December 25, 2002
MAJOR BATTLES LOOM IN SEVEN HISPANIC WARDS
Second, politically, the dominant power in Chicago Hispanic politics is a non-Hispanic: Mayor Rich Daley. In the 2003 elections, nine city wards have Hispanic majorities, and eight will elect a Hispanic alderman, of which four will be of Mexican descent, four Puerto Rican, and one (Ed Burke in the 14th Ward) white. 26th Ward (West Town): Incumbent Billy Ocasio took Gutierrez’s seat in this Puerto Rican ward in 1993. Colom, who is Puerto Rican in this Puerto Rican-majority ward, won the 1995 runoff by 1,475 votes, and won in 1999 by 1,775 votes. Full Article...
December 18, 2002
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS PREPARE FOR OPPOSITION ASSAULT
On Dec. 9, Levar filed petitions containing 786 pages; Lappe filed 54 pages, containing roughly 950 signatures, and Conway filed 85 pages, containing roughly 1,200 signatures. Allen, backed by Patty Jo Cullerton’s ward organization, filed over 8,000 petition signatures; Hornowski filed under 800. 47th Ward: Label this “Kelly versus Schulter, Round Two.” Full Article...
December 11, 2002
FITZGERALD'S PROSPECTS IN '04 ARE NOT THAT BLEAK
Democrats argue that Fitzgerald didn’t really win in 1998; instead, they say that Illinois voters rejected controversial incumbent Carol Moseley-Braun, who lost to Fitzgerald by 98,545 votes, which allegedly makes Fitzgerald’s election a fluke. After his win, Fitzgerald promised to be an “independent” senator, and to serve only two terms. * Carol Moseley-Braun, of Chicago, age 55. * State Senator Barack Obama (D-13), of Chicago, age 41, a black from Chicago’s South Side. Obama won’t run if Moseley-Braun does. Like Moseley-Braun, Obama would be a sure loser against Fitzgerald. * Investment banker Blair Hull, of Chicago, age 59... Full Article...
December 4, 2002
HERE'S "RUSS AWARDS" FOR 2002 POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT
There are the Oscars, the Emmys, and a myriad of obscure awards for performers in various public endeavors. Beginning with 2002, and every election year hereafter, this column will bestow awards for political achievement upon local and statewide politicians. The award could be called the “Russ Stewart’s Analysis and Opinion and Nadig Newspapers’ Political Achievement Award.” That’s a mouthful. Or it could be contracted to an acronym: The RSAONNPAA Award. That’s neither rememberable nor catchy. So, in the interest of brevity, and with the utmost humility, here’s the first annual Illinois “Russ Awards”: Full Article...
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