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Oppo dump!

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Illinois

* Hmm…

As far back as 1991, Lori Lightfoot has represented Illinois Republicans in their redistricting efforts.

· 1991: Lightfoot was an attorney for Illinois Republican members of Congress, including Dennis Hastert, in their lawsuit over the congressional map following the 1990 census. [Hastert v. State Bd. of Elections, 777 F. Supp. 634 (N.D. Ill. 1991)]

* Lightfoot worked with some heavy hitters…

Tyrone C. Fahner, Richard S. Williamson, Lori E. Lightfoot, George J. Tzanetopoulos, Mayer, Brown & Platt, Charles Frank Marino, David M. Marino, Chicago, Ill., for plaintiffs Hastert, et al. […]

The Republican Party members of the current Illinois congressional delegation filed the initial action on June 27, 1991. Hastert v. State Board of Elections, No. 91 C 4028. The Hastert plaintiffs seek a declaration of the unconstitutionality of the present congressional districts due to population changes reflected in the 1990 census and ask the court to enjoin the Board from conducting the 1992 congressional elections under the current congressional district plan. Additionally, the Hastert plaintiffs submit for court approval their own statewide redistricting proposal to replace the current plan.

* Meanwhile…

Mayoral challenger Garry McCarthy on Wednesday denounced as “revisionist history” former Police Board President Lori Lightfoot’s claim that McCarthy’s “track record” was so “troubling,” he never should have been hired as Chicago police superintendent. […]

She called McCarthy “a guy [who] still sincerely believes that stop-and-frisk, stopping everything that moves without legal justification, without meeting the constitutional restrictions is appropriate.” She noted that “a consent decree followed his tenure in Newark” and will soon follow his tenure in Chicago.

* Mayor Emanuel’s campaign…

“While all of these candidates try to figure out a path to get into the runoff that already have them attacking one another, the mayor is focused on the best path forward for Chicago, with safer streets, expanding summer jobs opportunities for youth, and bringing more good jobs to Chicago.” - Pete Giangreco, campaign spokesman

The mayor’s people point out that there are two tickets to the runoff. Emanuel has one and the rest are gonna be fighting each other to snag the other one.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 2:35 pm

Comments

Runoff?

Don’t talk about — Runoff!?!

You kidding me? Runoff?

Comment by Ok Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 2:39 pm
The 1991 case doesn’t strike me as a big deal. It appears Ms. Lightfoot was a young associate at the firm at the time. When you’re a young associate at a big law firm, you work on what they tell you to work on.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 2:40 pm
Hey Pete Giangreco….

Ask Laquan McDonald if he thinks Rahm has made “safer streets” in Chicago.

Comment by Soapbox Derby Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 2:46 pm
– “Lori Lightfoot has represented Illinois Republicans in their redistricting efforts.” –

So she’s accustomed to losing.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 2:51 pm
The Seventh Circuit also reprimanded Lightfoot for misleading it.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1014145.html

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:01 pm
Is Rahm absolutely guaranteed one of those tickets, if everyone and their grandfather runs and the ideological / regional appeals cut just so?

My strong hunch is yes … but I’m not 100% on that.

Comment by ZC Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:04 pm
I wouldn’t have Giangreco as my front man with the media, unless the objective is to show there’s a more insufferably obnoxious dude in Chicago than Emanuel.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:07 pm
The real reason Lori Lightfoot hurts Rahm is because a second black woman in the race lessons the chance of Dorothy Brown getting that second ticket, which is Rahm’s best case scenario opponent

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:16 pm
Lori Lightfoot is right. It is the height of hubris that a guy who miserably failed in his job like Garry McCarthy has the chutzpah to run for mayor in a city he’s not even from.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:27 pm
==Hey Pete Giangreco….

Ask Laquan McDonald if he thinks Rahm has made “safer streets” in Chicago.==

Yep, yep, and yep.

The Mayor is clearly quivering in his boots, and Giangreco is going to make a lot of money in this campaign if he has to hit with oppo for 9 opponents, should Gainer enter the race.

The amazing thing is how they are now seemingly planning for a runoff.

Comment by Anon35 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:28 pm
I’m guessing the redistricting thing won’t get a ton of play. Too long ago and too wonky an issue.

Comment by Actual Red Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:33 pm
=Is Rahm absolutely guaranteed one of those tickets, if everyone and their grandfather runs and the ideological / regional appeals cut just so?”

He probably will be, but there is a slight possibility he might not be.

There are a few people in the Dem circles who say he isn’t even going to run and will pull the plug just before Labor Day. I suspect if his numbers continue to plunk, he might not run. It took Daley 21 years to have people calling for his head. For Rahm, it only took until the McDonald tape at year 5.

The council falls in line for him, but so many people out in the neighborhoods want him gone not just from the Mayor’s office, but the city entirely.

Comment by Anon35 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:35 pm
+++ The mayor’s people point out that there are two tickets to the runoff. Emanuel has one and the rest are gonna be fighting each other to snag the other one. +++

Did the Mayor’s guy actually say they have one of the two “golden tickets” to the runoff?

Comment by titan Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:40 pm
Pretty amazing that now the Mayor of Chicago’s own political spokesperson is talking runoff entrance in positive terms.

Daley would’be been apoplectic to fall below 65% of the vote. Shows how far off Rahm is from that man’s power and abilities.

Comment by RMD's Revenge Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:07 pm
In fairness, it’s easier to win with 65% if you either have an awesome patronage army, or you can spend down the city’s future finances to buy off everyone whose support you need.

Comment by ZC Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:45 pm
Cynic, Lori is from Ohio and Vallas’ house has been in the suburbs for many years until his recent move.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:05 pm
Lightfoot has lived in Chicago for thirty years Anonymous.

She worked on a Republican remap case. That’s the attack? Lol. OK. But if she gets all of the Republican votes in Chicago, Rahm might not get that second slot in the run-off.

Are they really attacking her for working with Republicans? What a gift.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:10 pm
Giangreco he of the magic reappearing recycled mail pieces and soft focus shots fortune? A friend once told me if you accountant pulls up in a Mercedes you may want to double check how much you are paying him.

Comment by Sonny Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:36 pm
Let’s revisit some local political history here. First, why was Daley able to so easily secure reelection cycle after cycle? Was it maybe because there was an actual ward by ward machine in place during the 90s and 2000s? That machine doesn’t exist any more folks. So stop comparing apples to oranges. And if there are at least 4 or 5 folks on the ticket it will guarantee a run off. So let’s stop feigning disbelief that there might be a run off. It’s happening. Embrace it.

Re the challengers, Lightfoot, McCarthy and all these other wannabes are gearing up for a harsh awakening. They’ve never run for office before and put themselves in the campaign spotlight. Everyone knows what there is to know about Rahm Emanuel. These others? The oppo dumps are just getting started I’m guessing and they probably won’t be pretty.

It’s gonna be a long 11 months.

Comment by Shytown Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:40 pm
I don’t care that Lori is from Ohio. She’s lived here for decades. Not true of McCarthy.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:40 pm
Lori isn’t from Ohio! She is from Chicago.

Vallas and his family moved from Beverly to Palos Heights because that is where she was a police officer.

Their Chicago credentials TRUMP Rahm’s who, until 2011, lived in Chicago a total of 5 years (between DC, Little Rock, etc…), and even then, he is a suburbanite!!

Comment by Anon35 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:46 pm
@ Wordslinger

Couldn’t agree more with your Giangreco comment.

Comment by Soapbox Derby Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 6:10 pm
– But if she gets all of the Republican votes in Chicago, Rahm might not get that second slot in the run-off. –

Fun with Numbers:

Trump got 135,317 votes in Chicago in the 2016 general (that’s more than the entire population of 88 Illinois counties, for those into counties).

Garcia made the runoff in 2015 with 160,414 votes.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 11, 18 @ 8:58 am
I would love for an alternative to Emanuel to emerge on the left, but politics aside I was not too impressed with the quality and content Lightfoot’s initial campaign statements. I am not sure she has what it takes to campaign effectively.

Comment by Molly Maguire Friday, May 11, 18 @ 12:46 pm