Runoff Elections Reshape City Council
By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 6, 2011 2:45PM
Yesterday's runoff elections ensured a markedly different look to City Council when it's sworn in along with Mayor-elect Emanuel next month. Eight new aldermen were elected last night. Half of those new aldermen defeated incumbents. 50th Ward Ald. Bernard Stone, wide considered the most vulnerable alderman, lost soundly to Debra Silverstein, as expected. Even in conceding, Stone kept it classy.
"She's a shell... a know-nothing," he said of Silverstein.
Stone also said he would not assist in any ward transition to Silverstein. "I'm up against the machine," Stone told the Sun-Times. "I used to be the machine," said the man who voted with Mayor Daley 86 percent of the time.
Out Far South Side way, 6th Ward Ald. Fredrenna Lyle was more gracious and understanding in defeat to Roderick Sawyer, son of the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer. Lyle's predominantly middle-class African American constituency was concerned about increases in crime and economic development in the ward, and she said in conceding, "They are unhappy and disgruntled with the face of government. And I am the face of government."
Another notable incumbent defeat was in the 36th Ward, where fireman Nicholas Sposato defeated Daley appointee John Rice. Rice had the backing of longtime 36th Ward boss William J.P. Banks, but Sposato had the support and some sizable campaign contributions from the Firefighters Union. the other incumbent to lose her seat was 24th Ward Ald. Sharon Dixon. (View the results here).
In total, there will be 18 new aldermen in City Council next month. Mayor-elect Emanuel's efforts to bring about a City Council that could help him forward his agenda when he takes office were largely successful. Seven of the ten candidates he backed in the runoffs won, but the losses by Lyle, Dixon and Rice showed that the influence of Rahmageddon has its limits thus far and may indicate that voters want their aldermen to be independent of Emanuel.
This being Chicago, no election is complete without some polling place shenanigans. Che "Rhymefest" Smith, who appears to have been defeated by incumbent Ald. Willie Cochran in the 20th Ward, raised questions about voter fraud. In the 16th Ward Hal Basking, who was defeated by incumbent Ald. Joann Thompson, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault for verbally assaulting an election judge in his polling place.