August 29, 2018
RAOUL IS HUGE FAVORITE IN ATTORNEY GENERAL CONTEST
A plethora of benefits accrue to the young woman crowned as Miss America, but one of them is not being Illinois' attorney general. The pageant's 2003 winner, Erika Harold, is running for Lisa Madigan's post as a Rauner-funded Republican, and State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D) is the Madigan-backed Democrat. Both are African-Americans. Raoul is trying to position himself as the "change" candidate, but he is part and parcel of the Springfield culture. The AG's office has especial power, particularly in the Trump Era, to intervene in a myriad of legal matters. Illinois has become so lopsidedly Democratic that Harold has no chance. Full Article...
August 22, 2018
O'CONNOR UNDER SIEGE AS "COPORATE DEMOCRAT" IN 40TH WARD
The "corporate wing" of the Democratic party - as exemplified by the likes of Bill Clinton, Mike Madigan, J.B. Pritzker, Rahm Emanuel and, in Chicago's 40th Ward, Ald, Pat O'Connor -- is under siege by the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party," which has become increasingly leftist. O'Connor's primary foe in 2019 is teacher Dianne Daleiden, who calls herself a Bernie-crat, and backed socialist Bernie Sanders in 2016. "Democratic socialists" are running for alderman in the 33rd, 35th and 40th wards. O'Connor has been alderman since 1983 and is Emanuel's floor leader. Daleiden will attempt to make the contest a referendum on Emanuel-O'Connor, and will have CTU backing. Daleiden got 41.6% in 2015, and decries the gentrification of the ward, which runs from the River to Clark, between Petersen to Lawrence.. "It is time for change," he said. Full Article...
August 15, 2018
'DISCONNECTION' CRITICAL TO SILVERSEIN'S REELECTION
"Disconnection" is a beautiful thing, especially for Alderman Debra Silverstein, who is seeking reelection to a third term in Chicago's West Rogers Park 50th Ward in 2019. As for the mayor, there is no disconnection. "I'm endorsing" Rahm Emanuel, Silverstein said. As for her husband, state Senator Ira Silverstein (D-8), who is also the 50th Ward Democratic committeeman, disconnection is paramount for the alderman. The 20-year senator was ensnared in an alleged "sexual harassment" situation, was found by the legislature's Inspector General to have engaged in "conduct unbecoming a senator," and lost the 2018 Democratic primary to Ram Villivalam 14,689-5,586, getting 29.9 percent of the vote. Full Article...
August 8, 2018
HISPANIC ALDERMEN, OFFICEHOLDERS PLOT CHICAGO MAYORAL BIDS -- IN 2023
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the absence of a Hispanic Chicago mayoral candidate in 2019 makes Rahm Emanuel's heart go pitter-patter. Emanuel won the 2015 runoff against Chuy Garcia because he crafted a white/black coalition; he can win in 2019 if he crafts white/Hispanic coalition. Of course, that presumes that he gets into a runoff, and his opponent is Garry McCarthy or Lori Lightfoot. There will definitely be a Hispanic mayoral contender in 2023, said Ald. Gil Villegas (36th). That prospective field includes himself, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza and city clerk Anna Valencia. Hot 2019 aldermanic contests are shaping up in the Hispanic-majority 30th, 31st, 35th and 1st wards and the open seat in the 22nd Ward Full Article...
August 1, 2018
CONTRADICTIONS ABOUND IN 33RD WARD ALDERMANIC RACE
Welcome investment without displacement. Encourage economic development without gentrification. 43 years is not enough. Enjoy booming property values but keep rents under control. Change the alderman but don't change the ward. Be "progressive" but hold back the hands of time. These are but a few of the inherent contradictions facing both residents and aldermanic candidates in the 33rd Ward, which includes Albany Park, Avondale and Ravenswood Manor. The area is going upscale almost meteorically, and economic development is fostering rising property values and putting "affordable housing" in jeopardy. The ward is majority-Hispanic, but whites are the voting majority. Incumbent Ald. Deb Mell avoided a 2015 runoff by just 17 votes, and dad Dick Mell lost the 2016 Dem. committeeman race by 50 votes. There is restlessness in the ward with the status quo. Running against Mell in 2019 is an eclectic field including Aaron Goldstein, Katie Sieracki and Rossana Rodriguez (who calls herself an "independent socialist"). The Reign of the Mells, which dates back to 1975, is in dire jeopardy. Full Article...
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