Question of the day
Wednesday, Apr 3, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After Rep. David Olsen (R-Downers Grove) unexpectedly lost to Naperville Democrat Anne Stava-Murray last November, he ended 2018 with over $100,000 in his campaign account.
Olsen decided to run for Downers Grove mayor and opened a new campaign committee account and reported raising $13,000 late last month. His opponent, Bob Barnett, started the year with no money and reported raising just $4,500 back in February.
Olsen lost again…
Voters have named Bob Barnett as the new mayor of Downers Grove. Throughout the evening, Barnett, a 10-year village commissioner, had a slight hold over challenger David Olsen in the mayoral race.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Barnett has garnered 4,223 of the votes, while Olsen collected 3,670, according to the unofficial results. Mayoral hopeful Marge Earl, a commissioner since 2016, trails far behind the two, earning 850 votes.
Barnett, 50, is a longtime resident of Downers Grove and has served as a commissioner for a decade. Throughout the years, he served on various committees, including the Stormwater and Flood Plain Oversight Committee, Downers Grove Park District Outdoor Pool Advisory Committee and took a lead role in amending the village’s liquor ordinance.
Meanwhile, Olsen, 30, was a former Downers Grove commissioner, a board of trustee for the College of DuPage and most recently an Illinois state representative.
* Meanwhile, here are some of Politico’s biggest losers of the Chicago election…
SEIU and Jerry Morrison, assistant to the president of SEIU Local 1, for leading Preckwinkle’s unfocused campaign.
Chicago Teachers Union, which along with losing the big mayoral prize, lost 6 of 8 aldermanic races to charter school supporters.
Chance the Rapper endorsed Preckwinkle in the runoff, and his dad, Ken Bennett, served as her campaign co-chairman.
Team Obama’s Tina Tchen and Valerie Jarrett, who backed Preckwinkle.
* The Question: Any other big Tuesday losers you’d like to add? Make sure to tell us why.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:11 am:
The Cook County Democratic Party. Their current leader lost all but 20 precincts, most by blowout totals.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:12 am:
===The Cook County Democratic Party===
Melissa Conyears-Ervin might disagree.
- Iggy - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:16 am:
lol David Olsen, please for the love of G-d stop running for things. Some people can pull off the youth angle, you are an old man trapped in a young person’s body, so this angle does not apply.
How about that Springfield Mayoral race, Looks like Springfield’s left over Rauner crew couldn’t even beat one the most ineffective Mayors in the state.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:19 am:
Ameya Pawar, got his name out there running for Governor in the primary and then loses to a state rep not well known on the north side.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:22 am:
Michael Negron: Working for years as Rahm’s policy chief and receiving gobs of money from big business just to lose badly in the Mayor’s own ward. What now?
- sewer thoughts - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:23 am:
the Jan Schakowsky team got roundly spanked across the board - Arena and Dordek in the primary, Preckwinkle (and no doubt they lean Pawar) yesterday…
- Unpopular - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:24 am:
Olsen. The emptiest of suits.
- You Bet - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:26 am:
Jim “Mouse” McMahon get clobbered in the Danville Mayor’s race. Interim Mayor Rickey Williams had 48% of the vote to McMahon’s 20%. Alderman Steve Nichols also had 18% of the vote.
McMahon had been a long time Vermilion County Board Chair, outed by now State Rep. Mike Marron and co. when the Republicans completely took over Vermilion County in 2014. He subsequently lost twice to then Mayor Scott Eisenhauer. He lost again last night in essentially an open seat, likely spelling the end of his political career.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:30 am:
Frank Edwards and the Sangamon County GOP’s message of cuts and no taxes.
Edwards was beaten like a rented mule. His anti tax message landed with thud when he forced to admit he had no idea where to cut.
- Al - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:33 am:
Folks who want to tax sugary beverages?
- Northsider - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:41 am:
Biggest losers are Deb Mell and Pat O’Connor who are old time machine politicos. O’Connor’s attack ads backfired big time.
Very happy about the Treasurer’s race. The 47th ward deserves better then our last two aldermen
- Rahm’s Middle Finger - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:41 am:
RAHM. Rahm is the biggest loser yesterday. He is being replaced by someone who was running against him and that he was entirely dismissive of. When Rahm announced he wasn’t running he said something like “The next mayor is not currently in the field”. Oospie. Lori won’t care one bit about throwing Rahm under the bus. In fact, she’ll peobably enjoy it.
Also, his floor leader, Pat O’Connor, lost, despite Rahm spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect him. Two of his top staffers, Derek Lindbloom and Michael Negron. were rejected in Wards that were supposed to be favorable to Rahm.
Runner Up: Rahm’s minions. Their gravy train just crashed into a wall. I’m expecting a lot of them to start showing up in Springfield and trying to attach to the new administration. For those that approach… remember that these are the same people who guided Rahm to a full and complete rejection by the voters.
- Powdered Whig - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:43 am:
===The Cook County Democratic Party===
=== Melissa Conyears-Ervin might disagree.===
Melissa ran a good campaign - not sure her victory can be chalked up to “party support”. The problem for the County Democratic Party is now it looks like those that run the political operation are inept and their leader is increasingly unpopular and tone deaf.
If you are an aspiring candidate are you going to bend the knee to a leader who doesn’t appear to know what they are doing? More likely, you will realize its probably better to focus your attention on a few handful of committeemen that can carry their weight for you or even go it alone. There are a lot of consultants out there that aren’t necessarily aligned with the County party that can provide guidance.
I think the biggest takeaway here is that “the machine” in its purest form, is officially dead. Pat Brady (whose party loves to rail against the machine) even admitted it in last night’s election coverage. This is going to create an extremely decentralized party structure that will result in a free for all in elections to come.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:44 am:
This may be too obvious, but Toni Preckwinkle.
She came into this race viewed as a real force. Early on, there were questions if she would even need a run off to take it.
Now, she finished second in the first round and was destroyed last night.
She went from the near the absolute top to the bottom. She’s extrenely vulernable next time she runs.
- don the legend - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:47 am:
Iggy, Edwards continuously proved he had no grasp of the issues and just tried to be a junior Trump with help from his whiny Laborers business agent and the Sangamon Co. Dems and GOP. The better man won and won easily.
- Dunkin Doe/Nuts - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:03 pm:
TO sum it up, the only entitiy more toxic than the Democratic Machine was Rahm himself. Everyone close to the Macine or to him too a beating in this cycle. Even most of the alderman who avoided runoffs who were close to Rahm has seen thier support erode in their wards. the message is clear - enough of the business as usual, Chicago is ready for a new way of governance.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:03 pm:
Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Democratic Party, SEIU, CTU, Kim Foxx and all the other old guard democrats have learned that they no longer have significant power. Toni can’t bully the county board after this and all of the people that she pushed around will now be comfortable standing up to her. It’s going be hard for the party to ask people to donate to a party in disarray.
- 31stWard - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
Luis Arroyo backed both Milly Santiago in the 31st Ward and Luis Gutierrez’s daughter in the 30th Ward. Both were defeated.
- Johnny's in the Basement - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
I agree that the overwhelming defeat of the Cook County Democratic party chair is the biggest loss in recent memory. That fact that 71 percent of the people rose up to vote against Preckwinkle is astonishing. I grew up in the R.J. Daley era and no one then could have imagined such a thorough defeat for the party in a mayoral race.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:10 pm:
I have to agree that the “machine” has a real problem. Preckwinkle was the nobody that nobody sent, and she pummeled the machine candidate.
All those son-in-laws, nephews, and friends-of-the-family that have been on the payroll simply because of who they were related to had better start wondering whether they want to work at McDonalds or Subway.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:12 pm:
GOTV - The bulk of Chicago’s voters decided to sit this one out.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
Real estate developers - even some non-DSA challengers were raising affordable housing/freezing TIFs in their campaigns.
- regnaD kciN - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
H’mmm. Cook County Democratic Party in disarray. State Republican Party in tatters. Is it a better question to ask who’s got something going on (besides the Chicago Democratic Socialists)?
- OurMagician - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
The public in general. It’s never been easier to vote weeks in advance either at a polling location or by mail yet 75-80% didn’t take the time to vote. Another reason why it should never be a national holiday-people wouldn’t vote then either.
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:24 pm:
Maybe David Olsen should get a job before he runs or represents anything. I say this at the ripe old age of 30.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
Kim Foxx. she’s up next and now Toni won’t be able to protect her. then it’s Toni’s turn.
- TopHatMonocle - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
Regarding Politico’s list of winners. How can they call Mendoza a winner? For all the people saying Preckwinkle’s campaign was a disaster, which it was, Mendoza’s was somehow even more of a disaster. Her endorsement of Lightfoot didn’t move the needle at all, and I doubt Mendoza will get anything in return for it. And they missed a clear winner, Ald. Waguespack, who was the first Alderman to endorse Lightfoot. I’d also throw the Sun Times editorial board in as a winner, their Lightfoot endorsement in the first round really got the momentum going in her direction.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
Obviously Preckwinkle was the biggest loser, but people saw that coming. O’Connor was a big loss, and maybe Mell, if the mail-in ballots don’t put her over the top.
“GOTV - The bulk of Chicago’s voters decided to sit this one out”
It was a meh election for me. The two mayoral candidates did not seem to be that different, policy-wise. For those who think yesterday was indicative of some type of loss of Democratic/union power, see Pritzker vs. Rauner.
- CCrider - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:56 pm:
Orland Park Democrat slate set up by Democrat committeemen James O’grady. all lost, got trounced by GOP backed slate, despite tens of thousands of dollars and major union backing!
- CT Resident - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:04 pm:
How about we wait a little bit for the mailed in ballots because declaring another election of voter apathy? The same was said initially of the Feb race, and I believe this one is only running about 1% behind of that election night’s data.
That being said, in Wards without an Ald runoff, I can see why there’d be a lower turnout given the pre-election polling and prediction of the Mayor race.
- Tommydanger - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:07 pm:
Richard Mell. Loses a son in law to prison through no small effort on his part and upsets daughter and grandchildren in the process. Has his daughter installed as his replacement on the city council only to see her lose her seat last night pending mail in ballots to be counted.
UnMellievable
- City Hall's Exquisite Green Roof - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
Biggest loser: Tall People
If the height trend of the last two mayors and current mayor-elect holds, Lori’s successor (whenever that may be) will be 4′7″.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:15 pm:
Preckwinkle. Her campaign was inept and lost. My impression was she was waiting to be coronated.
The voters that bothered to show up are demanding change. This has been the theme of the last several elections, from Rauner to today.
Will those elected begin to listen?
- Huh? - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
“How about we wait a little bit for the mailed in ballots”
Some how I don’t think that the mail in ballots are going to be enough for preckwinkle to win.
- Steve - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
John Daley didn’t carry his 11th Ward for Toni. If he did ,he might have been Cook County President. That’s if Toni would have run a lot better in other wards.
- NW Side - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
Committeemen Arena 45th Ward and Martwick 38th Ward could not have had a worse Chicago election.
Arena got trounced and lost his alderman seat in the primary and then backed Murphy for alderman in the 39th ward in the run off, who also got trounced.
Martwick became the face of Preckwinkle’s bad campaign and lost Arena as his alderman ally and was buried by Lightfoot in runoff.
It will be interesting to see how Lightfoot deals with them. The rumor is State Senator Mulroe will take a judgeship and one of these guys would snatch his Senate seat. Good luck with that now.
- Kayak - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
Springfield and the Springfield Park Board when Kris “I almost wish we had a gang here because about 20-30 kids would quietly disappear” Theilen was elected to the board.
- ZC - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
As a 47th ward resident: This whole story that the 47th is “the mayor’s own ward” gets really overplayed.
Lots of ward residents don’t know this. Nobody here feels like we have a secret influence line into the 5th floor because Rahm is always funneling patronage back into the 47th. It’s not like Rahm is showing up all over the 47th especially cutting ribbons (though my wife almost hit him jogging once).
Rahm -is- reasonably popular still in the 47th, to be sure (it’s a good ward to live in these days, small surprise) but being “Rahm’s guy” really doesn’t net you lots of votes.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
So great to see Jerry Morrison get the recognition he so richly deserves. But what about Scott Cisek?
- Hammer - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:49 pm:
Winner/Loser Citizens of the outerboros of the city, city workers/cops/firefighters. Arenas loss was about race and poor people moving into the ward. The FOP is riled up about Foxx and Joyce was a pretty big spoiler. Nick Sposato didn’t look great at all. At a time when black/brown folk will be running the city, county and more there is a lot of anger a brewing.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:53 pm:
Bill Daley… he’d be mayor now if not for Kevin Joyce.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:54 pm:
Whomever that state rep was that went to challenge Lightfoot about the appointed vs elected assessor thing.
- Rising Tide - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:58 pm:
Couldn’t agree more with @Rahm’s Middle Finger. He and his legacy were the biggest losers after Feb. 26 and yesterday firmed that up, thankfully. Rahm minions ran Mendoza’s race and failed. I also agree with @TopHatMonocle. Susana Mendoza is on the loser list. She revealed herself by not managing her relationships, keeping her most loyal staff at a distance, being an utterly awful judge of character (Burke, Solis, Schock), and cutting out everyone who wasn’t on Team Rahm. She’s her own biggest fan but now she’s all alone and will have a very difficult time not being seen as the machine candidate for the rest of her political career. It’s all well-deserved. Sorry if you see this, Comptroller. (Open secret that she probably spends more time reading the comment section than she does being a statewide officeholder.)
Winners: women of color. All three citywide electeds are women of color and that’s inspiring and hopefully gamechanging.
- Oak Lawn Guy - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
Former State Rep, Former Worth Township Committeeman, Johnny O’Sullivan.
After losing his Democratic Committeeman gig last year, he tried to make himself relevant again by running his wife for school board in Oak Lawn. With all of the tools of the “machine” behind her, she still lost.
Johnny O’s last grasp at power seems to be done - and it’s about time.
- CT Resident - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
“Some how I don’t think that the mail in ballots are going to be enough for preckwinkle to win.”
Mailed in ballot in response to the reported anemic voter turnout.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:24 pm:
===he’d be mayor now if not for Kevin Joyce===
Yeah, blame Kevin. lol
Daley may have made the runoff if he and his campaign attempted to deal with Joyce instead of ignoring the threat. Joyce did what he had to do. Daley did not.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:27 pm:
Enough with Preckwinkle. In Morgan County, I had a choice of one person for an alderman spot and four people for four open school board spots. The pressure to make a decision was mind boggling. Not a single sign outside the voting site. The candidates must have spent $200 to campaign.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:32 pm:
Winner - Teachers union in Crystal Lake (Cary + Fox River Grove) High School Distict 155.
Soon all seven board members will have been endorsed by the union.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:32 pm:
Toni Prekwinkle, Kim Foxx, Cook County Democratic Party and the public employee unions that support them were the biggest losers yesterday.
Lori Lighfoot is the clear winner. A moderate Democrat not tied to corruption.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:50 pm:
Another 47th Ward resident who sees the Emmanuels around sometimes. Actually, one of them is one of the few people who drive in the hood who obeys that state law about yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- anon - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
Big loser: Negative campaigning. Preckwinkle, O’Connor, and Negron went all in on negative ads against their opponents at the expense of making a case for themselves. They didn’t give voters a reason to vote for them, so voters didn’t.
- Urban Girl - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 3:05 pm:
Loser- Toni Preckwinkle’s reputation. Where as those who had worked closely with her like former Comm. Boykin openly talked about her vindictive side, I do not think most viewed her beyond the school-marm character that she tried to portray. With her speech in February and the one the last night in which she thanked no one, I think the public has better insight into who she is.
Winner - West side African-American politicians - As a southsider, I admit that the west side is treated like the step child. Kudos to Conyers -Ervin and all her supporters for the big win.
- Urban Girl - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 3:18 pm:
Additional winner - Chuy Garcia. His early endorsement of Lightfoot in the runoff mattered much more than Mendoza’s later endorsement, and I think was a very public pronouncement of his relationship with former ally Preckwinkle.
- DeVine - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 4:02 pm:
Another Loser - Pat O’Connor
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 4:58 pm:
Didn’t Kevin move to Florida? Y’all are talking about Jerry.
- Name/Nickname - May soon be required - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 4:59 pm:
Biggest loser: Joe Taxpayer
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 5:03 pm:
Most humiliated was definitely Prekwinkle.
- A 400lb. Guy on a bed - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 7:52 pm:
Jeanette Ward lost her re-election bid to the U-46 School Board.
- Paceman - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 7:20 am:
The Sprinfield Police PBPA Unit #5 who uncharacteristicly endorsed a political candidate and bet on the wrong horse. All the years I was in the union we never endorsed political candidates.