With the aldermanic runoff elections just over 2 weeks away, the drama is starting to pick up in a neighborhood not far from your own (or maybe even your own)! Reports from Ukrainian Village indicate that the 32nd Ward Regular Democratic Organization has been sending out a mailing with allegations that we only heard rumors of before February 27. Charges that candidate Scott Waguespak represented himself as an American lawyer while traveling abroad are touted on this mailing as a reason not to vote for him. While it's true that the American Bar Association doesn't list him as a lawyer on their website, nothing we've seen in his campaign literature or his history indicates that he ever claimed to be. He did earn a law degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and has been endorsed by several professors there, as well as other lawyers in the area. While lawyers aren't generally held in high esteem, especially in political circles, they don't tend to put their names behind people that might get them in ethical trouble (unless they're Eddie Vrdolyak).
Also making the rounds is a YouTube video, charmingly titled "Won't Be Matlak-ed Again," by FedUpWithMatlak. Scott's supporters sure know their base.
In what is probably one of the nastiest races this year, 2nd Ward aldermanic challenger Bob Fioretti is (again) facing problems with his legal past. An order of protection filed against him by a female court reporter in 2003 keeps coming back to haunt him, this time with more details. The Chicago Tribune, which has now built a solid record of destroying candidates for elective office with lurid legal details of past sexual indiscretions, reported over the weekend that in court documents "his lawyer wrote that Fioretti and the woman 'had a dating relationship that terminated approximately 10 years ago.'" Fioretti has been trying to explain the issue away since before the municipal election, but it just won't go away. Yesterday, the Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women pulled its endorsement of him (for the second time), telling ABC7 News that "he misled them regarding a relationship with a woman who filed an order of protection against him in 2003." Buoyed by this news, incumbent alderman Madeline Haithcock took the opportunity to kick Fioretti while he was down, telling the Sun-Times that he isn't a civil rights attorney, but "one of those 'lawyers who run after ambulances.'"
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The Matlak video rules! If Ted loses, it will be because of those cinder-block monsters that he's upzoned all over the ward.
What's particularly funny is that all of the worst giant construction projects have Matlak signs all over them -- there couldn't be a more obvious display of Ted's real constitutency: big development.
Fioretti's past is one thing... but Haithcock hasn't done jack squat for the 2nd ward. I hope people realize that the 2nd ward needs an alderman who will work for the residents.. not miss meetings and ignore phone calls.
Very cool video! I called Matlack's office FOUR times about a sinkhole in front of my apartment. Never got a call back. My boss knows someone in Streets & San downtown. He called his friend for me. That's when it finally got fixed. Bye-bye Matlack...
Love the Matlak video. I lived in his ward for 3 years and he never once responded to an email for a phone call. I now live around the corner in the 1st ward, so I still see his influence everywhere and I met him once coming off the 'el', I REALLY hope he loses.
I'm not certain that the ABA maintains a comprehensive list of licensed attorneys. Waguespack does not have an Illinois law license (according to the ARDC website) for whatever difference that makes.
Can any one enlighten me as to why N.O.W.W. backed Fioretti in the First Place over the progressive Black civil rights lawyer who worked for Lisa Madigan and had the support of IVI- IPO and much much more importantly the progressive Howard Dean types still active in Chicago? I mean what's the deal or is N.O.W.W simply trying to add a the fifth letter to their name to further clarify their true mission, moving from the National Organization of White Women to the National Organization of Wealthy White Women?
Just curious is all
Can any one enlighten me as to why N.O.W.W. backed Fioretti in the First Place over the progressive Black civil rights lawyer who worked for Lisa Madigan and had the support of IVI- IPO and much much more importantly the progressive Howard Dean types still active in Chicago? I mean what's the deal or is N.O.W.W simply trying to add a the fifth letter to their name to further clarify their true mission, moving from the National Organization of White Women to the National Organization of Wealthy White Women?
Just curious is all
I've stopped by Matlak's Monday night office hours 3 times in as many years. 5 break ins to our garage, 2 abandoned vehicles in front of the house. Twice have new homes being built on Oakley resulted in our plants and flowers getting destroyed. Check out all the Matlak propoganda on all the new construction and abandoned buildings that developers own! Telling. Get your friends out to vote for Scott!
its time to take Matlaks out, its time now, get your friend out to vote, dont miss this chance, DONT.