What Could be More Exciting...

...than Ed Smith's video blog? As alderman of the West Side's 28th Ward, Smith has a reputation as (sort of) an independent. Coming into office with Harold Washington in 1983, Smith was behind the smoking ban, has pushed for federal prosecution of former police commander Jon Burge, and generally annoys Mayor Daley. Now he wants to be Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

As The Reader's Mick Dumke pointed out, this election may be the Year of the Anti-Toddler, and Smith is trying to get in on that action, running on a sexy platform of greater transparency, a "culture of customer service" and bringing "vision and leadership back to the Recorder’s Office". For Ed Smith's take on his campaign, check out his blog.