For The Same Old A Better Chicago Announces Endorsements

By Kevin Robinson in News on Feb 3, 2011 2:00PM

For A Better Chicago, political action committee run by Mayor Daley's former campaign manager Greg Goldner, announced its list of aldermanic endorsements this week. Only three of the endorsements are for non-incumbents: Genita Robinson (challenging 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti), William “Will” Burns (running against 4th Ward Alderman Shirley Newsome), and Debra Silverstein (facing Bernie Stone in the 50th Ward).

Goldner's group, which has raised nearly a million dollars from anonymous donors, has been the source of some scrutiny in this election. Thanks to a loophole in campaign-finance law, they've not been required to disclose their donors. Goldner, CEO of Resolute Consulting, has worked with the now-defunct Hispanic Democratic Organization. Other stakeholders with Resolute and For A Better Chicago have ties to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, such as Rob Nash, and David Smolensky, who is connected to Daley's Renaissance 2010, according to the Chicago News Cooperative. Goldner also ran mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel's first congressional campaign.

The organization's website says it "is an issue advocacy organization, working to ensure taxpayers and their families, businesses and the entire city are engaged and educated on the issues shaping the future of Chicago," and says that instead of simply financing campaign, it is "primarily dedicated to civic outreach, voter education, mobilization and independent issue advocacy activities on behalf of candidates who share our vision for the future of Chicago." How that civic outreach will play out in the coming weeks may tell voters more about what Goldner's group has planned as a political player in ward politics.