The most unpredictable aldermanic race in the city is probably the one going on in the south side’s 15th Ward, where the incumbent, Ted Thomas, is retiring. Twelve people are on the ballot, and at least two others have organized write-in campaigns. Among the contenders are a minister, a high school basketball coach, and an ex-con former alderman. “Everybody says it’s crazy out here, but it’s democracy at work,” says candidate Janice Jeffries, a local school council member.
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Simmons-Stovall says a couple of her volunteers were campaigning door-to-door when they found a flyer accusing her of helping White, Burnett, and 29th Ward alderman Isaac Carothers “take over” the ward. “Foot soldiers have been moving thru the community every weekend,” it says. “15th Ward residents tell Felicia Stovall to go back to the west side and take her thugs with her.”
Simmons-Stovall says she’s running her own campaign, though she’s grateful for the support of White and Burnett, whose political committees each gave her $10,000. She adds that she’s met Carothers only a couple of times and hasn’t received any support from him.
At one point the moderator asked the candidates how they would help local businesses. Ginderske said he would work to reduce crime by revitalizing the district’s community policing program. Gordon said he’d do the same thing but better: “The most important thing in developing businesses and creating a business climate is to have a champion. Well let me tell you something–you’re looking at him.”
“I think it’s possible to respectfully disagree without having a poisoned relationship,” said Ginderske.
On February 12 the chamber announced that it would endorse 43 aldermanic candidates–42 incumbents and Chris Adams. But the big-box ordinance clearly wasn’t the only issue–of the incumbents, 23 had voted in favor of the ordinance. The chamber took a pass on endorsing anyone in the 3rd and 20th wards, though the incumbents there, Dorothy Tillman and Arenda Troutman, had both voted against the ordinance.
The next biggest SEIU donation, $92,000, went to Toni Foulkes in the 15th Ward. Another $76,000 went to Carina Sanchez, who’s challenging Cardenas in the 12th; $63,000 went to Natarus opponent Brendan Reilly; $45,000 to Tillman foe Pat Dowell; $32,000 to 22nd Ward alderman Ricardo Munoz; and $30,000 to JoAnn Thompson, one of Coleman’s challengers in the 16th Ward.
