The night before the full City Council unanimously approved Chicago’s second Walmart store, about 20 people gathered at Columbia College to hear a couple of investment bankers talk about what they called “insurgent candidates.”
“What we want to do is basically demystify the process of running for office and encourage more high-quality candidates to get in the game,” says Delgado. “We think if you have a more competitive environment, then in a small way some of the elected officials would be held more accountable.”
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
For years the City Council has struggled with the big-box retailer’s plans to expand into Chicago. In 2004 aldermen approved the city’s first Walmart, in west-side Austin, while narrowly rejecting another store that would have been built in south-side Chatham. Two years later the council approved a so-called living wage ordinance, which would have forced big boxes to pay at least $10 an hour plus $3 in benefits. But Mayor Daley vetoed it, and supporters couldn’t come up with the votes to override him. Union leaders then funneled millions of dollars and resources to union-friendly candidates in the 2007 municipal elections, including Robert Fioretti in the Second Ward, Pat Dowell in the Third, and JoAnn Thompson in the 16th.
After the municipal elections, the Chatham Walmart continued to float in legislative limbo, even though all it technically needed was the John Hancock of Mayor Daley’s top city planner. But Daley apparently didn’t want to take all the heat for the store and instead tossed the hot potato to the aldermen.
Caldero also says the Freeman Institute doesn’t have an ideology when it comes to the Walmart debate and notes that the firm has worked with pro-union candidates, including Rudy Lozano, who ran unsuccessfully for state rep of the 23rd District in the primary against incumbent Daniel Burke, the brother of 14th Ward alderman and union sympathizer Edward Burke.
Jerry Roper, president and CEO of the chamber, says he’s considering retaining the Freeman Institute’s services during the elections as well. He says there’s “no doubt” that the chamber is going to be more involved in some campaigns than in previous years.
Among the targets: Sixth Ward alderman Freddrenna Lyle, who introduced a new living-wage ordinance in April; 24th Ward alderman Sharon Dixon, who signed onto Lyle’s living-wage ordinance; 25th Ward alderman and zoning committee chair Daniel Solis; 32nd Ward alderman Scott Waguespack, who’s mulling a run for mayor; 46th Ward alderman Helen Shiller, who has since announced she won’t run for re-election; Moore, who voted against the Chatman Walmart last month and signed onto Lyle’s living-wage ordinance; and 50th Ward alderman Bernard Stone, who supported Lyle’s living-wage ordinance while also supporting the Pullman Walmart.
