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* Sneed…
Sneed hears rumbles Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is kicking the tires for a possible bid for mayor.
Word is Dart, who is now serving his third term as sheriff, is getting antsy; starting to refill his campaign coffers; revamping his website; and conducting a fundraiser Monday in Springfield — his old stomping grounds as a former state legislator.
“Tom didn’t do fundraisers last year,” a top Dart source said.
“But there is a lot of volatility going on, and he is in the process of making a decision of what to do next,” the source said. “Tom has five children and raising a big family makes Chicago an easier base.”
A history note amidst the current disenchantment amongst many black voters: In 1992, Dart won the 28th House District seat, which was 64 percent black, beating black incumbent Rep. Nelson Rice, who was backed by heavyweight African- American politicos Lemuel Austin and Bill Shaw.
That looks like a deliberately planted story to my eyes (and anyone with eyes, for that matter). He may just be trying to gin up his fundraiser turnout, but it’s become pretty clear recently that Dart is looking to move up.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:30 am
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The “history note” is the ultimate “plant” tell…
I’m willing to bet there are days Tom Dart says “I’ve been Sheriff, how long?”
Dart has to be itchy, but spots have been few to choose from and the Rahm troubles have to make that itch even “itchier” I guess…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:36 am
I kinda thought he’d take a look at the Governor’s office, especially with a fundraiser in Springfield. Then again, even Mr. 30% Approval rating looks daunting with, whatever, $50 million dollars to throw at the race.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:42 am
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least. He has really staffed up in the last year. I have heard many say he should have stayed in it to beat Rahm the first time. Plus, if the rumors about the Burkes making a move on the sheriff’s office are legit then now is as good of a time as any.
Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:42 am
I know first hand of campaign consultants who have approached him about a run for Governor and he told them no and gave his young family as the reason, so I was a little surprised by this but obviously Mayor involves less travel. Still, hard to believe anyone really wishes they could trade places with Rahm Emanuel right now.
Comment by The Captain Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:43 am
Big backlash #1 will be from Chicago Police Officers. They despise how he runs his jail, and are aghast when hardened, fugitive felons are arrested on the street while wearing Dart’s home monitoring devices. The stories go on, but suffice it to say these guys will make a lot of inconvenient noise if they hear Dart wants to run their city.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:46 am
Dart has been as blatantly ambitious as much as he’s been blatantly political, and in recent times he kissed up with Preckwinkle and became a media moth. This news is no surprise.
Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:46 am
Name recognition is much better for him in a mayoral race than a gubernatorial race. This would assume (I assume) Rahm doesn’t run again.
Dart v. Summers v. Lar Daly?
Comment by chi Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:49 am
Dart has been a very incompetent Sheriff. 1 in 4 of his jail guards calls off on a daily basis. He paid 68 million in overtime costs just in last two years to cover the absenteeism. He has 102 more political positions more than former Sheriff Sheahan. He has numerous lawsuits pending including backpage which is suing him for 200 million in a case he should of never been involved. His budget for 2016 was a record high 570 million but he couldn’t find the funding to hire any deputys. The county settled two multiple million dollar lawsuits against him personally. One for targeting a military employee and another for political retaliation. I could go on and on and on. He would bankrupt chicago in one year.
Comment by Truth Teller Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:50 am
==Big backlash #1 will be from Chicago Police Officers.== The FOP endorsement doesn’t have the same cachet it once did.
Comment by SAP Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:52 am
If it appears in Sneed, it’s a deliberately planted story.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 9:56 am
Wow truth teller. That’s a lot right off the top of your head. Methinks you’ve been holding that one in for a while and it feels good to let it go.
Get it? Forget it. Begorrah. Local treasure Grant DePorter turns 63 today…
Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:00 am
Juanita, have you met Truth Teller? Natch.
Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:01 am
Lisa Madigan mayor. Dart AG.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:04 am
since we are only a few weeks out of one primary, time to plan for the future even if we can barely catch a breath. he’s smart, even if not uniformly right on his staff picks, but a huge heart and committed to good policy.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:07 am
When Mayor Daley No. 2 announced he would not run again back in Sept. 2010, Dart threw his name out there. He was gonna be the Machine candidate to beat Rahm. When he figured he couldn’t beat Rahm’s gazillions, he decided not to run. 8 years later, in 2018, things may be a lot different. Dart will be up for reelection as Sheriff in 2018. Will be interesting to see if he files in Nov. 2017!
Comment by Johnny Justice Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:08 am
What are the Burkes doing with the Sheriffs office? That sounds like bigger news!
Comment by AnonAnon Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:13 am
Good job by Capt Fax & Sneed ( alovely couple BTW)to hype event and fill the till.
Let’s see Dart has been using the young family line for about 20 years so are they out of college yet
Let’s not quibble on issues, gender, etc. Dart could be a very good statewide or citywide candidate —- but will Rahm promise to move out and take all his baggage?
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:14 am
Dart is a political hack. Chicago does not need him as Mayor. Nice enough guy personally though.
Comment by Tone Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:26 am
Ugh. Dart is a nice enough guy, but has not done a proficient job running the jail system. Whatever problems Chicago has would be compounded tenfold with Dart as mayor. He would run things like the good old days as a product of the traditional Chicago Dem system which has given him rise, a system which no longer suffices when it comes to CPS, CPD and the city as a whole.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:58 am
It’s a poorly kept secret that Ed Burke has been angling to have Eddie Jr. run for Sheriff.
Comment by AnonAnonAnon Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:16 am
Didn’t he put his hat in the ring for mayor before?
Comment by burbanite Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:24 am
That would be a wonderful development. That’s a guy I’d walk some precincts for.
Comment by A guy Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:32 am
Gotta wonder if Dart is trying to beat Hynes to the punch here…
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:32 am
@Carhartt is correct. Every single Sneed item is a “planted story.”
And coincidently, her Planter-in-Chief is none other than Ed Burke. As others here have noted, “the Chairman” is angling to slate his son for sheriff. Burke Jr. is currently a boss in Toni Preckwinkle’s Cook County Homeland Security office.
In other words, this Sneedling might be more of a push from Burke than a leap from Dart. He’s held fundraisers in Springfield before.
Comment by Phil Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:45 am
Hynes would be much better than Dart.
Comment by Tone Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:49 pm
If he’s running for mayor, why is he having a fundraiser in Springfield?
Hynes!? As John Oliver might say, how is he still a thing?
Comment by St. L Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:10 pm
Don’t forget that Tim Dart (Tom’s brother) is a big time lobbyist in City Hall. He and Burke are VERY close.
Comment by AnonAnonAnon Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Dart is one of the best guys on the Dem Party’s bench. He’s amassed a strong record of reforms as Cook County Sheriff. From what I hear, he loves
being sheriff and may stay there to continue to serve.
Comment by Downstate Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Sheriff Dart has been a leader on bringing attention and resources to a lot of places in the Southland that really need it. That kind of focus and dedication to Chicago’s purposely ignored and underserved neighborhoods would be a welcome change to have on the fifth floor.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 3:17 pm
During the Edgar administration I worked very closely with Tom Dart on a very significant legislative issue. I was very impressed by him. He understood the issue, worked very closely with the state agency director and with the Cook County Public Guardian and shepherded major reforms thru the GA and onto the Governor’s desk, where they were signed into law. I think very highly of him.
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 4:12 pm
I hadn’t thought of it before, but Dart would make sense as the Dems governor candidate for two reasons: high name recognition in the Chicago media market, and he doesn’t have anything to do with the current mess in Springfield. Not sure of anyone else who combines those qualities except Preckwinkle.
Comment by Later Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 4:47 pm