43 Ward Committeeman Race

Visit the website for Michele Smith, new Democratic Committeeman for the 43rd Ward.

CHANGE COMES TO THE 43rd WARD

“Change” is the political mantra sweeping the land and in the freezing, rain-soaked 43rd Ward in the heart of Lincoln Park, change surely arrived on February 5 in the race for Democratic Committeeman.

The current Democratic Committeeman for the 43rd Ward, Peg Roth, did not seek re-election. This open seat had three candidates seeking the post. Tim Egan, who ran for Alderman in 2007 coming in third, proudly trumpeted his endorsements by Jesse White, Edwin Eisendrath, legendary machine boss Ed Kelly and current machine stalwart Ed Burke, one of the leaders of “the 29,” the City Council faction that fought Mayor Harold Washington for years. Chuck Eastwood is currently 43rd WardAlderman Vi Daley’s Chief of Staff. He is a proud long-serving functionary in the local Democratic organization. The third candidate, Michele Smith also ran for Alderman as a progressive independent in 2007. She forced the incumbent into a run-off, which she narrowly lost.

Ms. Smith made this observation in her online newsletter, “My two opponents represent variations on the same theme: politics as usual in the 43rd Ward. I am beholden only to the voters of the 43rd Ward and unlike Mr. Egan and Eastwood, I am not accepting money from developers, zoning attorneys, or machine bosses. It became very clear to me once again why I’m running – to ensure that the independent and progressive voters of the 43rd Ward have a voice in our Democratic Party. And it also became very clear why there are two opponents with vested interests running against me. They want try to stop the re-emergence of an independent 43rd Ward.”

Apparently the voters agreed with her. They came out in the cold and made their way through a lengthy ballet to mark #121 – the last name on the last page of the ballot. The results (57 out of 59 precincts), as of early Wednesday morning, are:

Tim Egan	3,299	33.39 %
Charles E. Eastwood	2,649	26.81 %
Michele Smith	3,931	39.79 %

It seems that change, indeed, has happened in the 43rd Ward. Congratulations to Ms. Smith. We’ll be adding our voice and energies to her efforts to deepen that change and bring new ideas and openness to the Democratic Party in Lincoln Park and Cook County. More news of change at the Committeeman level.
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Cook County Democratic Party

About Chicago Politics - University of Illinois

“The Most Important Race You Never Heard Of” – coverage of Committeemen races from Daily Kos.

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Is The Democratic Machine Battling Itself In This Race?

From Mark Browbn’s Jan. 23 column in the Sun-Times:

“Is Mayor Daley so angry with 43rd Ward Ald. Vi Daley for voting against his property tax increase that he’s taking it out on her candidate for committeeman?…Egan, the third-place finisher in the aldermanic race, has just picked up major endorsements from Secretary of State Jesse White and former 43rd Ward alderman Edwin Eisendrath, usually perceived as one of the mayor’s people. At the same time, Egan’s campaign finance reports have shown an infusion of donations, including $500 each from the 12th Ward Regular Democratic Organization and Citizens for Rep. Eddie Acevedo.Sen. Tony Munoz, the 12th Ward Democratic committeeman, and Acevedo, a Southwest Side state legislator, are among the last of the Hispanic Democratic Organization loyalists. Their donations may not be much money in the greater scheme, but it’s a rather blatant turf incursion. Add in another $10,000 donation to Egan from Old Town businessman Peter O’Brien, brother of the late 43rd Ward committeeman Danny O’Brien — the ward’s last true Democratic boss — and it’s clear that something is going on, whether it has the mayor’s quiet approval or not.” Read the full story.