The Capitol Fax Blog » No slating in the 5th

Monday, Jan 12, 2009

* Despite what some had predicted, the 5th Congressional District special election will not feature a slated candidate…

None of the five candidates seeking to succeed former Congressman Rahm Emanuel could muster a majority of support at a Democratic slating meeting [Saturday]. That meas the March 3 primary will be an open one with no party endorsed candidate. State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) came closest, but could not quite reach the 50 percent (plus one) benchmark.

* Details…

Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th), Mayor Daley’s unofficial floor leader, had said as late as Friday night that he had close to enough votes to wrap up the endorsement, and he had pleaded with his fellow committeemen not to “shirk their responsibility” by declaring an “open primary.” That’s what backers of State Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, had sought .

Luckily for O’Connor, they did not grant his wish because when the votes came in, Fritchey got about three times as many as O’Connor, though not enough to hit the 50 percent-plus-1 mark. […]

Fritchey got 61,529 of the 62,883-plus-1 votes it would have taken to be slated. O’Connor got a mere 22,901. Committeemen backing an open primary cast another 41,341 votes. […]

Questions emerged after the slating about whether Mell offered to give Schulter increased say in Fritchey’s state house replacement if he would back Fritchey, whose district is partially in Schulter’s ward. Schulter denied cutting a deal to get another one of his guys a statehouse seat, saying he already has a good state rep, Greg Harris, who represents the other half of hs ward.

* This isn’t quite true…

State Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago) quickly called for the endorsement session, ostensibly to try to winnow a growing field of candidates.

The endorsement session was called when it was because they wanted to do it before the candidate filing period began today. Some wanted to “winnow” the field, but others didn’t.

* And I just don’t see O’Connor working very hard if he does stay in, knowing his background as I do…

O’Connor vowed to continue his campaign despite the setback and the public neutrality of Mayor Richard Daley, whose backing he also has sought.

* Related…

* No candidate endorsed to replace Emanuel

* Dems won’t slate candidate in Emanuel seat primary

* Tom Geoghegan: Why I’m running

* Dr. Victor Forys Responds to Attacks by Career Springfield Politician

- posted by Rich Miller

46 Comments

- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:22 am:
John! Destiny calling!
Your hard work this year is making it happen!
Congratulations!

- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:34 am:
VM,

At least for the name recognition/popularity hurdle. Now let’s see where the money flows. In a short campaign, existing popularity might trump funding more than an ordinary election cycle.

- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:35 am:
O’Connor’s one of those guys who floats his name for everything and makes it sound like he’s got Big Heat behind him. Nothing ever happens.

- Amy - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:35 am:
“….knowing his background as I do…”

please enlighten us in this aspect of “Pastries” relative vs.
real estate mogul’s husband.

- no surprise - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:44 am:
Was it really any surprise that Fritchey’s family, Joe Lyons filling in as a surrogate, and a Cullerton all came around to support Fritchey? How did they all have so many weighted votes and, given that, why did O’Connor even think he had a shot at the slating?

- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:45 am:
With no big heat behind any candidate, money should be the next biggest factor. Question…. Can these politicians use all of their previously held contributions in their respective war-chests to fund this US seat? A couple of these candiates have got nearly a 1/2 million bucks saved up already.

- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:46 am:
Oops. *candidates…. Sorry.

- Anonymous45 - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:46 am:
Good luck to all the candidates in the 5th CD except Feigenholtz…at a reception in the recent past, she took it upon herself to be stunningly rude off the cuff with a nasty comment based on an article of clothing I was wearing. (BTW, I am a woman)…not nice and not too smart…I’ve never forgotten it…just sharing!

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:52 am:
Broken heart…unless they are fed funds, which they aren’t, they can only use what was in the kitty prior to 1999. Look a kitty! And even that has to be loaned to their fed campaign. The have to pay interest and taxes on the money.

- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:54 am:
===How did they all have so many weighted votes===

Weighted votes are based on primary ballots cast.

Try to contain your tinfoil hat leanings, particularly when you apparently are unaware of how the process works. Do a tiny bit of research first. Thanks.

- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:05 am:
Enough voters have heard John’s call for ethics in a year crying out for ethics. He took the risks while few others went along. I support leaders, and he has proven himself a leader we can support.

While I am not as liberal as Fritchey, it will be nice to see him step into a Congressional District that desperately needs an ethical Congressman. After Blagojevich and Emanuel, Fritchey will be a breath of fresh air.

Now if he would move to the common sense center on some of these social issues…

- Capitol View - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:18 am:
Any persons counting Sara Feigenholtz out of this race are fooling themselves. She’s a hard worker, a good organizer, and she deserves the area’s support. And she’ll get plenty.

A Cullerton aide or supporter may have been in the pocket of Fritchey, but Fritchey was denied the party endorsement. Cullerton can count. Cullerton wins if either of his district reps go to Congress.

- Phil Collins - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:46 am:
The winner of the special congressional election will be Rosanna Pulido, the founder and director of the Illinois Minuteman Project. Many of the district’s voters are tired of liberal, unethical Democrats, including Emanuel and Blagojevich. To show that they want a change, they’ll elect her. In 1994, few people thought that Rostinkowski would lose, but he lost. Please read Rosanna’s site, www.rosannapulido2009.com.

- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Phil, I am willing to bet you $10,000 that you are wrong about Pulido. Care to wager?

- I'm just saying - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:55 am:
Cmon Rich, you could go title of your house, or car on that one :)

- Napoleon complex - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:55 am:
“While I am not as liberal as Fritchey, it will be nice to see him step into a Congressional District that desperately needs an ethical Congressman.”

You must not get to Springfield much.

I wouldn’t attach myself too much to the idea of Fritchey being Mr. Ethics.

Its kinds like guys who drive big cars. When Fritchey goes on TV touting ethics, you know he’s compensating for what happens behind the curtain.

Why doesn’t someone ask Fritchey about his little Zoning Campaign Industrial Complex he has going on with his uncle Ald Banks. He never has been really forthcoming with that.
I think the voters of the 5th would like to know.

- Anonymous45 - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:58 am:
Then I’d vote for Fritchey…he was out there way early vs. Rod on the ethics bill amongst other third rail issues…Capitol View: please enumerate the accomplishments of Rep. Feigenholtz
as I am completely unaware of the results of her hard work and organizational eptitude other than getting herself elected and re-elected…

- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 10:59 am:
===you could go title of your house, or car on that one===

The next thing he’ll say is he can eat 50 eggs.

- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 11:12 am:
I wouldn’t attach myself too much to the idea of Fritchey being Mr. Ethics.

Next, you will complain that Sham-Wow! is not being used by Olympic divers.

This is the year for ethics, and Mr. Fritchey is driving that big car, as you would say, for now. He has become the one to beat.

- Capitol View - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 12:33 pm:
Anonymous45 - Some legislators are work horses, and some are show horses. A few are both.

Sara F is a work horse. She knows as much about the human services system in the state as anyone in state government, and she has worked for years to keep sections of it from collapsing. This year, the cumulative effect of years of rate neglect and late state payments finally achieved the inevitable collapse of a significant portion of that direct services sector, but Rep. Feigenholtz is one of few that I do not blame for this situation.

Locally, I am aware of some of her efforts on behalf of immigrants and refugees, health care, and economic development. Her district became more lakefront than interior neighborhoods in the last redistricting, but I have never heard a complaint about her from her more affluent constituents including some of my relatives and friends from college.

I’ll say it again - I know and respect both John Fritchey and Sara Feigenholtz. Either would do a great job in Congress. But watch the Cong. District 5 Democratic voters (women and independent voters)support Sara in this special election.

- Ghost - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 12:40 pm:
This is Illinois!

- ThreeSheets - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 1:41 pm:
Someone (i.e. Fritchey) should put another woman in the race to counter Feigenholtz. One woman getting enough female support could beat a group of men (Fritchey, Quigley, O’Connor) splitting the vote. See Carol Mosely-Braun.

- Been There - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 1:49 pm:
Election held today and Fritchey wins with Quigley second and Feigenholtz third. If Feigenholtz keeps raising money the next 3-4 weeks the way she has she might be able to throw together a small media buy. This could put her over the top unless Quigley raises enough. Feigenholtz has some connections to some professional federal fundraisers which, as we all know, is totally different than hitting up the local heavy hitters in your district.
Now, as much as I think Rich’s $10 G bet is safe, if Rosanna is running as a dem (I couldn’t tell from a quick look at her site and her conservative views would believe GOP) she could take a percentage of the sizable Latino vote. And if she happens to have some personal cash to spend at the last minute she might end up like Anita Alvarez (not enough to win but take a chunk of votes). If he is running as a repub then firg’t bout it.

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 1:49 pm:
threesheets, yeah that’s exactly the kind of politics we need in Illinois because northside ward politics are on the up and up — you know, they sent Rod to Congress and then to the Gov’s office. They have a great track record there. If the boys are afraid of sara - and they are - then let them fight it our fair and square.

- Been There - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 1:51 pm:
===If “he” is running as a repub then firg’t bout it. === Sorry I missed an “s”. Should say “she”

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 2:01 pm:
Been There…Pulido and Hanson are both running as Republicans, so they say. Neither has filed either with the FEC or petitions. There are 14 candidates that have filed with the FEC, including Deb Mell who has backed out. If the election is held today, Feigenholtz wins hands down. Wheelan, Geoghegan or Oberman would be next and then Fritchey or Quigley.

As for Fritchey, being Mr. Ethics…I’d trust Rod first!

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 2:10 pm:
Illinois Pundit - lol! I find it ironic that someone like fritchey, who’s a product of the same ward organizations that brought us rod blagojevich, is trying to pass himself off as the ethics candidate. Check out Kass’s column from the weekend (I’m not the biggest fan, but it’s a fun read). http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-blago-bd-11-jan11,0,1696110.column?page=1

- Phil Huckelberry - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 2:51 pm:
> Try to contain your tinfoil hat leanings, particularly when you apparently are unaware of how the process works.

Rich, you can hardly blame someone for being unaware of how the process works when the process appears to be invented on the fly.

There’s nothing in the Election Code which allows for the Democrats to have “slated” anyone. If the Democratic 5th Congressional Committee was indeed the body that met, then at best all it could have done was offer a non-binding endorsement. The other candidates would have been perfectly free to file their paperwork.

As of right now we’re expecting as many as four candidates in the Green primary. That number might change depending on if new candidates appear. It’ll be interesting to see if the press pays attention to this. Blago has done a fine job of making the Democrats look bad all over the city (except Obama, of course, whose myth is heightened by his having risen above it all) and since there’s no chance in hell of a Republican winning this seat, an informed general public might take the occasion to look Green.

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 2:51 pm:
Yes Ditto. Pot calling the kettle black. Rod got into Congress and Fritchey got into the House in a backroom deal between Mell and Banks. Fritchey’s been hiding and trying to persuade everyone that he is Mr. Ethics, but he is so far from that. Do we need to bring up his Real Estate deals or his banking habits? In contrast, Sara is as good and pure as an elected can come…which of course is always stretching it. She’s a good person and will do a great job as the first Congresswoman from the fifth district.

Now on another rant, here are the candidates that have no possible way to win and should just get out…Quigley, Donatelli, Forys, Bryar, Vasquez. I’m probably forgetting a few as the list is pretty long to pull from memory.

- Betting Man - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 3:00 pm:
Rich as long as your placing bets, how much do you want to wager that Fritchey can’t keep his mug out of the media for 72 hours straight. Even today WGN had him on TV regarding the Burris issue. Has he become a reporter for them?

- Phineas J. Whoopee - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 3:48 pm:
I guess Fritchey’s the favorite but this seat is crying for an outsider, especially if other regular dems square off against the favorite. I have heard about a doctor running with big bucks-I heard this from several residents-so he is out there.

Fritchey could be bloodied up from a guy with money.

- Bubs - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 3:50 pm:
The only thing that can derail John Fritchey is a major explosion in the Feds’ investigation of zoning decisions in Chicago, one that implicates him in some way.

While I personally believe that there will be very substantial explosions in the future on that front, it is unlikely that any will occur before the special election. Additionally, while John Fritchey is at least on the fringes of the scandal, given his family ties to the Banks and zoning work as a lawyer, I have never seen or heard of any solid evidence (as opposed to speculation) on his involvement.

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 4:20 pm:
I think voters are tired of politicians who are tied to the machine and fritchey is indelibly tied to it - no way around that. I mean, he got the support of banks, allen, mell, and schulter and he’ll probably pick up laurino’s organization.

On top of that, no one who comes from a family like Banks and is supported by nearly the entire machine is 100% squeaky clean. I’ve heard there’s a ton of questionable zoning deals he’s been involved with over the years — and his in-law ald. banks chairs the zoning committee in city council. I don’t know. I just don’t think that voters want to put their trust in another candidate who comes from those kinds of organizations, after all of this that’s gone down.

- Alan Augustson - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 4:27 pm:
I’m dying to know… are Capitol Fax, Chicagoist, and the rest ready to discuss any *real* alternatives?

Alan Augustson
Green Party for Congress
www.augustson2008.us

Yes, yes; I’ll work on updating the URL…

- Loop Lady - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 4:48 pm:
Rep. Feigenholtz reminds me too much of Congresswoman Jan, and not in a good way. I think it’s Fritchey’s to lose!

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:08 pm:
Is Fritchey paying all of you people to say he’s the one to beat, just like he paid his petition circulators? Loop lady you are being a little stereotypical. Yes they are both Jewish and female, doesn’t make them the same. Anonymous45 (Mrs. Fritchey perhaps), if you really want to know Feigenholtz’s accomplishments go to her state legislative website: staterepsara.com or to il.gov. She truly fights for her constituents. Alan Auguston, does that mean you’re running too? I don’t see your path to victory either. Maybe you should save your green? Phineas, Dr. Forys is putting up to 100 k in for the primary and 100 for the general. He won’t make the general. I’m assuming that 100k is part of the 160k he said he raised in q4. Also, there’s another Doctor running. Paul Bryar. He has no experience either.

The district needs a change, but that doesn’t come in the form of the inexperienced. If it did the leaders would be Geoghegan, Wheelan and Oberman. They don’t want machine politics and that’s what you get with Fritchey. Feigenholtz is the breath of fresh air that the District wants and needs. IMHO.

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:13 pm:
Ditto what ILlinois Pundit just wrote. :)

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:14 pm:
I like Ditto. Second time today he/she backed me up!

- Amy - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:18 pm:
once upon a time the district used to be a northwest side district. now it is just another pawn in the games of the
lakefront pols. that’s a shame. we need actual change across the city, not governing at a distance, or by proxy (see Fritchey).

- honest volunteer - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:45 pm:
I.P - I volunteered for State Rep. Fritchey this weekend with a bunch of friends, and he did not pay his circulators because he didn’t have to, IMHO. Though Sara’s campaign was offering a dollar per signature.

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 5:58 pm:
lol honest volunteer! But, maybe you’re onto smoething here…that would explain why Sara’s office was packed wall to wall with close to 150 people on Saturday! Not! But I will agree with you on your other point — Fritchey definitely didn’t have to pay his circulators because he had the Banks, Mell, Schulter, and Allen ward boss organizations gathering petitions for him.

- Illinois.Pundit - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:45 pm:
hv, Ditto. Feigenholtz didn’t pay, but did have over 125 people show up. If you don’t believe me go to the http://www.saraforcongress.com site and view the pics. In contrast, I saw about five people in Fritchey’s office…even though Manny Flores kept begging people to come. Fritchey got his sigs because of the machine. Quigley hasn’t gotten enough sigs yet because only 15 people showed up to his office.

- she ain't pure - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 9:58 pm:
IllinoisPundit, please answer one question. Didn’t Sara Feigenholtz actively seek support from the Committeemen (”ward bosses”) in the district?

- Ditto - Monday, Jan 12, 09 @ 11:00 pm:
IP if u don’t mind my taking this one - if you read greg hinz’s blog it says that while fritchey was claiming that sara asked them fro their support when she called thru them before the slating meeting, her campaign says that she called them as a courtesy to say that she wasn’t going to the meeting or seeking their support — not to ask them for their support. This is just another trick by fricthey and his machine friends.

And what does “she ain’t pure” mean anyway? Fritchey sure has some creative nicknames on this blog.

- she ain't pure - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:06 am:
Ditto, keep on drinking the kool aid…Feigenholtz called to garner support WEEKS BEFORE the slating and NOT as a mere courtesy. BTW, I’m not a Fritchey supporter…I don’t even live in the district, but you sure do appear to fear his candidacy…

- Average Joe (not the plumber) - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:08 am:
I respectfully disagree. Many seem to paint everyone who has not been involved with the machine or politics as “inexperienced” - look to the rise of Obama to see it all has to start somewhere - as a member of the House of Representatives is as good as anywhere. I think that the many people are disenfranchised with the political process in Chicago and Illinois in general - and I hope for a true change - and the election of one of the “inexperienced” - who may - at last - bring intelligence and integrity to the process (IMHO) - (and before any opts to flame me - take a close look at the quality of the recent classes of representatives - you’ll be shocked at what we (collective nation) elects to legislate for our country).

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