Afternoon Mayoral Election Roundup

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 22, 2011 9:20PM

Proof of this morning's contribution to the democratic process. (Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist)

WCIU's Jeanne Sparrow led off our segment on You & Me This Morning with a report that voter turnout was projected to be around half of all registered voters in the city. It surprised the two of us, given the historical nature of this election. But low voter turnout seems to be bearing itself out, according to the Tribune and a handful of reader e-mails in my inbox. My personal experience heading to the polls this morning also would lend credence to the projections. At 7:45 a.m. I was the 26th voter at my precinct. You'd think in a neighborhood like Bridgeport, where there's no Daley on the mayoral ballot (an occurrence as rare as Halley's Comet passing the earth), voters would be lined up itching to get to the polls. Then again, no Daley on the ballot may be what's keeping voters away.

Bridgeport is also, for what it's worth, trending heavy for Gery Chico in terms of signage. Not surprising, given that this is a union and city worker-heavy neighborhood. Whet Moser at Chicago Mag is predicting Chico to do well in Republican-leaning neighborhoods like his part of the Ukrainian Village/West Town/Humboldt Park nexus. Tribune columnist Eric Zorn rounded up predictions from most of the city's political experts and Richard Roeper, a majority of whom seem to think Rahm Emanuel can wrap up the election today. So do I, but I also believe it'll hinge on how well Miguel del Valle does with Hispanic voters.

Meanwhile, Gapers Block is having fun making their own mayoral candidate macros. Time Out Chicago's John Dugan spent time analyzing some of the candidate's campaign ads for the messages behind them.

Finally, if you haven't read the Civic Federation's report on the financial challenges facing the next mayor, I suggest you take some time tonight to give it a once-over. It lays out the unvarnished truth about the financial morass the next mayor will inherit, one that won't be solved with vague assurances that things need to get better.