* Credit to Rep. Cassidy for participating in this event, even though the sponsors (the local Indivisible chapter) are openly hostile to her state Senate appointment bid…
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and two others interested in the appointment to outgoing state Sen. Heather Steans’ legislative seat laid out their resumes and fielded questions from constituents Tuesday evening at a virtual meeting hosted by a group that has raised concerns that the selection process shuts out voters. […]
As Democratic committeeperson for the 49th Ward, Cassidy is one of the nine members of the Cook County Democratic Party who will ultimately decide who gets the appointment Cassidy and Simmons are seeking and Koziatek is considering.
“This process isn’t perfect. I don’t know that there would be a perfect one or could be a perfect one,” Cassidy said. “But the committeepeople in the North Side have, for years, worked to go way beyond what the, I believe, intentionally vague state law on filling vacancies permits. This is not a smoke-filled room, and none of the other forums I’ve heard about so far will be either, but we can lead and set an example of doing better.” […]
On Sunday, Ald. Harry Osterman, who also represents the 48th Ward as its Democratic committeeperson and has the largest share of the weighted vote, said he plans to convene the nine committeepeople for an open forum at 1 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the Swedish American Museum, though the meeting will be conducted via videoconference.
“We’re trying to do this in an open, fair, transparent process,” Osterman told the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday. “I think that’s really important for us, I think our constituents expect that, and that’s what we’re committed to.”
* Chicago Magazine…
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, the group’s co-founder, said its campaign has been called “naive” and “unfortunate” by local politicians who gained their offices through this system. But, she argues, the last Far North Side state senator who was fairly chosen by the voters was Arthur Berman.
That was in 1976.
Sen. Berman served until 2000. He quit and Rep. Carol Ronen was appointed to his seat. But she quit in time to allow for a contested primary in 2009, which was overwhelmingly won by Steans. Also, Steans wasn’t even opposed last year in the primary.
* Politico…
This process of stepping away from your elected position so a small political committee can replace you seems pretty consistent with machine-style politics. So it’s ironic that Steans and Cassidy are enmeshed in it. They were outspoken critics of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was a master at such maneuvering.
Some politicos have a greater concern. They worry minorities are being shut out of elected positions. Steans and Cassidy’s seats encompass the Rogers Park community, which is majority minority. Cassidy is white.
1) Most Chicago wards are bigger than most Downstate towns.
2) Cassidy was initially appointed to her House seat, so I’m not sure I see the irony here.
3) Chicago and Cook County committeepersons are elected by primary participants. Outside Cook, county party chairs make the appointment decisions and they’re not directly elected.
4) During the last census, the Senate district was about 17 percent African-American, 17 percent Hispanic, 17 percent Asian-American and 53 percent white. It’s not all about Rogers Park, no matter how much that Indivisible chapter may want to make it so.
* Look, if people want to change the law to allow for special elections, then fine. Give it a go. Get a bill introduced for starters and then actually work it.
But stop stretching the truth and be careful what you wish for because special elections cost real money and are generally low-turnout affairs that can be more easily controlled by the people who pay attention to these things and know how to run campaigns. You know, the sort of people who don’t spend their entire days on Twitter.
In other words, the heavens aren’t automatically going to open and unicorns won’t fall out of the sky if we switch to special elections for vacancies.
*** UPDATE *** As if on cue…
On Tuesday, January 26th, the 48th Legislative District Committee met to select the finalists for interviews to fill the vacancy in nomination after State Senator Andy Manar resigned his seat in the Illinois Senate. Interviews will be conducted on Saturday, January 30th. On Saturday, February 6th, the 48th Legislative District Committee will meet again to discuss & vote on the appointment. Time and location for the vote will be advised.
Applicants were asked to submit a resume or biography, detailed statement describing their involvement within the Democratic Party, detailed statement regarding their electability & vision for the 48th State Senate District, and a headshot. Applications had to be submitted by Monday, January 25th at 5pm. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the 48th State Senate District for at least two years & be a Democrat in good standing.
Finalists for the 48th State Senate Appointment include:
Lisa Badger, Springfield Park Board Member
Shad Edwards, retired Illinois State Police
Frank McNeil, former Springfield Alderman
Doris Turner, Springfield Ward 3 Alderwoman
Roberta Vojas, Macoupin County Board Member
Ruth Waller, Macon County State’s Attorney’s office
Chase Wilhelm, previous candidate for State Representative (IL 95th)
Julie Moore Wolfe, Mayor of Decatur
The 48th State Senate District includes a large section of central Illinois, stretching from the east side of Springfield to Decatur then heading south to include Christian and Montgomery Counties and portions of Macoupin and northern Madison Counties. A map of the 48th State Senate District can be found at http://senatorandymanar.com/48th-district/map.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:38 pm:
= be a Democrat in good standing=
How many primaries does one have to pull a D ballot to be considered in “good standing”
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:40 pm:
How did someone submit their name for consideration? How did the selection committee come up with this list?
This is not democracy. Also,
=== Get a bill introduced for starters and then actually work it.=== How exactly are we supposed to do that when the current people who represent us all got into office through the current corrupt system? Streams, Cassidy, and Harris were all appointed.
- Johnie B Goode - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
A senate seat that is 47 percent people of color has never had a person of color as their State Senator or State Representative.
These seats are passed from white person to white person like a baton in a relay race.
The fact that it’s all done in plain view as Cassidy explains does not make the process any more equitable.
- Johnie B Goode - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
It’s not just a “process kerfuffle.”
White people only ever get the job: it is a feature, not a bug of the process.
There are, as we see, qualified people of color on the Northside.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:47 pm:
=== A senate seat that is 47 percent people of color has never had a person of color as their State Senator or State Representative.===
(Sigh)
Then recruit, register voters, organize, run a good campaign, win.
It’s like Georgia.
You wanna win? Stop talking about winning and actually commit to do the things to win.
=== These seats are passed from white person to white person like a baton in a relay race.===
Beat them once, that’ll stop. Look how Chuy has changed things in the 13th, 14th wards.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
“Beat them once, that’ll stop. Look how Chuy has changed things in the 13th, 14th wards.”
Chuy’s team set the standard: Get offline and get to work. I follow some of that team online and they barely post…they’re too busy working their ward/district.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
LOL all the gnashing of teeth over Cassidy and process. Like she’s some terrible hack. I would certainly not agree with all of her work were I a constituent. But she’s very policy driven And she is very into her job, hard working, super open with people about her life and her neighborhood and needs for her constituents. You not only could do worse, but will do worse if you don’t choose her.
- AMDG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:54 pm:
I think the easiest path is just to appoint Mike Simmons. He would be fantastic. Sen. Steans said there should be new blood, I don’t think she means someone just moving from one chamber to another, right?
- Amali - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
link to source for demographics for all Senate districts?
- Commisar Gritty - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
Rep. Cassidy would be a fantastic fill for the vacancy, and I believe she would do her best to do right by her constituents. But I also know Leni doesn’t pick misguided fights. What she has done with Indivisible in just a few short years has been nothing short of remarkable. For all the people who have been saying, “Just go do the work” that’s exactly what Indivisible does. They organize year round phone banks on issues. Before Covid, they knocked doors like crazy, even in off years. They are doing, and will continue to do the work.
I’m truly split on this because I know the outcome would be fine, but the fact that they haven’t had a true election for that seat in half a freakin’ century is pretty hard to argue as fair.
- Epoc - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
Oswego Willy - There are couple problems with this analogy. First the 13th and 14th wards were overwhelmingly Latino wards for at least a decade before Chuy was able to have influence. That influence was based on a union-backed Mayoral run that took him from relative obscurity to becoming a citywide Latino icon.
Once that happened, Madigan made a deal with Chuy whereby he bartered his electoral organization and machine influence for Chuy’s popularity on the sw side with those voters.
That meant Chuy endorsed Madigan for every post and stayed out of 13 in exchange for giving Chuy appointments in every post and having Madigan go softer than usual in the Ortiz race.
Chuy’s organizing wasn’t the key. He carried Ortiz and Anaya on his coattails after he was gifted the Congressional seat but he lost contested aldermanic races in the 14th, post Burke indictment, 15th and 25th wards, and hasn’t even tried to challenge Madigan in 13 or 23.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:04 pm:
===link to source===
It’s literally in the post. Is this your first blog visit?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
===How exactly are we supposed to do that===
lol
Don’t be a loser.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:07 pm:
Not surprised at Turner & McNeil tossing their hats in the ring.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:13 pm:
=== First the 13th and 14th wards were overwhelmingly Latino wards for at least a decade…===
Let’s stop here, first.
Politics, at times… it ain’t a “microwave” baking.
Also, timing AND demographics, gotta have both in the cake baking… along with a solid candidate, organization abd organizing the ground, and lots of hard work.
Nothing is handed to anyone who is taking power away from others. Capiche?
=== That influence was based on a union-backed Mayoral run that took him from relative obscurity to becoming a citywide Latino icon.===
Yeah, here’s the thing to that… you skipped over all the hard work.
The discussion you’re in here is a complaint that a seat (or seats) aren’t arbitrary handed to persons of color in this very specific instance (or including the House seat if it’s open) without every step you seem to think I forgot, but I’m also saying, but I guess I need to be clearer, doing nothing abd expecting something isn’t any type of political plan.
This was my favorite;
===Chuy’s organizing wasn’t the key===
… yet…
=== That influence was based on a union-backed Mayoral run that took him from relative obscurity to becoming a citywide Latino icon.===
You do that *without* organizing? Huh.
=== He carried===
That’s all that matters. “He carried”
===… hasn’t even tried to challenge Madigan in 13 or 23.===
Deals are like that. You don’t double cross.
- Business as usual - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
I have a lot of problems with Cassidy’s appointment. She was appointed to her house seat. Her partner was given a lucrative position at an Illinois based Cannabis company right after she architected the bill. Text book corruption.
But even if there were a special election she would win. Institutional support is everything especially in short turn around election.
You can call them twitter activists but they have a point. Unfortunately nobody really cares. Cassidy will be appointed and things will continue per usual within a couple weeks.
- jim - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:22 pm:
“…special elections cost real money and are generally low-turnout affairs ”
I don’t think that’s the issue - the issue, as I see it, is people running for a term of office (like Steans) she knows she won’t serve. does so to arrange for her buddy, cassidy, to fill by appnt.
it’s just dishonest and should be regarded as such.
- Jesse White - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
=jim=
Jesse White is about to pull the same thing. Watch he him retire and appoint.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:29 pm:
- Jesse White - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
Read the state constitution and take a hike.
- Jesse White - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 1:38 pm:
=Read the state constitution and take a hike.=
Jesse White will retire and *JB* will appoint his successor. You are right. Jesse White will have no say in that appointment at all.
- regular democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 2:23 pm:
The 48th ward politcos have had basically a free ride for 30 plus years in that area. The candidates fit the area and everyone seems happy and primaries are rare. I was present when they picked Greg Harris 10 or so years ago and look where he is today. This group has started a conversation about the process and maybe it will change. Those committeeman elections have consequences.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 2:34 pm:
=== How exactly are we supposed to do that when the current people who represent us all got into office through the current corrupt system?===
There are 177 members in the GA.
Little legwork, maybe zoom call, might find a sponsor.
- jimbo26 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
I was on the Indivisible call last night. They wanted all the candidates to sign that they would not run for re-election if appointed. I don’t know who wants to be represented(?) by a placeholder. I want someone who wants to stick around. And if Leni wants change then push for a Constitutional Amendment.
- SumGai1986 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
==Little legwork, maybe zoom call, might find a sponsor.==
Bing bang boom, that’s it
Easy, see?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
=== Bing bang boom, that’s it
Easy, see?===
If it were easy… it would already be done.
Complaining about it won’t lead to finding a sponsor, but you already know that.
- Disgruntled IL Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 3:13 pm:
== 3) Chicago and Cook County committeepersons are elected by primary participants. Outside Cook, county party chairs make the appointment decisions and they’re not directly elected. ==
I completely agree that special elections are far from ideal, and I do not know what the best system would be.
However, I think this point deserves some scrutiny. Most committeepersons are aldermen or other elected officials who enter these races with existing donors they can easily tap into and a huge name ID headstart. The scales are titled heavily in favor of those with power, and electeds who run for those positions do so because they want to wield even more power. The resignations have clearly been abused, in my opinion.
To the point about county party chairs, it’s worth noting that while they are not elected directly, they are elected by the *elected* precinct committeepersons (the appointed PCs don’t get a vote, I believe). It’s not like county parties outside of Cook are machine-driven if that was your point in mentioning that.
- Surge voter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 4:29 pm:
-I’m truly split on this because I know the outcome would be fine, but the fact that they haven’t had a true election for that seat in half a freakin’ century is pretty hard to argue as fair.-
Hey Commisar, get your facts right. Repeating the falsehood that there has not been a competitive election since 1977 is inaccurate and makes you look as clueless as that woman, Leni who is spreading it.
- Illinana - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 4:42 pm:
What is the weighted vote breakdown for Senaor Manar’s Senate seat?
- Moderate Mike - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
Clearly this isn’t going to change anything about the process. Having a couple articles with some of your quotes in it will do next to nothing to actually advance your goal of making this process competitive.
So where does that leave us?
Well it’s obvious that Leni wants to run, which is her right. She obviously wasn’t considered - ok, neither was I, and I’m a resident of the 48th ward. That’s how it works. So instead of complaining about not being the person that the committeepeople are considering, you can apply to be considered (there’s literally an application portal like any other job WHICH THE COMMITTEEPEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE ADVERTISING).
Leni has a legitimate critique, but this does nothing to fix the process. It’s only so she can promote herself.
- Surge voter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:26 pm:
== Leni has a legitimate critique, but this does nothing to fix the process. It’s only so she can promote herself.==
It’s pretty sad that Leni has to be spreading misinformation.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:31 pm:
Just read Manar’s replacement is down to between Turner and Moore.
- Surge voter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:34 pm:
=== Well it’s obvious that Leni wants to run, which is her right. She obviously wasn’t considered - ok, neither was I, and I’m a resident of the 48th ward. That’s how it works. So instead of complaining about not being the person that the committeepeople are considering, you can apply to be considered (there’s literally an application portal like any other job WHICH THE COMMITTEEPEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE ADVERTISING).===
You’ve got it right Moderate Mike, we need progressive leaders that understand how to get stuff done. Does Leni live in that district? Or is she just stirring the pot…..no pun intended.
- Moderate Mike - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:45 pm:
=== Does Leni live in that district? ===
Yes, she does.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 5:55 pm:
=== === Does Leni live in that district? ===
Yes, she does.===
I’ll look forward to Leni getting on the ballot come primary time, organize, get funding, volunteers, and win.
No one said it was going to be easy.
- Uptown Funk - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 6:10 pm:
I’d be *really* curious to see if Leni is trying to parlay this into a run. She and Mary Difino are both Edgewater/Andersonville activists who clearly want to run for office. Unlike Leni though, Mary is clear about her intentions and is seeking the appointment to the 14th House seat.
- Surgevoter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 7:10 pm:
=== :
I’d be *really* curious to see if Leni is trying to parlay this into a run. She and Mary Difino are both Edgewater/Andersonville activists who clearly want to run for office. Unlike Leni though, Mary is clear about her intentions and is seeking the appointment to the 14th House seat.===
Is Leni supporting Mary Difino? Is that why she is trying to stop Kelly C?
- Anonanonsir - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 7:18 pm:
==A senate seat that is 47 percent people of color==
Well, 47 or 51, depending on how you look at it.
I wonder if someone asked Cassidy if she had advance notice of the opening. Curious what the response would be.
- Uptown Funk - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 8:16 pm:
=== Is Leni supporting Mary Difino? Is that why she is trying to stop Kelly C? ===
I don’t think so. I don’t think they’re coordinating, and here’s why.
Mary is applying for the appointment to the 14th HD seat. However, she knows good and well that she is highly unlikely to be appointed, as she has - as Rich has previously noted - been a thorn in Harry Osterman’s side. He would never use his nearly 50% of the weighted vote for the State Rep seat to appoint her, and she knows that. That’s not her goal though. She wants to run against Harry for Alderman of the 48th Ward in 2023. Harry not voting for her probably gives her ammo in her mind.
Leni is another story entirely. She clearly wants to run as well, but is much less obvious. She seems to be running with the idea that “Kelly is the machine and the machine must go.” If she was interested in running for the House seat, she probably wouldn’t be messing with Kelly and would be seeking the appointment instead, but she’s not. So the only logical conclusion is that she wants to run against Kelly for the SD 7 seat in 2022 after Kelly is appointed, which seems all but assured at this point.
But neither of them are playing this well. Mary has spent the last six months going after Harry Osterman at every conceivable opportunity and now sticks her hand out to ask him for an appointment. Leni leads a liberal/progressive group fighting for liberal/progressive social causes. Now she’s trying to stop one of the most, if not the most accomplished progressive legislators in the Illinois House from moving to the Senate.
- Surgevoter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 8:39 pm:
Uptown Funk. I get what you are saying. Very interesting dynamics. Leni is clearly hurting herself for future.,, even the future of her organization I think. She is also peddling misinformation, to be kind, about the district past elections.
Does she not know the facts or is she just ignoring them to suit her interests?
- Get Off Twitter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 8:42 pm:
Not for nothing, but if Indivisible was actually interested in a transparent selection process and making candidates speak to the voters, they wouldn’t have limited candidate speaking time to 4 minutes.
This was a play for Leni to get her name in the press, and it worked out pretty well for her.
- Manar Replacement - Wednesday, Jan 27, 21 @ 11:26 pm:
Frank McNeil is the guy.
Let us do this.