January 5, 2011
"SWEET" ALDERMANIC JOB DRAWS FLOCK OF BLACK ASPIRANTS

ANALYSIS & OPINION BY RUSS STEWART

In street vernacular, “sweet” means tantalizingly pleasurable or remuneratively beneficial. In Chicago ’s black wards, “sweet” describes the job of alderman.

Given that black unemployment is 16.1 percent, it’s not surprising that 189 candidates filed for alderman in the city’s 20 black-majority wards.

The reason? A 4-year gig in the part-time post will generate a revenue stream of $6,478,224. That’s an annual aldermanic salary of $110,556, totaling $442,224 through 2017; plus $32,000 per year in “contingency funds” for office rent, supplies, phone and car lease, totaling $128,000; and $177,000 per year for four or more office staffers, totaling $708,000. Plus health insurance and city pension contributions.

If some “staffers” are family or friends, or the office rent is paid to a pal or themselves, so be it. Each alderman has $1.3 million annually in discretionary funds, to be spent on street, alley, environmental or anti-crime improvements, for a total of $5.2 million over the term. That is “sweet” to the max.

In Congress, black Democrats are elected to lifetime seats, and rise to powerful committee chairmanships. Not in Chicago , where aldermanic volatility is the rule. The average black serves 2.1 terms, the average white 4.6 terms. In the black wards, the “4-Ps” control: Prison, pulpit, persistence and primogeniture.

Since 1973, 31 aldermen have been convicted on federal charges of bribery, official misconduct and tax evasion, of which 13 were black. The prison door creates a lot of vacancies. Pastors and clergymen are an important and respected presence in their communities, and have a following greater than most politicians. Losers are not stigmatized. Those who are persistent, running repeatedly, eventually win. And familiar names, the offspring of former aldermen, are never reticent about pursuing the family business.

Carol Moseley Braun is now the black “consensus” candidate for mayor. If she garners near-unanimous support from black voters, who comprise 40 percent of the electorate, she could win. In 2007, 174,987 votes were cast in the black wards. In 1987, Harold Washington’s final election, turnout was 471,011, or 296,024 higher than 2007.

With 189 black aldermanic candidates, runoffs on April 5 are assured – although pending challenges could remove many from the ballot. If Braun makes the runoff, black turnout will be gargantuan. That uncontrolled vote will give “outsiders” an edge. Here’s an analysis of the 20 contests:

2nd Ward (South Loop: Dearborn Park, north Bronzeville, Taylor Street): Once jammed with CHA housing projects, the ward has gentrified, upscale condominiums dominate, and whites now comprise a majority of the electorate, but not of the population. Bob Fioretti topped black incumbent Madeline Haithcock by 2,927-2,130 in the 2007 primary, and then whomped her with 66.2 percent in the runoff. Until a throat cancer diagnosis, Fioretti was set to run for mayor. Seeking re-election, Fioretti has 7 foes, with Genita Robinson and Angelique Collins being the most prominent blacks. Outlook: Fioretti wins.

3rd Ward (South Side: Bronzeville): In 2007, after 24 years in office, the antics of buffoonish and racially polarizing Dorothy Tillman wore thin. Serious “Tillman fatigue” erupted. In 2003, Tillman was re-elected with 3,986 votes (52 percent), to Pat Dowell’s 2,728. Four years later, Dowell trailed 3,383-3,020 in the primary, but won the runoff with 54 percent.

Dense and persistent, Tillman has launched Round III, running her daughter, Ebony Tillman, against Dowell. Three others are running “She’s (Dowell) not kept her promises” regarding economic development and ward services, said one critic. Outlook: The Tillmans will latch tight to Braun, but Dowell is favored.

4th Ward (South Side: Oakland, Kenwood-Hyde Park): Toni Preckwinkle, the new County Board president, ousted 18-year incumbent Tim Evans by 109 votes in the 1991 runoff, on her third try. Evans ran for mayor in 1989, getting 40.3 percent against Daley. In 1995 and 1999, Preckwinkle beat Kwame Raoul, who was appointed to Barack Obama’s state senate seat in 2005.

This year, in a field of 11 candidates, Preckwinkle is backing State Representative Will Burns; his principal foe is Norman Bolden, who operates banquet hall on 43rd Street , and lost races to Preckwinkle in 2003 (32 percent) and 2007 (24 percent). Outlook: A Burns-Bolden runoff, with an edge to Burns.

5th Ward (Hyde Park, University of Chicago): Until 1995, this ward had a string of noteworthy white alderman, the most prominent being Paul Douglas (1939-42), elected U.S. Senator in 1948; and Leon Despres (1955-75), a scourge of the late Richard J. Daley. Larry Bloom (1979-95) was the last white alderman, and he was convicted of tax evasion in 1998 in the Silver Shovel probe.

Black incumbent Leslie Hairston, elected in 1999, ousted one-termer Barbara Holt. She got 72 percent in 2003, 74 percent in 2007, and faces 9 opponents in 2011. The most formidable is Anne Marie Miles, a community activist and millionaire, who will spend what it takes. “She’s (Hairston) done a good job,” said one observer. Hairston pondered a 2011 mayoral run. Outlook: Hairston will win.

6th Ward (South Side: Chatham, Park Manor): Once the power base of the late Gene Sawyer, alderman (1971-86) and mayor (1987-89). Sawyer lost the 1989 primary to Daley. John Steele (now a judge) and Freddrenna Lyle (since 1998) have been aldermen, and Lyle was a vociferous opponent of Wal-Mart. But Son of Sawyer is rising, as Roderick Sawyer is running in 2011, along with 6 others, the most credible being police officer Richard Wooten. Outlook: A Lyle-Sawyer runoff, and a Sawyer win.

7th Ward ( South Chicago , around old U.S. Steel works): Sandi Jackson, wife of U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2) is a vessel in search of a port. Elected in 2007 over Darcel Beavers, daughter of former Alderman Bill Beavers (who got Todd Stroger’s county board seat), Jackson pondered races for lieutenant governor, mayor and city clerk. Her 2007 margin was 6,462-3,703 (57 percent), and she beat the elder Beavers for committeeman in 2008. Outlook: Eleven candidates filed. “She (Jackson) doesn’t like her job,” said an observer. Expect a Jackson-Beavers runoff. Against anybody but Darcel, Jackson would lose.

8th Ward (South Side: Burnside, Gately Park Avalon Park ): The political machine built by John Stroger from 1970 to 2006 has crumbled, thanks to son Todd. Young Stroger, alderman from 2003 to 2006, was appointed to his late father’s job, and promptly validated the Peter Principle – rising to his level of incompetence. Outlook: Alderman Michelle Harris, a Stroger ally, faces Faheem Shabazz, who got 1,131 votes in 2007, and 6 others. She could lose.

9th Ward (far South Side): 12-year Alderman Anthony Beale, an ally of Jackson and State Senator James Meeks, incurred the wrath of the unions by securing a Super Wal-Mart for his ward. Beale is chairman of the council’s Police and Fire committee, and won 58 percent in 2007. He faces 8 opponents, with Eddie Reed, a city firefighter, sure to get plenty of union money. Beale is favored.

15th Ward (Chicago Lawn, Marquette Park ): A white Lithuanian ward until the 1960s, it had white aldermen until 1986. Of the 4 black aldermen since, the most infamous was Virgil Jones (1991-99), convicted of corruption charges. Incumbent Toni Foulkes won the 2007 runoff over lawyer Felicia Simmons-Stovall with 61 percent, after finishing first in an 11-candidate primary. Outlook: Simmons-Stovall and 8 others are running. Expect a runoff.

16th Ward ( Englewood ): It’s had a string of inconsequential aldermen -- Anna Langford (1983-91), Shirley Coleman (1991-2007), and now JoAnn Thompson, who beat Coleman with 57 percent in the 2007 runoff. Fifteen candidates filed, including Hal Baskin, who has lost 5 races, and Jonathan Stamps, a community activist. Expect a Thompson-Stamps runoff.

17th Ward (west Chatham ): Since 1963, the ward has been an aldermanic revolving-door, with 6 occupants of the post. Allan Streeter went to jail; Terry Peterson became CHA chairman. Incumbent Latasha Thomas won with 67 percent in 2007, and faces 7 foes, the most credible being publisher Ron Carter. Thomas favored.

18th Ward (Southwest Side: north of 65th Street, near Midway Airport): This ward “went black” about 1985, but kept electing white aldermen until 2007, when Lona Lane replaced Tom Murphy, who became a judge. Lane has not entrenched herself, and faces insurance agent Joe Ziegler, sheriff’s police officer Don Beecham, and activists Chuks Onyezia and Manny Roman. Expect a runoff.

20th Ward (Woodlawn, Grand Crossing): Since 1971, two aldermen – Cliff Kelley (1971-87) and Arenda Troutman (1990-2008) -- have graced the federal slammer. The current incumbent is Willie Cochran, who had the good fortune to have filed against Troutman before she was indicted. He beat her 62-32 percent. Cochran faces 4 opponents, the most prominent being “New Age” rap artist Rhymefest Smith. Easy win for Cochran.

21st Ward ( Washington Heights ): Patriarchy is prevalent in this ward. Incumbent Howard Brookins Jr., the council’s prime Wal-Mart champion, is the son of former state senator Howard Brookins Sr., and the godson of former Alderman Niles Sherman (1979-87). Sherman lost to Jesse Evans in 1987, and lost comeback bids in 1991, 1995 and 1999. Evans went to jail in 1997, and was replaced in 1999 by Leonard DeVille, a local clergyman, who beat, among others, Brookins Jr. -- who then beat DeVille in 2003. The SEIU and other unions spent over $500,000 to defeat Brookins in 2007, but he prevailed in the runoff by a solid 61 percent. In 2008, Brookins lost the Democratic primary for state’s attorney.

This year, the unions are backing Sylvia Jones, and Sheldon Sherman, Niles ’ son, and 6 others, are running for alderman. Outlook: Brookins wins.

24th Ward (West Side: Lawndale): A middle-class Jewish neighborhood  dominated by Jacob Arvey and Arthur X. Elrod through the 1950s, the ward was all-black by the time of the 1968 riots. It has had 8 black aldermen since 1963, none distinguished. Bill Henry (1983-91) and Michael Chandler (1995-2007) lasted the longest. Sharon Dixon upset Chandler by 51.6 percent in the 2007 runoff. Testimony to Dixon ’s ineptitude is the fact that 22 candidates filed against her, including Chandler . A runoff is certain, and Dixon may not be in it.

27th Ward (west Loop and near West Side ): Secretary of State Jesse White’s political machine keeps Alderman Walter Burnett, his protégé, in office. The ward’s population is now one-third white. Burnett has served since 1995, won with 88 percent in 2003, and was unopposed in 2007. White is grooming Burnett for his state job in 2014. Outlook: Against four foes, Burnett wins in 2011.

28th Ward ( Garfield Park ): Ed Smith broke into politics in 1983, riding the Washington wave to oust William Carothers, who was convicted of bribery later that year. The ward’s last white alderman, Joe Jambrone (1967-71), went to the slammer in 1973. Smith, in his long career, has never been besmirched by scandal. Smith is retiring, and is backing Jason Ervin, who allegedly lives outside the ward. Ten candidates filed, the most formidable being Ervin, Mike Stinson, firefighter Velda Brunner and Carmelita Earls. A certain runoff, likely Brunner-Ervin.

29th Ward ( Austin ): The Carothers’ Clan is nothing if not predictable. Ike, William’s son, became Austin ’s alderman in 1999, and was chairman of the police committee. But he took $40,000 in bribes, and was convicted in 2010. His replacement is Deborah Graham, a state representative. Thirteen candidates filed, including Mary Gardner, wife of the late Joe Gardner, 1995 mayoral candidate; Marshall Hatch, a local clergyman and Operation PUSH vice-president; union official O.J. Johnson, and deputy water department commissioner Tom Simmons. Outlook: Graham broke with the Carothers’ crowd, who will coalesce behind whoever they think can beat her – meaning Hatch or Simmons.

34th Ward (far South Side): Carrie Austin, widow of a former alderman, has served since 1994. She is unbeatable, having won with 70 percent in 2007. But even she has a flock of opponents (7), the most credible being Burl McQueen, a local pastor. Austin wins.

37th Ward (east Austin, West Side): Emma Mitts, an Ike Carothers protégé, was appointed to her seat in 2000, replacing Percy Giles (1986-1999), who went to the Big House for bribery. Despite a growing Hispanic population, Mitts won with 73 percent in 2003 and 59 percent in 2007. Two Hispanics – Minerva Orozco and Tommy Abina – are running, but Mitts is safe.