April 25, 2007
DALEY ARMY CAN'T SAVE "SOW'S EAR" CANDIDATES
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. That old adage was apparent in the April 17 Chicago aldermanic runoff results, as Ted Matlak, Vilma Colom, Dorothy Tillman, Shirley Coleman and Madeleine Haithcock all lost. In the 35th Ward (Logan Square), Colom was trying a comeback, taking estrogen, and making nice; she had 300 workers from Ald. Dick Mell's (33rd) organization surging through the ward's 35 precincts. But her reputation for arrogance and pomposity could not be eradicated. Ald. Rey Colon beat Colom 4,073-2,464. Mell's herculean effort gained a grand total of 246 votes over the 2/27 primary. In the 32nd Ward (Bucktown, Wicker Park), an invasion of workers from the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 23rd, 40th and 47th wards, plus an expenditure of $700,000, was insufficient to rescue the Loch Ness Monster of Chicago politics, Ted Matlak; he's rarely seen or heard, and voters decided to make that situation permanent. Independent Scott Waguespack beat Matlak by 122 votes, heralding the death knell of the old Rostenkowski Machine. Dem Committeeman Terry Gabinski will soon follow Matlak into oblivion. Full Article...
April 18, 2007
SPRINGFIELD JOCKEYING FIERCE FOR 2010 ELECTION
Have no doubt: Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is going to challenge Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the 2010 Democratic primary, and, unlike defeated 2006 Republican Judy Baar Topinka, Madigan won't lack money, manpower or credibility. Jockeying for 2010 permeates all that moves and breathes and Springfield. The governor's "Blagojevich First" tax hike package is critical to his re-election. With $7 billion in new revenue from the gross receipts and payroll tax, plus $26 billion from the Lottery lease and pension bonds, Blago will reduce unfunded pension liability by $27 billion, and have enough money to hike education and healthcare spending -- without raising the state income or sales tax. That's a persuasive argument for a third term. But Illinois House Speaker wants his daughter to be governor, and he's not going to give Blago his billions...from which he can raise millions in campaign cash. Blagojevich First is Dead on Arrival in the Illinois House, which means there will be a fiscal crisis in 2008 or 2009, which means Lisa beats Rod in 2010. A bitter Dem primary could help the Republicans. Full Article...
April 11, 2007
HORMONES ARE RAGING IN ALDERMANIC RUNOFFS
Hormones are raging in the April 17 aldermanic runoffs in 12 Chicago wards. Especially prevalent are liberal doses of testosterone and estrogen. Voter perception of candidate pomposity, probity, sensitivity and contrition will determine the outcome. In the 35th Ward (Logan Square), ex-Ald. Vilma Colom is trying to ameliorate her bitchy image, and a "surge" of precinct captains from Ald. Dick Mell's 33rd Ward are trying to convince skeptical voters that she's now the Sweet Estrogen Kid. Ald. Rey Colon is flip-flopping crazily, having evolved from anti-Daley in 2003, to a Daley council backer, and now back to an "independent" in 2007. In the 2nd Ward (South Loop: Dearborn Park, Taylor Street), Bob Fioretti may be the next Blair Hull or Jack Ryan -- a big-spender undone by a legal paper trail. Ald. Madeline Haithcock got only 20% in the primary, but she's ragging Fioretti as a "liar," citing an Order for Protection he sought in 2003; Haithcock is solidifying her black base, and white female support. In the 50th Ward (West Rogers Park), Ald. Berny Stone's perpetual Grumpy Old Man schtick is wearing thin. And in the 32nd Ward (Wicker Park), a desperate Ald. Ted Matlak is blasting foe Scott Waguespack for flunking the bar exam, but posing as an "attorney." Full Article...
April 4, 2007
"HIBERNATOR" MATLAK MAY LOSE 32ND WARD RUNOFF
Alderman Ted Matlak (32nd) is the Loch Ness Monster of Chicago politics. There are periodic rumors of sightings, but none confirmed. Matlak has been alderman of the Bucktown/Wicker Park/South Lakeview/Ukrainian Village 32nd Ward since 1999, and his Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to hibernate for the first 45 months of his 4-year (48 month) term, and then campaign frantically for 90 days. He's never seen, never heard, doesn't return phone calls, but always supports Mayor Rich Daley in council votes. However, 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman Terry Gabinski, who was alderman from 1969-99, and is a protégé of disgraced ex-Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (1959-95), isn't asleep at the switch. Gabinski and Rostenkowski are calling in every chit to save Matlak. But the ward's changing demographics spell their doom. Incoming upscale owners won't trade their vote for a garbage can, and revile Matlak. "Reformer" Scott Waguespack got 3,185 votes (39%) in the 2/27 primary, to Matlak's 3,793 (47%). Hordes of precinct workers have invaded the 32nd Ward from the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 23rd, 40th and 47th wards. But Matlak is a goner. In the 43rd Ward, Ald. Vi Daley looks like a winner, but Ald. Rey Colon is in a tough race in the 35th Ward. Full Article...
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