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Berrios county party chairmanship in peril

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* Clem Balanoff of Our Revolution Illinois told me yesterday they’re going after Berrios’ party chairmanship next. Here’s the Tribune’s take…

In the wake of his primary election loss, Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios’ days as county Democratic Party chairman could be numbered.

Berrios is “undecided” on whether he’ll run for the post when the party meets next month to pick its leaders for the next two years, party spokesman Jacob Kaplan said Wednesday.

“I think he calls it a career right here,” said Ald. Roderick Sawyer, the 6th Ward committeeman who endorsed Berrios for re-election but left him off his recommended list of candidates on election day. Sawyer’s change of heart came after a county-commissioned study confirmed that assessments under Berrios caused “a wealth transfer from owners of lower-value homes to those of higher-value homes.” […]

Just who might replace Berrios in a post that has become a lightning rod for critics of the Democratic establishment was unclear Wednesday.

He ought to just realize how toxic he is and step aside. Notice how Sawyer left Berrios off his palm cards. But, he can be a stubborn man. He may have to be pushed out.

The list of Chicago and Cook County ward and township committeemen is here. Your thoughts on who should get the nod?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 12:57 pm

Comments

I wonder how long his daughters are going to last at the Assessor’s Office without him there?

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Anybody but Tony Munoz (12)….After investing $100,000 of his own money in Angeles Sandoval he loses his ward 58-42??? I’m sure he’s on Clem/Chuys list for extinction anyway because some people do remember HDO

Comment by Glass half full Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:12 pm
Brandan Reilly so we can go from an old, corrupt Madigan pal to a younger, corrupt Madigan pal. Everyone leaves happy.

Seriously, Daniel Biss should go for it if rules allow.

Comment by Not It Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:15 pm
He’s got to go. As for replacement, ask J.B., but whoever it is shouldn’t be a side lobster or have anything to do with property taxes.

Comment by Rutro Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:16 pm
–Your thoughts on who should get the nod?–

Mike Madigan? Ira Silverstein?

Maybe not.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:16 pm
Someone with youth but some experience under their belt.

Someone who can get support from both the city and suburban members on the commitee.

Someone who the old guard trusts but is also able to work well with reform minded members of the committee.

Rep. Mike Zalewski.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:19 pm
Well he was left off the palm card in 2nd and 19th wards as well. Both had Fritz. Anywhere else?

Comment by Southsider Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:20 pm
I can envision Berrios remaining in the Assessor’s office until the expiration of his term in December and, possibly, not seeking another two year term as county chairman. The one scenario for Berrios to stay on as county chair is if there is not a consensus candidate to replace him. The last few county chairs have not been heavyweights as was the norm in the past (Nash, Kelly, Arvey, Daley, Dunne, Vrdolyak…).

Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:20 pm
===The list of Chicago and Cook County ward and township committeemen is here. Your thoughts on who should get the nod? ====
Keep in mind a few of the township committeemen on the list lost. Charlie Hernandez of Cicero, Terry Matthews of Bloom and Johnnie O’Sullivan from Worth.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:20 pm
Paul Rosenfeld has built the city’s most impressive ward operation in 47. He’s manage to do it by inspiring grass roots involvement and would be a breath of fresh air as CC Dem chair.

Comment by Lucky Charms Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:21 pm
He’s done. He’s not going to run again.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:23 pm
Mathews lost to a our revolution woman and O’Sullivan lost to former county commissioner Murphy’s daughter. So look for them to be very independent neither had party help

Comment by Old Time R Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:25 pm
I second the Paul Rosenfeld nod. Smart, hardworking and ridiculously dedicated.

Comment by I am woman... Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:26 pm
Berrios didn’t even get 50% in his own ward. The guy is done he’s toast.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:29 pm
I was going to suggest Madigan, but Word beat me to it.

Were all of these folks reelected or is there some new folks coming in? Most of these folks have too much grey hair. I would suggest someone under 50 (or even under 40). When I look around at my Central Committee, I think: “Where are the fresh faces? What is our appeal to the next generation?” Cook County would be advised to do the same.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:29 pm
==Well he was left off the palm card in 2nd and 19th wards as well. Both had Fritz. Anywhere else?==

48 and 49 had Fritz

Comment by PJ Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:30 pm
Pot calling kettle, only the township posts were up. The ward posts are up in 2020.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:32 pm
Preckwinkle is the clear choice but she probably doesn’t want it. Yarbrough, Sawyer, or Harmon would be good choices.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:36 pm
Wheeling Township stood up for Kaegi too.

Comment by walker Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Rosenfeld won’t be the next Aldermans choice in 2020…Bridgette Gainor’s the one with the chops there anyway.
Matt O’Shea (19) is both young enough and experienced enough to handle that post.

Comment by Glass half full Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:40 pm
A lot of good people to choose from.

Reilly is probably the best fundraiser on the list, or maybe Lang.

Everyone on the list has ties to Madigan, so that is a useless question to even bring up.

The Sanders folks are probably pushing for Carlos, but they will have to battle with Waguespack for the left wing of the left wing.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:43 pm
===Paul Rosenfeld has built the city’s most impressive===

I like Paul, I’ve known him a long time. But he’s a lobbyist, which the media loves to hate.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:44 pm
that list doesn’t include this week’s election results. for example, terry matthews lost to lori wilcox in bloom and maggie crotty didn’t run for re-election in bremen…

Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:46 pm
anybody know if the weighted vote will be re-calculated before then?

Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Another vote for Rosenfeld here.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Harmon. Class it up, Dems.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:02 pm
Zalewski, but the father aldermen - not the rep son mini z

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:10 pm
Hopefully someone under 45. That 3% Millennial turnout in Cook County was atrocious.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:12 pm
@RichMiller - The media loved to hate Joe Berrios too and that didn’t stop the Cook County Dems picking him as chairnan.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:13 pm
===Preckwinkle is the clear choice but she probably doesn’t want it..===

Have you met her before?

Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:15 pm
===Preckwinkle is the clear choice but she probably doesn’t want it..===

Preckwinkle wants to be head of the party, and we saw it by the reaction of ambitious pols in the assessor’s race. Preckwinkle made it clear to people and orgs to back Berrios or stay out. Sawyer and Rosa, both ambitious ladder climbers, either supported Berrios or remained on the sidelines. Progressive organizations who are supported by union money that negotiates contracts w/ Preckwinkle did not endorse in the assessor’s race either.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:31 pm
@hisgirlfriday
It was 3.7% of 18-24 in CHICAGO. In 24-34 it was 13.9% in Chicago, up from past years.
Low yes, but not sure if out of line for past year turnout for 18-24.
Millenials are 22-38

Comment by Anonish Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:33 pm
If there is a candidate whom Preckwinkle, Rahm, and Madigan could all agree to, he or she would be the smart bet. But they might have a hard time finding someone decent who is willing to take the job.

Comment by Telly Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:33 pm
Hope he can afford his tab at Erie Cafe next year…

Comment by 44th Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 2:59 pm
@Anonish - I know what age group millennials are. I am one. I just was going by this CBS2 story with the 3% figure.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/03/20/illinois-primary-voter-turnout/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

if the 3% is wrong that is good to hear.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:03 pm
by my count, there are 7 new township committee chairs:

Bloom Township Lori Wilcox
Bremen Township Vernard Alsberry ?
Cicero Township Blanca M. Vargas
Northfield Township Tracy Katz Muhl
Norwood Park Township Frank Avino, Jr.
Orland Park Township Michael E. Hastings
Worth Township Patricia Joan Murphy

Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:08 pm
I saw the same reporting and discounted it out of hand.

Comment by Anonish Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:28 pm
My money is on Karen Yarbrough. Still has an organzation, and is moving into an ever bigger office. She should be rewarded for her performance.

Comment by Lil Lebowski Urban Achiever Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:34 pm
If Preckwinkle wants it, it’s hers.

Otherwise it will be Rod Sawyer

Comment by Grand Avenue Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:48 pm
Very interesting that as Lisa Hernandez got re-elected with huge numbers from Cicero, her husband Charlie Hernandez lost to Blanca Vargas who had a three figure campaign budget.

That means a lot of people were voting for Lisa and against Charlie.

Part of that is “year of the woman” and part of that is the fact that Lisa’s opponent made Charlie Hernandez the main negative issue in his race against Lisa. The attack didn’t stick to Lisa but it looks like it did turn Cicero against Charlie.

Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:53 pm
If Preckwinkle does not want to be chair, then the next Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party will be whoever JB Pritzker wants to be the chairman

Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 3:55 pm
Preckwinkle has been effectively running the party since at least 2012 (except on matters that Madigan cared about). That said, given that she’s effectively a lame duck I could see her passing. She’ll still be a strong voice in the room. I could see it going to Harmon or Lou Lang (more Dem voters in suburbs now) unless Madigan has a city candidate.

Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 4:00 pm
=== Paul Rosenfeld has built the city’s most impressive ward operation in 47. He’s manage to do it by inspiring grass roots involvement and would be a breath of fresh air as CC Dem chair. ===

Hemight have done a good job at growing the War’s organization, but it is hardly the City’s most impressive organization.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 4:08 pm
Robert Murphy has done a great job rebuilding the 39th Ward organization, but he’s not really a machine sort of guy.

Comment by Tominchicago Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 4:45 pm
If Toni doesnt want it, Rosenfeld would be a great selection.

Comment by 47 Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 4:56 pm
The 47th has indeed been impressive. If they’re not the best right now, I’d like to know who is. Rosenfeld would be a great pick.

Comment by Graybeard Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 5:04 pm
=== If they’re not the best right now, I’d like to know who is. ===

Didn’t think I’d have to say it - the 13th Ward Democratic Organization.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 5:14 pm
since you asked, here’s who had the best turnout this week:

Locale Committeeman Reg Vot Ball Cast TO
19th Wd O’Shea 36,508 15,451 42.32%
Oak Park Twnsp Harmon 38,228 15,725 41.13%
5th Wd Hairston 29,205 11,720 40.13%
Evanston Twnsp Kelly 50,007 19,766 39.53%
47th Wd Paul Rosenfeld 36,434 14,323 39.31%

Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 5:35 pm
If Berrios is out, look for the new chair to come from the black caucus - Yarbrough is a likely pick or Sawyer. Unlikely progressive Committeeman have enough weighted votes to get a “reformer” chairman in.

Comment by Spagnost Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 5:46 pm
At the end of the day, I don’t think it will matter. I think what will happen is each individual ward and township will continue to do whatever it wants without repercussion.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 5:56 pm
==Yarbrough is a likely pick==

A party chair overseeing elections? I guess it is Cook County…

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:45 pm
If Joe Berrios did first visit Alderman Tom Keane to get tickets fixed, he has made a fairly good career of it. In addition to his early patronage jobs, he has held public office as an elected official for almost four decades. I felt he was vulnerable since his ward organization lost its representative and aldermanic candidates in recent cycles. Berrios being defeated was the third loss for his group.

Comment by Practical Politics Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 12:06 am