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If you live in a ward that is contested, you've probably noticed that you are getting mailings from the aldermanic candidates where you live. Maybe you've even gotten the so-called "robocall" — a recorded message from a candidate (usually the incumbent) encouraging you to come out to vote (for them), and listing some of the reasons why you should. Our friends in the 32nd Ward tell us that the two headline candidates, Ted Matlak and Scott Waguespack, have both sent mailings out to ward residents. A more hands-on approach is often taken as well, with both candidates and volunteers knocking on doors and talking to voters. Dispatching people to do the heavy-lifting of collecting signatures and turning out the vote is par for the course as well.
But what makes the campaign in the 32nd Ward different from a million other races in communities across the nation goes back to convicted former Deputy Water Commissioner Donald Tomczak and the Hired Truck scandal. One of the candidates, Catherine Zaryczny, produced transcripts for the Chicago Journal from the Robert Sorich trial in which Tomczak admitted to sending patronage workers out to work on Matlak's '03 re-election campaign. Old news? Not so fast! It seems that history is repeating itself in the 32nd Ward, and the press conference at City Hall yesterday seems to confirm the Tomczak connection that Waguespack first brought to the attention of a Sun-Times publication. Maybe not a smoking gun, but when you add it all up, it doesn't put Matlak in a good light.
This can't come at a good time for the increasingly unpopular Matlak, who is fighting to keep the seat he inherited in 1999 from his mentor, Terry Gabinski, who resigned. The Machine connections in this ward are deep and thick, going back to Dan Rostenkowski (who went to prison in 1995 after pleading guilty to two counts of mail fraud), and the ward was redrawn in 2001, excising most of the Latino population into the 1st Ward, ostensibly to protect Matlak. Still dealing with the fallout from the hyperdevelopment that Gabinski largely engineered in the area, Matlak is also percieved by ward residents as being unresponsive to the basic needs of the ward: city services like timely trash collection and street cleaning, not to mention the ease that developers have in getting zone changes. This is one of the races we're watching this season, and at least one of the challengers has the opportunity to take out a sitting alderman, if not at least force him into a runoff. With February 27 primed to be a day for aldermanic turnover, our money is on Waguespack.
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Matlak robocalled/polled me. I hung up without responding.
I extensively screeched about how badly Matlak sucks the other day, so I'll just say this: Vote for Wagy. He's not Matlak.
Go Scott!
But where are your signs? Ted has signs up all over RV. Do signs not matter? (I know, signs don't vote.) Still -- wave the flag!
Also, Scott would be wise to park himself out front of the Starbucks on Roscoe one morning and shake hands.
i'm really impressed with the chicagoist coverage/breakdown of the aldermania. i think when this site does stuff like this, it really distinguishes the -ist.
dw - Scott has been to the Starbucks on Roscoe. I've seem him there. I also know that they had a fundraiser last week at the Riverview Tavern. There were signs on every window facing damen and roscoe. I also received one of Scott's mailing pieces in my mail box - Looks good!
I still don't understand why anyone wants a guy from Berwyn to be their representative in the Chicago City Council. Couldn't you find some life-long resident to run against Matlak if he's so bad?
Bringing Tomczak and Rostenkowski into your argument just shows you don't have a clue.
What exactly do you think either of the other candidates can do to help your neighborhood? Do either of them have an actual plan or are they just running around with newsclippings in their hands crying "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"
Are services worse since Matlak took office? Could the other two do better? Those are the real concerns for residents of the 32nd Ward.
Most residents call their Precinct Captain to help resolve their small city problems. Do you think there will be a Precinct Captain to call if Ted is defeated? Be careful what you wish for.
Swift - are you worried you might lose your city job? The last time my neighbors saw their precinct captain do something...was when he demanded their signatures on a petition. If you want something done these days, you call 311 not your precinct captain, but that was a nice try.
Doesn't Waguespack work in Berwyn, live in Bucktown, and go to the same church as Matlak? What about catherine, you going to say she isn't worthy of running because she is Ukrainian? Are you going to hold it against all of us who have to take the train to work outside the city or were not born here? Why do you people continue to equate birthright in the machine to holding elected positions? Get a clue, it's the 21st century.
By the way, these guys didn't start the yelling. If federal papers show Tomczak testified he sent workers to Matlak, then he did. If Lester Cioch got nabbed for illegal activities like the Trib reported yesterday, and he is from the 32nd Ward Machine, maybe he should have been working instead. The Suntimes has been covering the corruption for years. So these two are just helping spread the message that we need change. Rosty, Tomczak, Gabinski and Matlak are all from the same corrupt crowd. Services are getting worse, but that isn't the only reason we're voting against him. If matlak wins, it'll be another 4 years of waste and corruption, but he'll keep his mouth zipped as usual.
Wake up Sue, you've been living in a cocoon too long, those of us living in this century want someone new.
I'll be sure to call my precinct captain the next time that Ted approves an R4 upzone on my street without any notice to the neighborhood. I'm sure he'll help me out!
Sue, you should get your facts straight. Scott only WORKS in Berwyn. He LIVES in Bucktown. Has for many years, and his family is originally from Bucktown.
if you're really wanting a change.
you'll have to talk to the neighbor, friend, or relative.
maybe you'll have to get out of your comfort zone and step over that line and say,
" let's go make it happen, together. I'll drive. Let's go vote Tuesday.
And I'll buy lunch afterwards."
if you don't help get another voter with you to the polling station.,
then you'll be left with just coffeeshop, blogsite whining about the
below the belt flyers, backdoor deals, more money for 4x6 posters, etc..
it's the numbers of votes that count, bygolly