July 29, 2020
1876 ELECTION "DEAL" IS ORIGIN OF 2020 U.S. RACE RELATIONS
Can you imagine a contemporary America in which at least nine states have a Black population majority, a Black governor, one or more Black U.S. senators, a Black congressional delegation majority and a Black-dominated state legislature? That was well within the realm of possibility 150 years ago in the 1870s. But because of a bunch of scheming, self-serving politicians, opportunistic presidents, and the squalid "Deal of 1876," it never happened. What did happen was that Rutherford Hayes (R), with the connivance of both pro-Republican commercial interests and ex-Confederate Southern white politicians stole the 1876 presidential election from popular-vote winner Samuel Tilden (D). The electoral vote was 185-184. And that resulted in the disenfranchisement of 4,880,000 freed southern slaves, which lasted for the next century. That's 4.8 million people. The situation was kind of like a "Cancel Culture, Part I," but against Black slaves. Full Article...
July 22, 2020
COVID-19 NO IMPEDIMENT TO PRITZKER'S FUNDRAISING -- BUT OTHERS ON "PAUSE"
Governor J.B. Pritzker has $744,615 cash on hand and raised $3,026,001 since Oct. 1. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has $1,257,528 on hand and raised $42,483. County board president Toni Preckwinkle has $4,553 on hand and raised $266,794. Speaker Mike Madigan has $13,630,169 on hand. For incumbents, money de-stabilizes a level playing field - unless the officeholder is egregiously incompetent and unpopular. Then it matters not. Think former Gov. Bruce Rauner. For challengers, having money equal to the incumbent levels the playing field, allowing the challenger to define himself/herself before the incumbent does so. D-2 campaign fund-raising disclosures must be filed quarterly. This week's chart covers receipts for the past three 90-day quarters and cash on hand as of June 30. Here are my takeaways. Full Article...
July 15, 2020
CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION FLUNKS IN 3RD DISTRICT IL HOUSE RACE
A teacher's pet almost always gets to the head of the class. But a Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) favorite doesn't necessarily go to Springfield - as was demonstrated in the Hispanic-majority 3rd Illinois House District way back on March 17. Eva Dina Delgado defeated teacher and CTU activist Nidia Carranza 6,302-5,922, with 51.5 percent of the vote despite her being the hand-picked choice of criminally-charged former state Representative Luis Arroyo (D-3) and because of the key backing of Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th), an Arroyo protege who replaced him as 36th Ward committeeperson. Villegas is also Mayor Lori Lightfoot's City Council floor leader. He's also Arroyo's still existent 36th Ward political operation. Son Luis Arroyo Jr. is a county commissioner, and his term expires in 2022. Carranza raised $264,999, most from the CTU and teacher sources, and Delgado raised $194,258. With Arroyo gone, a battle or North Side NUMERO UNO is underway between Iris Martinez and Gil Villegas. Full Article...
July 8, 2020
IMMINENT PROPERTY TAX HIKE IMPACTS PATLAK-WENDT BOARD OF REVIEW RACE
“Quarantine” is a great concept. It’s sometimes used as a nautical term in which a seagoing vessel is detained in port for 40 days to contain a potential or actual infectious disease. It’s working for COVID-19. It’s not going to work to contain any real or perceived anger over the 2019/second installment property tax bills that will be due. There is a low-key contest for 1st Dist. Board of Review commissioner. The incumbent is Dan Patlak (R), who won 353,705-327,998 in 2016. His opponent is Tammy Wendt (D), who won the 3/17/20 primary 110,559-91,893 over the slated Abdulnasser Rashid. Patlak has nearly $600,000. Wendt was part of the Jason Van Dyke legal defense team. The district contains 27 suburban townships, and a few Chicago precincts. The Trump vote (and anti-vote) is key. Attached is a CHART detailing the 2016 vote results. Full Article...
July 1, 2020
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