January 18, 2007
Two Races We're Watching
Here at the Chicagoist offices, we're keeping an eye on some of the bigger ward races in town, as well as a few that we just find interesting. The weirdness and anger in the 46th Ward, for example, occupies a lot of our time, as do the accusations and oddball press releases that come out of 49. The 7th Ward is always a fun distraction, and anytime we see Beavers and Jackson in the news, we have to stop and watch. But the two races that keep us most interested, for the sheer passion and potential to shake things up, are in the 32nd and the 50th Wards.
In the 32nd Ward, Scott Waguespack, who is challenging Ted Matlak for Alderman, has opened a new campaign headquarters and will be hosting events most weeks leading up to the election. Aside from being a credible challenger to Matlak, this race is interesting because the winner will define the direction of the ward. Matlak was appointed alderman by Mayor Daley in 1999, after the resignation Terry Gabinski, who had been alderman since 1969. He now finds himself having to defend the outcome of redevelopment plans put into place by his mentor. This is one aldermanic race that really will be about the issues.
The other race that we feel is a must-see is the dogfight that is taking place in the 50th Ward. Bernie Stone, who has been alderman in West Rogers Park longer than Chicago has existed, is being challenged by three candidates. While Naisy Dolar flounders and Salman Aftab makes the rounds on CAN TV with Frank Avila, Greg Brewer is mounting a serious challenge to Stone, netting the Chicago Federation of Labor's endorsement, and the money and manpower that that brings with it. Like the 32nd Ward, this is a race that will be a referendum on both voter satisfaction with the alderman over the basic delivery of city services, and the direction of the ward in the future. Fasten your seat belts, kids, this year will be a heck of a ride!
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Matlak need to go. That guy is a disaster and seems hell-bent on destroying the 32nd ward.
vit, agreed. But isn't the 32nd ward already destroyed? At least by the standards of the people that want to "save" it.
Kevin,
Glad to see 49 has caught the eye of The Chicagoist. We too feel this should be a exciting election season. I'm glad to help be your eyes and ears.
As for those accusations you claim. In three years, I haven't been served with one law-suit asking to retract any of my blogposts as false or slander.
As Alderman Moore is so fond of saying, I'll stand on my record.
Kevin,
Glad to see 49 has caught the eye of The Chicagoist. We too feel this should be a exciting election season. I'm glad to help be your eyes and ears.
As for those accusations you claim. In three years, I haven't been served with one law-suit asking to retract any of my blogposts as false or slander.
As Alderman Moore is so fond of saying, I'll stand on my record.
From my observation, Naisy continues to mount a strong campaign and challenge to Stone.
I agree. Naisy continues to stay solid and strong.
It's really interesting to see the blog coverage of these races. Both 46 and 49 seem to have a cadre of anti-incumbent bloggers who vorifciously post reduclious rants and accusations. All of the opponents in 50 seem to have a pretty active on-line presence, but as someone who has to commute through the 50th, you really see a lot more signs for the incumbent, and you might see a few Aftab signs, but barely any Brewer or Dolar signs. My guess is the bloggers probably represent a very small, but very vocal disgruntled segment of a ward's population.
Bloggy, you got it right.
But they make a big noise, and can push people AWAY from their desired candidate.
The 46th ward blogs are a new extenstion of the anti-Shiller hate, as shown in this Anti-Shiller bookmark from last election.
A few anonymous people have this strong urge to be so negative, but i think it really turns off people n the middle, who could vote for EITHER side. But these anonymous haters just give off an image that most people who support the opposing candidate are like that.
It also doesn't make sense why they stay in their neighborhood if they hate it so much. When i read their blogs, i rarely (if ever) find anything they actually LIKE about their neighborhood. They make it seem like Engelewood or Lawndale!
If the incumbent wins the election, those negative bloggers, if they don't want to continue in self-destructive hate & pain, need to move out where they can be happy (i wonder what place would they consider ideal? They never mention that...)
I'm curious to know if there were some early predictions for the 50th. Last I heard Brewer was standing as the candidate most likely to knock-off Stone. Naisy was a distant second. And Sal Aftab was not even in the running. Any news that speaks differently ?
I'm curious to know if there are any early predictions for the race in the 50th. Through my grapevine sources, I've heard that Brewer is pretty close in strength and can matchup to Stone's campaign if it comes down to the wire. Naisy Dolar is a distant second. And Sal Aftab is not even in the race.
Is there news that speaks differently ? Do tell.
Bobby, you've got your story straight. Brewer already had a strong campaign and was the frontrunner. Now, with the CFL's financial, strategic, and manpower help, Brewer is far and away the favorite to beat Stone.
Naisy Dolar and Salman Aftab are fringe candidates and not serious.
cfl endorsement won't go far in 50. plus, where is the proof of this manpower or money? labor troops have already hit cardenas and natarus' wards, but no sign of the help in 50. seems like an empty endorsement.
So what's your point Firecat? Are you saying that its anyone's race at the moment?
So what's your point Firecat ? Are you saying its anyone's race ?
i'd say wait and see. let's see what other endorsements come down the pike, its too close to call at this point.
Too close to call ?! From what I understand Brewer has most of the endorsements for the candidates and he also has the CFL. And you know he's going to get SEIU.
I think this is a race between Stone and Brewer. God bless Brewer.
Last night I walked down to Devn street for a bite to eat. I hadn't been there in sometime; so it came to my big surprise that the majority of Indian stores had Stone/Daley posters up in their windows. There were a few Aftab posters. I think I may had seen one Dolar poster. But none for Brewer. This is making me think of a few things:
Stone's popularity among the Indo/Pak residence and businesses of the 50th has been greatly underestimated.
-OR-
Brewer's campaign is not targeting the Asian demographic in the 50th.
-OR-
Most of the businesses on Devon aren't much concerned about the election and most likely can't vote anyways because they're not eligible.
-OR-
Stone has promised them special favors.
As much as I don't want to forecast this election, I would have to give the Asian vote swing to Stone. At least he's working to get their approval--and that're more than I can say about Brewer or Dolar. True, posting a sign to endorse a candidate or incumbent may not be a validation that a group of people will be voting any specific way. But it sure presents a lot of appeal.
Stone's cronies go from store to store coercing store owners to give money to Bernie's campaign and put up signs. If they don't do it, building inspectors will show up to close down the place.
Signs don't mean nothin'.
Bernie is corrupt and victimizes people. He's and old, senile, nasty (did I say OLD?), crusty fogie who's got to go! If he's elected he's just going to have that batshit crazy bitch daughter of his appointed in his place.
SEIU is staying out. Dolar got FOP and is poised to get IVI-IPO. Again I say, let's wait and see.
no wonder seiu didn't back brewer. no one wants to back a candidate that can't even fundraise. His D2s show he can't raise money (only $10K in the last filing period)! Even Aftab raised more than him!
85K loan means no more money for a run-off. no wonder seiu is waiting to see.
Dolar got DL21C and Citizen Action endorsed them both. This is far from over.
Dolar raised almost 60K, Aftab a little over 20K. Stone's got bank.
This is going to be one exciting election night. Both the Tribune and Sun-Times just endorsed Naisy Dolar; but Brewer has the CFL.
I think the 32nd ward went downhill when Matlak moved his headquarters out of the old Bucktown neighborhood location into the industrial area between the river and the Kennedy.
That way when the condo developers came by to get his "blessing" they didn't even need to drive through the neighborhood they were destroying.
Don't cound out Catherine Zaryczny (the other candidate in the 32nd ward race) since she's even more anti-developer than Scott Waguespack and represents the ethnic people (that remain, sadly) who have lived in the area for over 10 years...