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Today’s number: 61.66%

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Illinois

* Indicted and ousted state Representative-elect Derrick Smith received almost 62 percent of the vote in Secretary of State Jesse White’s 27th Ward. White had Smith appointed to the House, but has since turned completely against him and backed third party candidate Lance Tyson in the general election. White is the 27th Ward’s Democratic Committeeman, but he failed miserably.

Here are the ward-by-ward results for the Smith-Tyson race…

Smith, by the way, won every single precinct in Secretary White’s ward.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:23 pm

Comments

Positive - Voters are trained to vote Democrat.

Negative - Voters are trained, too well, to vote Democrat.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:26 pm
There are a lot of uninformed voters in those wards.

Comment by Holdingontomywallet Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:27 pm
The media presented the story, the voters reacted and this guy should stay as long as he can. Jesse White has overstayed his welcome and needs to be replaced.

Comment by shore Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Another Positive, no snark…

Over 14,000 flipped for Tyson. That is turning some mumbers, but you have to win. That is a huge turn given how those precincts run, sometimes 80-20 …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:31 pm
It seems likely Jesse White doesn’t have a whole bunch of credibility in his community.

And it seems like Tyson was a candidate who failed to make the case he represented a superior alternative to Smith.

The selection process should have included input from more people that the corrupt and incompetent committeemen who appointed Derrick Smith.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Way to pick ‘em Jessie. Now you have some idea how Richard Mell feels!

Comment by Mr.Big Trouble Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:32 pm
You’d think after all these years in office, with so much patronage in the SOS and the Recorder’s office, that White would have enough precinct captains to effectively work his own ward, if not the entire west side. But these numbers would say you’d be wrong.

Either White is incompetant or he didn’t really want Smith out of office. I’m not sure which is worse.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:34 pm
Jesse has NEVER had an organization, they just oiled the creaky old machine he inherited every once in a while. It’s only about him.

Off topic, didja see this in the Trib?

Cheryle Jackson, Vice president of government affairs and corporate development, AAR Corp.
Industry: Aerospace
Bad boss story:

Jackson worked for a boss who was open about pitting employees against each other. He seemed to relish stirring the pot “openly and behind the scenes, and then watch them go at it and try to outdo one another.” Admittedly, it toughened her up. But no matter how strong or smart you were, no one could thrive in that environment, she said.

Any guesses on who the boss was?

Comment by vibes Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:35 pm
I was surprised that the “Powers that Be” didn’t TRY run 3 or 4 more candidates against Smith, deluting the vote, and nearly 15,000 might have gotten it done … just a thought.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:38 pm
There’s been a lot of observations/analysis on both the Smith and JJJ situations that implied a correlation between their electoral success and the race of their electorate. However if you look at Smith’s district he’s won the precincts in ward 1, 32 and 43. Those are Whole Foods voters. He won the Caribou Coffee crowd so maybe we could put away the thinly veiled racism for a while, eh?

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:44 pm
How about the fact that FIVE other wards did better for Tyson than the 27th Ward did? And mostly without trying.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:44 pm
“Negative - Voters are trained, too well, to vote Democrat.”

Oswego Willy, my point exactly.

Comment by JakeCP Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:44 pm
===“Negative - Voters are trained, too well, to vote Democrat.”

Oswego Willy, my point exactly.===

The goal should be, especially for the ILGOP is to vote the known GOP votes at the higest rate possible. There are just districts on BOTH sides that you are just not going to flip, but every single vote counts in the Big Picture “Cake” and that is what counts,

But I digress …

To the post and your comment …

Sometimes, when your opponent is imploding, you just stay out of the way.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:49 pm
Way to go Maze!

Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:54 pm
I’m indifferent.

I can’t imagine why a majority of voters in her district send Michelle Bachmann to Congress. Or those who sent Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock.

I wish I could make the call for everyone, but it’s not in the cards. It’s their call, their deal, not my problem.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 2:55 pm
I like Jesse. But this entire episode has been ugly. It’s damaged him quite a bit.

Not that it has hurt his popularity among ordinary Illinois voters…yet. Unlike we CapFax readers, regular folks don’t pay attention to this inside baseball stuff. But the investigative reporters in town do. They’ve always left Jesse alone. They like him and his tenure has been a big improvement over the previous Sec of State.

There’s blood in the water now. I just wonder if this affair has put him “in play.” When you hold down a big elected office for 3-plus terms, there are bound to be a few skeletons lurking.

The red flag in the Derrick Smith case is the fact that Jesse kissed him into the State Rep gig after he was forced out of his Ward superintendent job for a severe ethical breech. Make one wonder about some of the other members of his organization that have been promoted into big jobs in the Sec of State Office.

Comment by Frank Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:05 pm
Not the least bit shocked Smith won, but was a little suprised Tyson kept it within 40 points.

It’s going to take one nice package to get him to step away from this seat before a conviction.

Comment by CIC Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:06 pm
The fact that he won everywhere tells you everything you need to know about this race. Voters picked the D when they didn’t know anything about the two candidates. Terrible campaign by Tyson.

Comment by Tom B. Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:06 pm
–It’s going to take one nice package to get him to step away from this seat before a conviction.–

What are you talking about?

Who would offer this “package?” What would they stand to gain?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:11 pm
Look at Jesse White’s donations. He is probably the cheapest Democrat around. He didn’t really try. He could have dipped into his campaign fund if he really wanted to make an impact.

He just acted angry.

It also shows the vulnerability for new leadership to emerge on the Westside. Where are the new civil rights leaders like the old Jesse Sr.?

Comment by Hacks Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:13 pm
===Terrible campaign by Tyson.===

I am starting to re-think this a bit. Tyson lost. Fact.

Got 40% against the “Democrat”, in a 1 on 1 race. Intersting that the Inside Baseball of Jesse’s Organizationa and what the Political atmosphere is right now in that part of the woods.

Not my fight, not my Party’s problem. Forty percent is still a loss, but …

Starting to want to re-visit this and break this down, just to see the politcal realities of what is going on in that part of the woods.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:17 pm
===–It’s going to take one nice package to get him to step away from this seat before a conviction.–===

You can go to prison … or go to prison …

What “nice” package is that???

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:19 pm
My thoughts are that a presidential election featuring the re-election of the first black President, who is a Democrat, is not the ideal time to run an independent campaign against a down-ballot black Democrat. That’s about it.

Comment by Will Caskey Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:24 pm
I was thinking in terms of a severance package for Smith. For example, he agrees to resign but keeps his pension regardless of the trial outcome.

Comment by CIC Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:26 pm
===For example, he agrees to resign but keeps his pension regardless of the trial outcome.===

See “George Ryan”, and 1 term in the GA does not qualify you for a GA pension.

I know people far more qualified than me will chime in. I do recall 1 term does not qualify you, so that would be moot and the “GHR” …”terms of conviction” and state law made GHR’s pension, for the most part, Void.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:31 pm
We live in a democracy. All the information about Smith was out there. The voters made their decision & that’s it case closed. Maybe the voters believe in our justice system,which provides Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Most of you, 90% of the IL House and the news media & our so called political leaders presume a person guilty whenever they’re accused. Remember Sen. Bill Marovitz and Ald. Sam Cahnman? They were accused of crimes and found not guilty. I applaud the people of Smith’s District for being fair minded.

Comment by Johnny Justice Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:35 pm
Yes this is an area where voters are taught to go with the Ds. It is also an area where folks feel Law Enforcment types are not above fudgeing the facts. I would bet a lot of them feel something smells funny in Denmark on this one and went with Smith.

Comment by Bemused Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 3:45 pm
We shouldn’t be surprised by this. I worked a downstate Dem campaign in 06. I knocked on doors for 100 days and talked about Bush as much or more than I talked about our opponent. People are not well informed on state issues across the state. Which is why we saw state officials talking about medicare on their walk cards this year.

Comment by Maybe Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 4:11 pm
My thought is those numbers are going to look pretty similar, after the primary in 18 months.

Comment by Dr. DJ Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 4:35 pm
i would be interested to hear what Tyson says about the campaign…

Comment by Dr. DJ Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 4:38 pm
It’s an embarrassment for Committeeman White when he can’t carry a single precinct for his endorsed candidate. Either his captains are weak, or he really didn’t push hard for Tyson.

Comment by reformer Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 4:39 pm
Oh lord, can we be done with the idea that precinct captains do anything at all? They don’t. That whole “Chicago style” canard has been demonstrated over and over to be completely useless.

Maybe White gets that, maybe he doesn’t. Either way what could have helped Tyson would have been a decent manager with a half-million dollar budget, and the latter is kind of ridiculous to put into an noncompetitive district in Chicago.

Comment by Will Caskey Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 5:01 pm
Perhaps voters felt what he did was acceptable, or thought he was framed? Maybe they see him as as someone who represents them against the takers in Springfield.

They are loyal voters and they remembered Jesse White’s support for him in the past.

Comment by Sunshine Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 5:22 pm
D is determinative.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 6:06 pm
well, if it’s not business, it’s personal. do they really like Tyson? do they respect his efforts? the results speak volumes.

Comment by amalia Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 6:16 pm
one more question, does Lance Tyson even have a Capitolfax subscription?

Comment by friend of a friend Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 6:39 pm
JJ
Innocent until proven guilty is the standard for criminal trials, not a universal principle, especially when a tape exists of the accused. Unless you think the Feds fabricated the tape.

Comment by reformer Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 6:58 pm
“Oh lord, can we be done with the idea that precinct captains do anything at all? They don’t. That whole “Chicago style” canard has been demonstrated over and over to be completely useless.”

Except in the 13th Ward. Precinct Captains can get Mickey Mouse elected there.

Comment by Anon-amiss Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 8:42 pm
===Oh lord, can we be done with the idea that precinct captains do anything at all? They don’t. That whole “Chicago style” canard has been demonstrated over and over to be completely useless.”===

Yeah, um… good luck with that thought, and wen the 13th Ward comes to your neighborhood, walk your precinct, and vote your precinct against you, let me know how that goes …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 8:44 pm
Willy, to be fair to Caskey, most Wards have absolutely no ward organization. The wards that do have decent organizations might be able to influence elections in their ward, but have little influence elsewhere. The 13th Ward precinct captains truly are a unique animal.

Comment by Anon-amiss Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 8:48 pm
===The 13th Ward precinct captains truly are a unique animal.===

You only have to walk against them once to know that …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 15, 12 @ 8:52 pm
Lance Tyson was highly unpopular as Todd Stroger’s chief of staff. He was perceived as uninformed and arrogant, and he turned off both county commissioners and senior county staff. When Tyson became a candidate, he did not have a reservoir of supporters to draw upon from his county days (his biggest prior position); he had indifference at best. His fundraising reflects his lack of friends and allies. He ran on a resume (lawyer who worked briefly for the city and county) and against an obviously flawed opponent. But he had no personal troops and very money. He was unable to secure support from all the committeemen in the district. A stronger candidate could have pulled off a victory against Smith in the circumstances of this race.

Comment by anon Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 7:30 am
My guess is, most of the district’s voters weren’t paying attention. They went to the polls having researched some higher-level offices and to vote for President, but Smith is an ordinary name and what does a state rep do, anyway. Was there something about a bribe? But he wasn’t convicted, right? Who has the time.

And now I have a confession to make. I don’t research the judges. There are too many of them. I don’t have time to print up those long lists of recommendations by this and that bar assn. If they are not opposed, I don’t vote at all. If there is a Republican opponent, I vote for that person. I figure the Cook County judicial selection system is so corrupt anyway, that this is the closest I can get to a protest vote.

Comment by cassandra Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 7:33 am
Oswego Willy: sure, I’ll give you that one crappy southwest side ward (maybe two with the 14th) has precinct captains that do things in that ward. Maybe. I’m not sure I even agree with that but let’s just grant the premise. But pace Anon-miss, who cares what happens in 2 out of 50 wards in Chicago?

The fact is I’ve been on a bunch of campaigns on the other side of this vaunted “machine” or whatever and they are always a spectacular failure outside their own back yard.

I’d even go one step further and say that lingering influence of that kind of ultra-local politics is a sad indictment of that particular area’s economy, not a vindication of the local committeeman’s political power.

Comment by Will Caskey Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 7:43 am
===The fact is I’ve been on a bunch of campaigns on the other side of this vaunted “machine” or whatever and they are always a spectacular failure outside their own back yard.

I’d even go one step further and say that lingering influence of that kind of ultra-local politics is a sad indictment of that particular area’s economy, not a vindication of the local committeeman’s political power.===

I guess you know.

My mistake. No need to comment further. You TOLD me.

Thanks.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 8:03 am
That was, indeed, me above.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 8:10 am