Ald. Shiller Won't Run For Re-Election

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 2, 2010 3:40PM

While Mayor Daley still hasn't announced if he's running for re-election next year, one alderman who has found herself under fire won't be. Uptown's Ald. Helen Shiller (46th), who the Sun-Times' Laura Washington calls "the most controversial, provocative and misunderstood member of the Chicago City Council," announced she won't be making a run at keeping her seat in February's elections. In her column, Washington defends Shiller, who has battled Uptown residents over the Wilson Yard development as well as outbreaks of violence, referring to Shiller's "grit and gumption" and taking some shots at Uptown residents:

Many of the shoes in the 46th have morphed from Hi-Tops, dusty work boots and frayed flip-flops to shiny loafers and designer pumps.

Not every Uptowner is guilty, but some are looking only to boost their property values. Shiller has stood in the way of the capitalist, Not-in-My-Backyard crowd. The NIMBYs don't like it.

Residents and readers of the popular neighborhood blog Uptown Update, however, seem just fine with Shiller's decision.

One interesting related tidbit: buried in the last lines of Washington's column, she mentions as many as seven other City Council members are considering not running again either but no indications are given as to who that might be.