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State Rep. Tabares likely moving “up” to Chicago city council

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* Multiple sources confirmed today that Rep. Tabares, who beat progressive activist Rudy Lozano by five points in 2012 and sits on the state Democratic Party’s central committee, is very likely getting the job…

Ald. Mike Zalewski (23rd), powerful chairman of the City Council’s Aviation Committee, said Monday he will resign May 31, paving the way for the appointment of a Hispanic alderman in the majority-Hispanic ward.

“What happened in the last election was real,” Zalewski said, referring to the sweep by County Commissioner-turned-Democratic Congressional nominee Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Garcia’s entire slate of progressive Hispanic candidates. […]

Zalewski’s decision to resign from the aldermanic seat he has held since 1995 comes just weeks after he helped Mayor Rahm Emanuel muscle through the City Council an $8.5 billion O’Hare Airport expansion project billed as a game-changer for Chicago. […]

Zalewski said he has a replacement in mind for a ward now 67 percent Hispanic. But, he refused to say whom he would recommend to the mayor.

Community leaders are expected to rally around State Rep. Silvana Tabares (D-Chicago) as Zalewski’s replacement.

The appointment of a prominent Hispanic woman would also help Il. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) with the “Me,Too” scandal swirling around his 13th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.

From what I can tell, this has been greased for a while now.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 3:55 pm

Comments

I wish that Zalewski’s last act was a “game-changer” expansion of Midway airport rather than O’Hare.

Comment by MT Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Is there anyway to expand Midway?

Comment by Ron Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:21 pm
===“What happened in the last election was real,” Zalewski said, referring to the sweep……===
He did a good job of holding on after Madigan gobbled up most of the white areas of the old 23rd ward for his 13th. I guess Ed Burke doesn’t see it as “real” yet. Going to be tough for him in the upcoming election. Unless of course this is part of the deal which is very possible. Or I should say probable.

Comment by Been There Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:35 pm
Airline industry lobbyist of the future?

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:36 pm
–Ald. Mike Zalewski (23rd), powerful chairman of the City Council’s Aviation Committee,…–

I have a vision of the future, and in it Zalewski is a lobbyist/”faciliator” representing contractors looking to cash in on the O’Hare expansion.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:43 pm
Mikes the first Chuy casualty….he was an excellent Alderman but the writings on the wall….Burke will retire also by September unless the Speaker can implore him to stay and fight so the cannons don’t focus on Quinn.

Comment by Glass half full Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 6:04 pm
I guess the mayor & Zalewski want fewer wards in play next year.

It’s kind of sad to see such a throwback alderman, who had an ugly, sometimes racist campaign in 2015 against a Mexican American candidate.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:39 am
His 2015 race was against the Polish lady. The Hispanic candidate was a nobody.

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 7:36 am
interesting

I don’t think the community has rallied around Tabaras

Zalewski’s ward superintendent is pretty popular out there

Where is Senator Sandoval in this, he lives in 23rd Ward also

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 7:51 am
“Racist campaign against a Mexican-American candidate?”

Apparently “anonymous” forgot to include the domestic (with his ex girlfriend) that belonged to this “sound candidate”. Good thing that candidate isn’t running now. It’s the #metoo movement.

Comment by Not applicable Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:31 pm