August 15, 2007
STONE, CAPPARELLI FACE COMMITTEEMAN CONTEST

ANALYSIS & OPINION BY RUSS STEWART

Unlike the movie character in “The Highlander,” who lived forever, politicians aren’t immortal. Two venerable political institutions on Chicago’s Northwest Side – Alderman Berny Stone (50th) and former State Representative Ralph Capparelli – are facing what could be their proverbial Last Hurrah in 2008.

Stone, age 79, and Capparelli, age 83, are Democratic committeemen in, respectively, the 50th and 41st wards. Their terms expire in 2008, and neither intends to retire. Stone has been alderman of his West Rogers Park ward since 1973, and was narrowly re-elected in 2007. Capparelli, first elected to the Illinois House in 1970, was defeated in 2004. He has been committeeman since 1992.

Going into 2008, Stone and Capparelli confront both generational and organizational issues. In short, their opponents will claim that both they and their ward organizations are enfeebled and ineffectual, and that it’s time for a change.

State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-8) is preparing to challenge Stone. Silverstein, age 46, has been a senator since 1999, and bemoans the collapse of the once-potent 50th Ward Democrats. Stone has long been Silverstein’s political mentor, and their anticipated clash will be bitter. “Why didn’t he talk to me,” said Stone of Silverstein. “What’s the matter with him? Where are his guts?”

In the 41st Ward, which encompasses Edison Park, Norwood Park, Oriole Park, and part of Edgebrook, Capparelli said he is willing to “step aside” if the right successor surfaces, and he named three: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District president Terry O’Brien, Board of Review attorney Tom Jaconetty, and veteran city worker and political operative John Malatesta. Otherwise, said Capparelli, he will run again.

Two candidates are already in the contest: Mary O’Connor, a former Edison Park Chamber of Commerce president, who operates a restaurant and catering business; and Frank Coconate, chairman of the Northwest Side Democratic Organization. The tempestuous Coconate has already dubbed O’Connor a “shill” for Republican Alderman Brian Doherty (41st), and lambasts Capparelli for having the “worst Democratic ward organization in Chicago.”

In another development, ambitious area attorneys should note that there will be two 10th District subcircuit judgeships on the ballot in 2008. Judge Aurie Pucinski, first elected in 2004, resigned in 2006 after she won a countywide judgeship, which enabled her to move to the Loop. Judge Robert Kowalski, first elected in 1994, retired. Ken Fletcher, who lost the 1992 Democratic primary, and Jim Snyder, who lost in 2004, were appointed as their successors on an interim basis.

In Rosemont, Brad Stephens, the son of the late Mayor Don Stephens, was appointed to succeed his father as both mayor and Leyden Township Republican committeeman. It was thought that Cook County Commissioner Pete Silvestri, the Elmwood Park mayor, would take the party post, but he demurred. Young Stephens remains as the township’s Supervisor. As the mayor/supervisor/committeeman, he now has more jobs – and theoretically more power – than his late, very powerful father.

Here’s an analysis of the ward races:

41st Ward: Even though city aldermanic elections are non-partisan, an avowed Republican has won the job in 11 of the past 17 elections, dating back to 1947. Incumbent Brian Doherty, who upset Democrat Roman Pucinski in 1991, was easily re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. No other ward so consistently elects Republicans, or even has a Republican alderman.

Capparelli defeated Pucinski, who had been committeeman since 1964, in the 1992 Democratic primary. The current Republican committeeman is State Representative Mike McAuliffe (R-20), a Doherty ally, who beat Capparelli in 2004.

In addition, the 41st ranks atop the city’s wards in delivering a large vote to Republicans. In the nine presidential contests since 1972, a Republican won the ward six times: Richard Nixon in 1972 by 16,243 votes; Gerald Ford in 1976 by 7,167 votes; Ronald Reagan in 1980 by 4,254 votes and in 1984 by 13,594 votes; George H.W. Bush in 1998 by 8,966 votes and in 1992 by 1,376 votes. But it’s gone Democratic since, albeit narrowly: For Bill Clinton in 1996 by 2,932 votes, Al Gore in 2000 by 1,659 votes, and John Kerry in 2004 by 1,608 votes. In every election, the 41st was the city’s top Republican vote-producer.

In the 2002 governor’s election, Democrat Rod Blagojevich lost the 41st Ward by 629 votes, but won the other 49 wards. In 2006, Blagojevich won the ward by 650 votes, his closest in Chicago.

“It’s a disgrace,” said Coconate. “There is no Democratic party in the ward. There are no precinct workers. This could be a great Democratic ward, but he (Capparelli) gives the Republicans a free pass.”

According to Capparelli, he “doesn’t know yet” if he will run, but he will definitely run if either O’Connor or Coconate loom as his replacement. O’Brien, when contacted, said he is “not interested” in being the committeeman.

O’Connor, who in the past contributed to and supported Doherty, said she is a lifelong Democrat and that the party needs a “stronger presence” in the ward. O’Connor added that she has worked with Doherty on Edison Park matters, and that her long-term goal is to be alderman. “But I am not out to replace him (Doherty). When he retires, I will run.” O’Connor claimed to have 50 volunteers, who will accumulate the 2,500 signatures she needs to get on the ballot.

“She’s a shill,” insisted Coconate. “The Doherty-McAuliffe-Silvestri gang has a deal with the 36th Ward,” referring to Democratic Committeeman and Alderman Bill Banks and State Senator Jim DeLeo (D-10). “The Republicans don’t run anybody against DeLeo or interfere in the 36th Ward, and the Democrats don’t run anybody strong against McAuliffe or Silverstri, or try to beat Doherty. Both of them want to keep the Democrats weak in the 41st Ward.”

Coconate added that Dominic Longo, a veteran 36th Ward political operative, will be masterminding the O’Connor campaign -- a charge which O’Connor denies.

As for Doherty, he admits that he and O’Connor are “longtime friends,” but added that he will “not publicly support her.” Said Doherty: “I am a Republican.”

The outlook: Expect Capparelli to run again. He still has $293,056 in his legislative account, so money will be no problem. He will likely arrange for his own “shills” – such as Mike Marzullo and/or Andy DeVito – to file for ward committeeman, so as to divide the anti-Capparelli vote. In 2004, Capparelli, unopposed, got 7,549 votes. In a five- or six-candidate field, Capparelli will surely get 4,000 votes, and win, with O’Connor a respectable second.

50th Ward: In contemplating a race against Stone, Silverstein has apparently concluded that his political self-preservation necessitates a pre-emptive strike. Stone won by just 661 votes (52.9 percent) in the 2007 aldermanic runoff, after spending $550,910. Stone brought in an outside consultant, who ran the runoff campaign, and dozens of precinct workers flooded in from other Democratic organizations.

Naisy Dolar will run again in 2011, and demographic trends make her formidable. The ward is becoming less Jewish, and more of a mecca for Muslims and “people of color.” Stone has promised to run again. The ward is also Silverstein’s political base, and he aspires to a long legislative career and a Senate leadership post in the future. If Stone loses to an independent in 2011, the new alderman could then run for committeeman in 2012.

By becoming committeeman in 2008, Silverstein – who disavows any desire to be alderman – would be in a position to back a new candidate for alderman in the future, when Stone retires. Rumors abound that Stone wants to be succeeded by his daughter, Ilana Stone Feketitsch. The mayor fills any vacancy, and the presumption is that Stone wants to remain as committeeman to insure her succession. That would not happen if Silverstein were committeeman, and the new powerhouse in the ward.

“We need to revamp the ward organization,” said Silverstein. “I supported Berny in all his aldermanic campaigns. But we need to bring new life into the party.” Silverstein said he is “strongly considering” a bid for committeeman, and will publicly announce his intentions by the end of August. But, according to ward and Springfield sources, he is definitely running.

The outlook: Stone was unopposed for committeeman in 2004, and got 5,919 votes. In the 2007 runoff, Stone topped Dolar 5,965-5,304. Stone has $44,601 in his campaign account, and Silverstein $122,499. Turnout will be heavy on Feb. 5, with liberals and independents flocking to the polls to support Barack Obama and/or Hillary Clinton. If Silverstein positions himself as the “independent” or “reform” candidate, he will win.

“If Ira runs against me, I will run somebody against him” in the primary, promised Stone. Silverstein stands for re-election in 2008.

10th Subcircuit: Each Democratic committeeman has a rotating pick. This year, it’s Pat O’Connor’s (40th) and Gene Schulter’s (47th) turn. Fletcher, from the 41st Ward, and Snyder, from the 46th Ward, will both run, but, without party backing, they have no chance.