should really be involved in? It’s ridiculous for Meeks to claim he’s not involved when his hired gun lawyer is directly involved. - just sayin' - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:54 am: “Junebug.” — Stewie - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:55 am: The appointment to the Berrios spot would be done by Judge Evans. if Tom O’Donnell is the candidate with the Schulter support, good thing. Tom is one of the all time nicest persons in the business, creating people who went on to good things, always in the background, never getting credit or positions that his talents truly deserve. that would be a campaign for all good people to support! - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 10:57 am: retribution away, Ald. Reilly. Corrigan is a puzzle, smart in ways, a real jerk in many other ways. - chief illiniwek - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:02 am: Corrigan has been the most unresponsive committeeman ever, until a few months ago. I get that it was election season– but he suddenly became responsive after being a total waste for the first 2 years in office. Any idea what he was circulating for or why he fell out with Reilly? I second Amalia– fire away, Brendan. - ivoted4judy - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:04 am: sure doesn’t look like there is a strong “anyone but Rahm” candidate on the entire Mayoral slate???? - Jasper - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:07 am: I heard Corrigan was circulating for City Clerk. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:09 am: Harry Osterman is running for Alderman? - shore - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:13 am: are there any republicans with a chance at any office we can support? bueller? - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:15 am: Schulter has backed so many losers in his ward in recent memory that I find it hard to believe none of my neighbors is ambitious enough to challenge him. O’Donnell is a nice guy, but he’s Gene’s lackey and always will be. Gene should just retire and do us all a favor. Tom, if Gene does endorse you for Alderman, remember, most of his endorsed candidates lose in 47. Watch out for a write-in. - Two cents - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:18 am: I sincerely hope that Schulter doesn’t get the appointment and has to run for re-election, and then loses. I have no use for Democratic committmeemen who refuse to support Democrats. When you accept (actually, seek) that role, you’re making a contract and he violated it. If he couldn’t support the Dem, he should’ve resigned as committeeman. I’ll do everything in my power to see him defeated and I know a LOT of folks that will join me. Same goes for O’Donnell - guilt by association. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:18 am: Phineas, the reason I didn’t mention that here is because I told subscribers about it months ago. - Statesman - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:20 am: 7th looks interesting. Beavers gave Jackson a run the last time around. 11th- Anyone know who John Kozlar is? Oh an the perennial gnat- Segvich. Alot of takers in 43, 45. Let’s see how many withstand challenge. - Johnknee - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:25 am: I agree with Twocents. You can add Fritchey and some other north side committeemen that also backed Claypool over the Democratic candidate. Sure like to see ole Fritch called out on that. - Skeeter - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:26 am: The two races that look interesting are City Clerk with Hendon’s person taking on Jackson and Mendoza, and 43rd Ward, with Balanoff, Smith, and Egan. Dan’s a nice guy, but I’m not sure how well the union ties will play in 43. Might be a big help or it might turn people off. - enn - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:27 am: What happens if Osterman wins the aldermanic race? Is there a special election for his state rep seat or is there an appointment? - Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:32 am: Phineas, Harry has been running for months, his signs have been around Edgewater and Uptown for a while. The 46th Ward will be a fun one to watch. 12 Candidates running as of now….. There is no clear front runner to replace Ald. Helen Shiller, though her forces are aligned with Marc Caplan. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:41 am: (The following is not a paid advirtisement.) I think when I get some extra funds next year, I will subscribe. This blog is a great resource. - These Games are BS - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:56 am: What’s going on in the 43rd with Reilly and Corrigan? Anyone know? - Edison Parker - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 11:59 am: Claypool lives in 47 and is well-loved there. He was going to win 47 no matter who Schulter backed. It’s like when the Speaker releases votes in borderline areas to vote against a bill. Schulter was released by Berrios to make it look good to the progressives in 47. - Jasper - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:02 pm: There is nothing going on in 43 relative to Corrigan/Reilly. 42 is another matter. I don’t really know all the details, but I heard that Corrigan was suggesting to people that he had Reilly’s support in his run for City Clerk. That just wasn’t the case. In addition, the way it played out was how a lot of things played out over the past few years — Corrigan said he was going to do something and then didn’t do it. - Jasper - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:06 pm: enn, There is an appointment. The Committemen of the wards involved have a weighted vote. - Daniel85 - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:20 pm: Wow, 46th ward is pretty crowded, anyone have predictions on who are the front runners here? - Wumpus - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:25 pm: just sayin, that Baptist Preacher is still a politician. He does not have to be involved. Perhaps the guy just knew what to do..it is not that hard to figure out. - Reality - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:39 pm: Listen, I’m no fan of Roland Burris but you have to admit the man has positioned himself to run in the circles of power. It really is quite remarkable if you just stop and look at it. I don’t know effective he has been but it is remarkable. - No hope with Pope - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:51 pm: Looks like the 10th Ward really has an opportunity for positive change with challenger Richard L. Martinez,Jr. A family man of faith, integrity and vision. Looks like Pope is up to his same old dirty tricks by putting up 3 rogue candidates to keep the 10th Ward divided (Nasella, Carr & Leon). Time to close the book on the old 10th Ward Pope/Vrdolyak. - near west - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm: 24 could be interesting — 23 candidates total…two look to live next door to each other (Bass and Leonard) and two others look to share an alley (Lawson and Shroud) - all four are within the same two blocks…and then there are McKenzie, Lewis and Marshall who live across the street from each other…putting/keeping signs up is already a challenge on the west side - yikes. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm: Although Marina Yolanda Faz-Huppert appears to be a pretty rough ballot name, if the rumor is true that she gathered more sinatures in 5 days than the rest did in months-the 45th ward may have a new playa. - Two cents - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:58 pm: ===Schulter was released by Berrios to make it look good to the progressives in 47.=== Don’t buy that malarky for a second, and I won’t until Joe tells it to me to my face - I’ll be sure to ask when I see him. Whether Schulter wanted to support Claypool is irrelevant. If he was going to, he should’ve resigned as a committeeman. He broke a contract with voters and with the Democratic party. He needs to go. - conner05 - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:19 pm: Looks like the 13th ward is also crowded.I don’t see anyone better for the 13th ward other than Frank Olivo.Wishing him the best of health. - No mas Pope - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:26 pm: Pope came in 1999 with HDO, Al Sanchez and Mayor Daley and now he can leave with them on February 22, 2011! - Irishpirate - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:27 pm: For those of you with interest in da 46th Ward race I suggest checking out http://www.uptownupdate.com/ I would be amazed if it didn’t end up in a runoff between Cappleman and one of the other candidates. His name recognition, experience in the last campaign, hard work, and organization should get him to at least the runoff. The real question for me is who does he face? Nowatny is backed by the ward committeeman and seemingly some of the regular Dems are supporting him. Carroll and Phelan have been running hard and smart. County employee Retta got one hell of a lot of signatures and may be stronger than I initially thought. The GOP committeewoman is running and a wealthy guy who lives in the historic district appeared on everyone’s radar yesterday. There may be a strawman female candidate with an Irish sounding name designed to pull votes from other candidate(s). There are gay men, a lesbian, a cop, lawyers, Catholics, an Asian, Jewish folks,immigrants, whites, blacks, mixed race folks and more in this race. It will be fun to watch. I don’t know how the ward will fare election wise, but some political consultants might be looking at some good paydays. - Rep. John Fritchey - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:28 pm: Um ‘johnknee’, get your facts straight. I took no position in the Assessor’s race, up to and through Election Day, and both sides were well aware of that fact. - Johnknee - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:33 pm: Umm…Rep/Comm Elect Fritchey- Aren’t democratic committemen supposed to endorse and help the democratic candidates for office. Why would a democratic committeemen not take a position on a vital race. I didn’t attend the University of Michigan, so someone smarter may have to explain this one to me. - Rep. John Fritchey - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:46 pm: When you’re less smug, maybe they will. - MrJM - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:48 pm: “I’m no fan of Roland Burris but you have to admit the man has positioned himself to run in the circles of power. It really is quite remarkable if you just stop and look at it. I don’t know effective he has been but it is remarkable.” Is Roland Burris the Forrest Gump of modern Illinois politics? If not him, who? – MrJM - Irishpirate - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:51 pm: To whom it may concern: “Sometimes party loyalty asks too much” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy Some of us felt Berrios was “too much”. - Bill - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:13 pm: ==Some of us felt Berrios was “too much”.== Yeah. Unfortunately for Forrest there was only about 30% of you. - Irishpirate - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:28 pm: You’re correct, Bill. Thankfully, 30 percent of Bill is still plenty o’ Bill. Toodles. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:37 pm: @Irishpirate - Nive recap. Here’s my two cents. Cappleman better raise a lot more money and hire some better consultants if he wants to make the run-off. His direct mail four years ago was awful. Four years ago he was the one candidate representing Change. This year every candidate is going to be campaigning on that theme. Cappleman is no shoe-in. On the otherhand, my understanding is that the 46th Ward Democratic Organization is backing Nowotny. Despite being Shiller’s ward superintendent, having the regular dem’s backing provides you with a surefire base. In a 6-12 way race, 25% might be enough to make the run-off. If Nowotny can’t manage that, I’d be shocked. - Mares eat oats - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:30 pm: The 32nd could prove interesting. One of the guys running is a Blago protege (or cousin). Our esteemed former governor took him fresh out of college and gave him a real good title at idot, where he stayed quietly tucked away. I suppose that qualifies him to be an aldercreature, but if he’s on the wrong side of mell…. - Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:30 pm: There will be a new mayor in the City of Springfield. I know its not as interesting as Chicago politics, but it is the state capital and at least worth mentioning - Two cents - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:50 pm: @Irishpirate “Sometimes party loyalty asks too much” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy Good words said by a man who happened to be a Democrat, yet one who had not made a commitment and entered a cotnract to support Democrats. Again, I have no problem with someone straying from the party if that is their prerogative, UNLESS that person has officially committed themselves to the party. Schulter wasn’t a run-of-the mill Dem - if Joe was too much for him, he should’ve resigned. - Ghost - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:54 pm: I am bummed that Sandi jackson did not run for mayor - Two cents - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:08 pm: Hey, Commish-elect Fritchey- I’ll ask without snark. Why should the Democratic party have to tolerate official representatives of the party who stay neutral or actively oppose the Democrat in a race vs. an Independent? I get it - you hedged your bets. You didn’t make any great friends, and you didn’t make any mortal enemies either, but that’s really not the issue, right? When you ran for Committeeman, did you not pledge to support Democrats? Look, we all can’t agree on everything, and I understand there are times when the Democrat is someone not of your choice or liking. That said, when you actively seek such an official position, you’re making a commitment and by staying neutral, you broke it. It’s part of the deal. Want to be in leadership? Well, you gotta take some bad votes. Want to be committeeman, well, sometimes you’re gonna have to support folks you don’t necessarily agree with. It’s part and parcel of the deal you cut to get power. It’s not a I’ll-support-the-Dem-when-I-feel-like-it job. Nobody would’ve held a gun to your head to walk precincts. Wasn’t it just rather convenient to stay on the sidelines there? And why, as a Dem loyalist, should I support you? Signed, A constituent (rep. and board district, not ward) - regular democrat - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:24 pm: This is for 47th ward. If you go back to 2002 you will see that Schulter has backed quite a few winners and his organization consistently delivers the biggest vote by far of any organization on the north and northwest sides. Just ask Pat Quinn, Debra Shore, Myriana Spyropolous, Forrest Claypool, Toni Preckwinkle etc….The two that stick out are John Fritchey and Dan Hynes. He was being loyal to his neighbor in Hynes and loyal to the state rep in the other. Check the numbers if you will. Also rumor has it that the Claypool endorsement this last election cycle has caused a major rift in his organization which may be the reason why Tom Od may be running…..The real power in the 47th ward organization is not Tom Od but the president of the organization. Those who follow local democratic politics knows this… - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:33 pm: @ Two-cents: I guess the answer to that question is: ‘Who does a Democratic Committeeman answer to?’ Personally, I agree with you: as a Democratic primary voter in the 32nd Ward, Fritchey is accountable to you. Along with all of the other Democrats in the 32nd Ward. If, like you, they believe that the Committeeman should back the Democratic ticket lock, stock and barrel, they’ll vote Fritchey out in 2012. Heck, maybe you’ll run against him. On the other hand, given that Claypool beat Berrios in 32, one could argue that pushing for Berrios — even reminding people of the Assessor’s race — would have hurt the rest of the Democratic ticket. At the end of the day, the biggest part of the Committeeman’s job is turning out Democratic Primary voters for the General Election, not telling people whom to vote for. So Fritchey’s hard work to elect Governor Quinn and Alexi probably benefited Berrios in the end, if its any comfort to you. - Two cents - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:51 pm: @YDD I’m not in 32, so I can’t hold anyone accountable there, and you couldn’t pay to get me on a ballot in any case. But John is my current rep and future Commish. Truthfully, I’m ambivalent about his neutrality. Not so much with Gene and his opposition. John’s a friend, though, so he gets the benefit of the doubt - and the questions in person rather than here. All that said, I have to agree that a Committeeman is accountable to the Dems in the ward. Seems to me, though, that by taking on an official role with the Democratic Party, you’re giving your word to the party. Sometimes you have to suck it up. I don’t like all of my family members, but I play nice on Thanksgiving. Same concept. - Ben Gazzara - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:53 pm: @ regular democrat Those who follow local democratic politics know that Schulter’s support of Hynes and Fritchey was buffoonish. Schulter’s numbers come from a Democrat’s dream base. Anytime there’s any kind of a contest, Schulter’s Keystone Kops usually muck it up. - regular democrat - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 5:20 pm: I have to disagree with you BEN. I live in the ward and I always see a rep from his org EVERY election rain or shine. They do their job very well getting people out to vote and that is their main job. Your experience may have been different but the people I have met are not “Keystone Kops” whatever that means. The whole city of Chicago is a “Democrats dream base” in case u did not notice. Some wards do a better job than others in getting the vote out. Go back to the last few primaries and look at the numbers - phocion - Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 10:54 am: I find it interesting that Fioretti has so many candidates running against him. He’s Alderman and Committeeman, but he obviously hasn’t sewn up the 2nd Ward. - Skeeter - Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 11:00 am: Phocion, That may be because a lot of people thought Fioretti was running for Mayor. And Congress. And just about any other open office. He’s a 2nd Ward version of Danny Davis. - Anon - Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 11:42 am: ==I’ll ask without snark. Why should the Democratic party have to tolerate official representatives of the party who stay neutral or actively oppose the Democrat in a race vs. an Independent? I get it - you hedged your bets. You didn’t make any great friends, and you didn’t make any mortal enemies either, but that’s really not the issue, right? When you ran for Committeeman, did you not pledge to support Democrats? Look, we all can’t agree on everything, and I understand there are times when the Democrat is someone not of your choice or liking. That said, when you actively seek such an official position, you’re making a commitment and by staying neutral, you broke it. It’s part of the deal. Want to be in leadership? Well, you gotta take some bad votes. Want to be committeeman, well, sometimes you’re gonna have to support folks you don’t necessarily agree with. It’s part and parcel of the deal you cut to get power. It’s not a I’ll-support-the-Dem-when-I-feel-like-it job. Nobody would’ve held a gun to your head to walk precincts. Wasn’t it just rather convenient to stay on the sidelines there? And why, as a Dem loyalist, should I support you?== Boy, this really sums up the aldermanic race in the 19th Ward. Matt O’Shea didn’t do squat for anyone but his buddy the state rep candidate. And now he wants to be Alderman? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.