Not so very long ago, no one would have guessed that Tuesday’s runoff elections could determine whether the Chicago City Council has a chance to become a fully functioning legislative body.
Aldermen almost never vote against measures the mayor supports, and they certainly don’t often question his policies on the council floor. But in the three years since the Wal-Mart vote, the Daley administration has been shaken by a series of scandals and federal investigations even as it continues to privatize public schools, dismantle public housing, divert public money into politically controlled tax-increment financing districts, and push expensive expansion projects for O’Hare and the CTA rail lines, not to mention the bid for the 2016 Olympics.
Here’s what’s happening in some of the key fights.
NOW re-endorsed Fioretti, saying there was no merit to the charges, but Haithcock didn’t let the issue go, sending out a flyer that again accused Fioretti of stalking. A restraining order Fioretti sought against Haithcock was denied. Then the Tribune reported that additional court documents appeared to contradict his claim that he didn’t have a relationship with the woman, and NOW took back its re-endorsement.
“I’ll follow the rules,” Fioretti said.
“Well, you know, Mr. Fioretti likes to lie, and I wanted to be able to stand up there and refute what he said,” she later explained. “I know a snake when I see one.”
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Before the start of the Chicago Urban League’s Third Ward candidates’ forum, also held on April 3, many of the 200-plus people who packed the meeting room were open supporters of challenger Pat Dowell. By the time it was called off it sure looked like she’d gained more than a few others.
