May 28, 2008
LOCAL ALDERMAN SHOW DISTANCE FROM DALEY

ANALYSIS & OPINION BY RUSS STEWART

Just as beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, so, too, does the perception of political power depend on the eyesight of the viewer.

Most Chicagoans, as well as national observers, perceive Mayor Rich Daley as at the pinnacle of his power, untouched by a profusion of political scandals, creator of a glorious City on a Hill, and a beloved and benevolent dictator who will reign forevermore.

Chicago aldermen, especially from the Northwest Side, have a starkly different perspective, namely, that King Richard's days are numbered, that he may yet be indicted, that he may not run for re-election in 2011, that he may not win if he runs, and that, if he wins in 2011, he'll certainly retire by 2015.

Citizens look as far as next week. Politicians look to the next election and beyond, and their conclusion is clear: Being a Daley toady has no rewards, as the mayor can't punish or benefit them now, and he may be gone later.

As detailed in the adjoining aldermanic vote chart, at least 10 of the area's 12 aldermen were not total toadies during 2007-08. The two who rose to toady status, backing Daley on every key issue, were Dick Mell (33rd) and Ariel Reboyras (30th). Five others -- Bill Banks (36th), Tom Allen (38th), Marge Laurino (39th), Pat O'Connor (40th) and Pat Levar (45th) -- fall into the semi-toady category, opposing Daley only on the 2008 property tax increase of $83.4 million but backing the mayor on other issues, including the $5.9 billion city budget and its fee and tax hikes.

The most contrary of the area's aldermen were Brian Doherty (41st), the City Council's only Republican, who opposed the budget and all tax hikes, and Rey Colon (35th) and Berny Stone (50th), who bucked the budget and two tax hikes. Gene Schulter (47th) opposed the budget and the property tax hike, and "independent" Scott Waguespack (32nd), who beat a pro-Daley incumbent in 2007, backed the mayor on two tax hikes and the budget but not on revising the public art program.

The 2011 city election will be run with the current ward boundaries, as the results of the 2010 census will not be available until the end of that year. New ward boundaries will be drawn in 2011 by the sitting aldermen, effective in 2015.

In assessing future aldermanic contests, two factors are paramount: family ties and money. For most incumbents, their job is the family business. They want to pass it along to somebody with the same DNA. Here's a look at some developing contests:

36th Ward: Banks, age 58, who has been an alderman since 1983, is the chairman of the council's Zoning Committee. Rumors swirl that he will retire in 2011. Banks' nephew, James Banks, a principal in the development company of Sergio and Banks, has built a lucrative law practice handling rezoning matters in the 36th Ward and adjacent wards; uncle Bill abstains from voting whenever nephew James's cases come before his committee.

Given his knowledge and connections, Bill Banks could earn millions as a full-time zoning lawyer, teaming up with his nephew or with his brother Sam Banks. He could focus on the suburbs, and every development company with a brain would hire his firm. At present, his chairmanship is a conflict of interest and an impediment to big bucks.

The alderman is unbeatable, and he has long harbored aspirations to be county assessor. That won't happen. In the 2007 election, Banks clobbered firefighter Nick Sposato with 76 percent of the vote. So Banks has several choices: Be alderman for life, quit in 2011 and make money while he's still at the top of his game, or stay as alderman until his 25-year-old son Joe, a law student, is ready to take the baton.

According to sources in the ward, Banks will retire as alderman in 2011, retain the Democratic committeeman's job, and insert somebody to keep the seat warm for his son. His choice for alderman is likely to be his former driver, Mike Tinerella, now an assistant zoning administrator in the city Department of Zoning. Other possibilities include attorney Larry Andolino, who lost two races for judge, John Donovan Jr., the ward sanitation superintendent and the son of John Donovan, a key political advisor to Banks, and John Rice, Banks' aide and driver.

Whatever the situation, Sposato is determined to run again in 2011.

45th Ward: Levar, age 57, who has been an alderman since 1987, is the chairman of the Aviation Committee. Like Banks, Levar would love pass along his job to his son, Pat Jr., who works for the Chicago Park District. In February Levar was elected unopposed as Democratic committeeman, succeeding his mentor, the late Tom Lyons. He's in a position to dictate his successor, but, unlike Banks' 36th Ward, the 45th Ward is not as pliant.

Levar was re-elected in 2007 with 56 percent of the vote, getting 818 more votes than a majority -- and avoiding a runoff. As 2011 approaches, there is voter fatigue with Levar, and Levar fatigue with the job. The alderman suffers from diabetes and back disc problems. The ward's demographics have changed. There are many more independent voters in the upscale areas around Portage Park, and Jefferson Park, Gladstone Park and Forest Glen are no longer filled with Democrats who vote as their precinct captain instruct.

"I love the job," Levar said. But voters no longer love him. If Levar runs again, he will be beaten. The alderman, however, qualifies for the maximum city pension, and he also gets a county pension. A tough 2011 campaign is a tremendous incentive to retire.

38th Ward: Allen, age 56, who has been an alderman since 1993, is the chairman of the Transportation Committee. He sought the 2008 Democratic nomination for Cook County state's attorney, losing to Anita Alvarez by just 9,562 votes. Had Allen been nominated, he'd have been elected. Will Allen run again for alderman in 2011?

Allen lives in the 11th Judicial Sub-Circuit, which includes liberal areas such as Oak Park and many black precincts. Andolino, despite Banks' support, lost primaries to liberal, independent women in 2004 and 2006. If Allen has a clear shot at a judgeship in 2010, countywide or sub-circuit, he'll take it. Otherwise, he'll run again for alderman.

The "Cullerton Clan" has dominated the 38th Ward since its creation in 1931. A Cullerton family member has been the alderman of the ward for 73 of the past 77 years. Allen's wife is the sister-in-law of Tim Cullerton, who is the brother of ward Democratic Committeeman Patty Jo Cullerton and the son of the late Alderman Tom Cullerton. If Allen resigns as alderman, Patty Jo Cullerton would be his certain successor.

41st Ward: Doherty, age 50, who has been an alderman since 1991, has become a veritable political maestro. His ward is filled with tax-hating home owners and Daley-hating police and firefighters. By visibly and consistently opposing Daley, Doherty, even though he is a Republican, is a hero. He won re-election with 72 percent of the vote in 2007. Daley has chosen not to funnel jobs and money to a Democrat who could build an anti-Doherty organization in the ward. As long as Daley is mayor, Doherty is safe.

50th Ward: Stone, age 80, was re-elected alderman in 2007 by 661 votes (with 52.9 percent of the votes cast) over Naisy Dolar, and he then got obliterated by state Senator Ira Silverstein in the 2008 Democratic committeeman's race, losing by 3,086 votes and getting just 32.5 percent of the vote. Stone owes his 2007 win to an infusion of pro-Daley workers.

The alderman is in a lose-lose situation. Bucking the mayor won't take any 2011 votes away from the anti-Daley Dolar, who already is running, and the mayor now has no incentive to rescue Stone again in 2011. Say bye-bye to Berny.

33rd Ward: The career of Mell, age 71, who has been an alderman since 1975 and who is the chairman of the Rules Committee, has been all about three words: Me, me, me. Mell decided that he wanted to make his daughter Patti's obscure husband, Rod Blagojevich, a somebody, so, under Mell's tutelage, Blagojevich went from state representative (in 1992) to Congress (in 1996) to governor (in 2002) -- and has performed much to Mell's distress. In 2008 Mell made his other daughter, Deborah, a state representative.

 In 2011, if Mell retires, Chuck Lomato, his longtime chief of staff, will be the heir apparent, but sibling rivalry may dictate otherwise. If Patti Blagojevich is no longer Illinois' first lady, she may want her daddy's job. And Mell will give it to her.