1. - GOTV - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 6:54 pm:

   Rich, leave the Tribbies alone. They are very busy covering Oprah’s adoption of a new puppy. Oh look! A kitty!




2. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 6:56 pm:

   5 minutes til close - can’t imagine there’s anyone waiting in line. can this actually be a short night?




3. - DaDumb - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:01 pm:

   Was there an election today?




4. - 60657 - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:02 pm:

   From past elections - how long does it take for results to be posted?




5. - south of 74 - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:04 pm:

   I said it 20 minutes ago, I’ll say it here - Being removed from the fray and reading what I have in the posts I predict it will be the polish guy in what the papers will call a shocker!




6. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:07 pm:

   Back in the old days, they used to close the bars and liquor stores on election day, and the precinct captains would pass out pints of Ol’ Scullpopper to those who could prove they voted.

   Given the anecdotal evidence in Ward 44, maybe they should have done it for this election and passed out airline bottles of Chardonnay.




7. - The Doc - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:08 pm:

   South of 74, his name is Victor Forys.




8. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:15 pm:

   Chicago board of elections has some numbers




9. - lincoln street - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:15 pm:

   >maybe they should have done it for this election and passed out airline bottles of Chardonnay.

   Risks reminding everyone of Donatelli.

   By the way, wasn’t she the 3rd ninja turtle?




10. - Oakparker - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:17 pm:

    With 9 precincts in from the city and the burbs, Forys is actually running first. Tjhis can’t hold up, right?




11. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:17 pm:

    Forys is out with the early lead:

    http://www.chicagoelections.com/dm/general/SummaryReport.pdf

    http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/030309/SummaryElection030309RaceNum10.html?Party=ALL




12. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:17 pm:

    babs, the county has a few results, but nothing from the city that I’ve seen.




13. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:18 pm:

    Rich, see that pdf document link on my previous psot for the city results




14. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:19 pm:

    Yep. You’re right. Sorry.




15. - chiefilliniwek - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:19 pm:

    164/486 city precincts counted

    quigley 1st w/ 23.9%
    http://www.chicagoelections.com/dm/general/SummaryReport.pdf




16. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:20 pm:

    now quigleys ahead




17. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:21 pm:

    For those who can’t open the pdf on your portable device.

    Chicago (164 of 486 precincts):
    Quigley - 24%
    Fritchey - 16%
    Sara - 15%




18. - DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:22 pm:

    This is why the two-party system hates multiple candidate elections. Somebody can win this with less than 10,000 votes- which are likely to be pretty darn costly on a per-vote basis.

    Candidates and their advisors prefer one-on-one races so they can target their negative (or comparative) ads against one person. You might just target the wrong opponent– Never forget that Jane Byrne met her goal in 1983 of beating “Richie” Daley in the mayoral primary- by finishing second instead of third.

    The media tend to dislike them as well since they have to work harder to find out what’s going on, and there’s no Rep vs. Dem “horserace” numbers to tie your story to.

    I’m halfway rooting for Forys to win just to embarass the political consultants and highly-paid deep thinkers. But from what I’ve read he would probably be a lousy congressman, so I suppose Feigenholtz would be the best option of the “pro” candidates.




19. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:22 pm:

    Suburban votes are negligible, it seems, at this point.




20. - WindyCityGardener - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:23 pm:

    My husband is a precinct captain with very liberal free thinking voters. Looks like Quigley.




21. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:25 pm:

    On the first results page, it looked like the Greens all each had 1 vote.

    I thought they had all just voted for themselves and that was it!




22. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:26 pm:

    o’conner is moving up fast.




23. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:28 pm:

    With half of precincts reporting, it is:

    Quigley 23.5%
    Fritchey 17%
    Sara 15%




24. - chiefilliniwek - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:29 pm:

    Anon - refresh the Chicago results. 60% of the vote is in.

    Quigley - 23.5%
    Fritchey - 17.24%
    Feigenholtz - 15.73%
    O’Connor - 13%




25. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:29 pm:

    290 of 486 City
    Quigley 23%
    Fritchey 17%
    Sara 15%




26. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:29 pm:

    This seems to be Quigley’s to lose right now.




27. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:30 pm:

    where are county numbers?




28. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:31 pm:

    County numbers:

    Candidates Votes %
    Charles J. Wheelan (DEM) 66 3.86%
    Sara Feigenholtz (DEM) 392 22.94%
    John A. Fritchey (DEM) 300 17.55%
    Victor A. Forys (DEM) 368 21.53%
    Jan H. Donatelli (DEM) 49 2.87%
    Frank Annunzio (DEM) 55 3.22%
    Carlos A. Monteagudo (DEM) 39 2.28%
    Paul J. Bryar (DEM) 23 1.35%
    Tom Geoghegan (DEM) 33 1.93%
    Cary Capparelli (DEM) 58 3.39%
    Mike Quigley (DEM) 228 13.34%
    Patrick J. O’Connor (DEM) 98 5.73%




29. - chiefilliniwek - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:31 pm:

    If Quigley wins, who/how is his replacement on the County Board chosen?




30. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:32 pm:

    Looks like turnout will hit 50,000 right on the dot if this trend continues.




31. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:32 pm:

    turnout is better than I had expected. with a little over half of the city precincts in and over 30,000 votes we could hit 50,000.




32. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:34 pm:

    johnr, jinx you owe me a coke!




33. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:34 pm:

    diet




34. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:36 pm:

    Looks like Quigley wins it - no way they can come back from 2,000 vote deficit at this point. Unless Fritchey’s wards are still out…




35. - lincoln street - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:36 pm:

    county board replacement goes to Quigley’s eldest male heir. If he is not of legal age, then it goes first to female heirs in the first degree, followed by cousin’s, after which any male Irishman can place a claim.




36. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:37 pm:

    or o’conner’s ward is out?




37. - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:38 pm:

    What happened to Laborguy?




38. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:40 pm:

    Laborguy might still be knocking on doors. He didn’t know the polls closed. lol




39. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:41 pm:

    Laborguy should be proud - he pegged the turnout number right on.




40. - dave - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:41 pm:

    When I click Rich’s link to city results… or the city of chicago’s link, I get a PDF that says ZERO for everyone…




41. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:43 pm:

    Seems like I was right on with a higher turnout model (that Fritchey and Rich said was impossible) but Quigley is going to win. I always thought it was between Quigley and Sara.




42. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:43 pm:

    oconnors doing better than I expected




43. - Oakparker - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:45 pm:

    If Quigley wins tonight and wins the general, I think the ward committeemen from the district get together and elect a replacement for county board. They would have weighted votes according to their weighted votes in the county central committee.




44. - Retiree - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:46 pm:

    Judging by Capparelli’s totals, it looks like those right-to-life endorsements aren’t helping much in this district.




45. - And what else is new - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:47 pm:

    Here comes the part where the City and the County’s Computers get stuck :) what a shock, but it looks like Quigley, unless there is a great suprise…..




46. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:47 pm:

    Watch former candidate and Quigley-ally Justin Oberman make a run for County Board. He would be a great pick.




47. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:51 pm:

    Justin oberman….meh……




48. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:51 pm:

    It looks like the candidate with the highest name rec and branding won. Given a normal campaign period Sara may have had time to get better known. Quuigley is a perfectly acceptable outcome for us. Just have to go kiss some butt now. Bye




49. - And what else is new - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:53 pm:

    new city numbers, Quigley is holding his roughly 2K lead




50. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:54 pm:

    oberman would be great.




51. - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:54 pm:

    I guess the transgendered vote didn’t make a strong showing in the Special.




52. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:56 pm:

    not someone’s kid - enough already




53. - And what else is new - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:56 pm:

    It’s over……. I thought that Sara would come in 2nd…..




54. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:57 pm:

    Congratulations Congressman Quigley. Laborguy is gonna hold a findraiser for you so you can finally pay Pete.




55. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:58 pm:

    Sara still may come in second - she has a couple hundred vote lead in suburban cook.

    This thing will get interesting when we can see the ward-level details.

    See who sold out whom.




56. - Ben S. - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:58 pm:

    Meanwhile, in the GOP race…a shocker as Pulido (sic) comes out of nowwhere to take the lead! She’ll be a formidable candidate in the 5th since it’s such a conservative district.

    /snark




57. - chiefilliniwek - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:59 pm:

    is Fritchey going to run for something next year if this congress thing doesn’t pan out?




58. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:01 pm:

    I’m surprised Feigenholtz didn’t win, as the only female officeholder in a field with what turned out to be four males with relatively significant support. Add to that the SEIU support and ad buy, and it’s a really poor showing by her.




59. - HoBoSkillet - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:02 pm:

    I was waiting for someone to comment on Rosanne Rosannadanna. As a spectator of this congressional race - I cannot wait to see her effort to connect with the good citizens of the 5th!




60. - dave - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:03 pm:

    wordslinger… Quigley went in with the highest name recognition, by far. He also ran a strong, anti-Stroger campaign, which people could easily get behind.

    But the biggest thing was the name recognition - it was just too big of an advantage in this kind of race.




61. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:04 pm:

    Fritchey will try his shot against Dart for AG, I believe.




62. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:04 pm:

    Congratulations to Mike and the campaign. TomB does it again! You ran a great campaign, stayed on message, and made the best of your resources.
    Alderman O’Connor gets his revenge.




63. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:04 pm:

    I’d still like to know what wards/precincts haven’t reported yet. this grouping of vote totals makes me crazy.




64. - Oakparker - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:06 pm:

    I think we are at the point where the vote counting machinery breaks down…




65. - dave - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:06 pm:

    ==Fritchey will try his shot against Dart for AG, I believe.==

    Hamos might have something to say about that…




66. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:06 pm:

    They were overwhelmed, Oakparker, overwhelmed!!




67. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:08 pm:

    oh yea, forgot about Julie! I think Julie runs for Jan’s seat if Jan runs for Burris’ seat, though.




68. - Scooby - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:10 pm:

    Give laborguy and team a lot of credit for at least this much, Sara did very well in the suburbs which was not thought to be her base.




69. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:11 pm:

    Trib and Sun Times endorsements helped alot.




70. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:12 pm:

    Dave, with only a 14% turnout, I suspect the voters were more knowledgeable about the candidates ahead of time then usual. Plus, it being a special election, people weren’t walking in off the street to vote for president or governor, then punching a ballot for a recognizable name somewhere down the ballot.




71. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:13 pm:

    JohnR - lots of ifs in there. And, there’s over 100 precincts still not counted. TomB where are they?




72. - WindyCityGardener - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:16 pm:

    - wordslinger - SEIU hurt her. That’s Rods buddies and everyone knows it.




73. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:17 pm:

    In the most recent Cook County State’s Attorney’s Dem Primary race, which candidate was endorsed by the Sun Times and the Tribune? didn’t Alvarez get at least one of those endorsements?
    Feigenholtz was counting too much on the women’s vote but did not get either of these endorsements in this race.




74. - Eighty - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:19 pm:

    Can’t you call it Rich? People trust you more than the Trib or ABC7.




75. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:19 pm:

    SEIU hurt Sara? WHat evidence do you have of that WindyCity? Every candidate would like to be hurt like that. Give me a break.




76. - south of 74 - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:20 pm:

    After all the talk, Sara did terrible, far below any expectations, Fritchey did what was expected and so did Quigley, the winner. Now, Fritchey for AG against Dart. Being South of 72, I know and have heard of Dart, but just saying, south of 74, what the heck is a Fritchey?




77. - Eighty - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:21 pm:

    - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 7:54 pm:

    I guess the transgendered vote didn’t make a strong showing in the Special.

    Whoever said that is my new best friend, BTW.




78. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:21 pm:

    Sara is finishing precisely where her last tracking poll said she would finish. Why do you think Sara went comparative in the final days? Because she thought she was winning?




79. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:23 pm:

    I think you guys are right. This defeat sets Fritchey up prefectly to run statewide. You need to put down the crack pipe.




80. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:24 pm:

    losers….old school pols, labor, women, tribalism

    winners….newspapers, Claypool, Strategy Group-Giangreco
    and Walsh, reform




81. - windywarrior - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:25 pm:

    yeah, i am sure she was hurt by a 250K ad buy on her behalf. that’s just horrible logic. seiu didn’t hurt her. that makes zero sense.

    seems more likely that quigley started with a lead, built on it and no one did enough to disqualify him.




82. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:28 pm:

    I guess a lot of those 10,000 seiu members who live in the 5th just couldn’t make it to the polls today.




83. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:29 pm:

    Bill, remember the thing about the bridges and the burning?




84. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:30 pm:

    I know, I know.




85. - Northshore Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:32 pm:

    So, which high priced Chicago PR firm said the turnout was going to be less than 46,000? Looks like its over 50,000 and climbing.

    And, Tom Bowen? Wow, nice job in the field!

    Surprise of the evening besides Sarah and left wing pro-choice machine is Dr. Forys… never under estimate the Polish vote in Chicago…. Live and learn you “grupa dupas.”




86. - windywarrior - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:32 pm:

    hey, i have a better idea. maybe fritchey should just run for Senate instead. Finishing 3rd in a Congressional race (which is where he is going to end up when this thing is done) is a perfect platform for higher office. seriously, you fritchey people should share whatever it is you are smoking.




87. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:34 pm:

    Rich - ward-by-ward totals are now up for Chicago

    http://www.chicagoelections.com/wdlevel3.asp?elec_code=34




88. - Eighty - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:35 pm:

    @windywarrior:

    Fritchey v. Alexi senate primary? Chicago, get your spray-on tan machines ready!




89. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:37 pm:

    ww,not sure how you figure John comes in 3rd. Sara been there all night and it doesn’t look likely to change




90. - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:38 pm:

    Windywarrior,

    Last time I checked Fritchey had a 200 vote lead counting entire 5th. Maybe there will be a late swell from the transgendered precincts.




91. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:39 pm:

    enough on the transgender jokes.




92. - Scott R - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:40 pm:

    As I said earlier, the Endorsements of the Tribune and Sun Times were crucial in a low turnout election.

    If Sara ever wants to move up in the future, she needs to do something in Springfield.




93. - windywarrior - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:41 pm:

    babs, when you add in county, she’s less than 300 votes behind fritchey and i think a majority of votes left are lakefront. could be wrong, but i think she catches fritchey.

    80, i’m not sure senate is the right place for fritchey either though. clearly someone smart and talented enough to lose a congressional primary should aim higher.perhaps secretary general of the UN or Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.




94. - HoBoSkillet - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:42 pm:

    ===transgendered precincts=== I’m not one to get all politically correct here but come on…. grow up a bit.




95. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:43 pm:

    where’s the unity breakfast? pancakes with super sweet syrup to counteract the acrimony.




96. - WindyCityGardener - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:44 pm:

    I have to agree with Amy’s winners and losers. I can live with Quigley. Just sorry Quigley felt he had to endorse Stroger in the general. Too bad Claypool didn’t run.
    Sara is a loser. I said this before. Her campaign really started to irritate me. They were under the assumption because I’m a women I’m obligated to vote for her. Wrong assumption..
    And yes SEIU hurt her. My northside neighborhood is not blue collar and we are not impressed with union thugs.




97. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:45 pm:

    35th ward is still not in also the 37th - lakefront wards are all in.




98. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:46 pm:

    Labor Dude, was there ever a thought for Feigenholtz to produce a spot making a direct appeal to gender?

    Something along the lines of “Women are more than half the population, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at Congress. Less than 18% of the seats in Congress are held by women. I’m Sara F and I’m the only woman with legislative experience in this race…”




99. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:47 pm:

    windycitygardener….my female friends in the district were surprised that they got saramail and their man in the house did not. it’s not enough to campaign as a woman. you are so right. thanks!




100. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:47 pm:

     Dick Mell is holding back. What’s the story?




101. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:47 pm:

     Here is ward turnout based on current numbers. NOTE: MANY PRECINCTS HAVEN’T REPORTED IN THESE WARDS, SO EVALUATE WITH THAT IN MIND:

     Ward Turnout
     1 6.55%
     29 7.87%
     30 10.59%
     31 9.19%
     32 8.90%
     33 17.04%
     35 13.09%
     36 15.61%
     37 8.16%
     38 13.79%
     39 15.33%
     40 18.37%
     41 18.97%
     43 10.17%
     44 10.52%
     45 15.94%
     46 17.09%
     47 15.67%
     50 19.66%
     Total 13.93%




102. - Scott R - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:48 pm:

     Windy City well said. The Union thugs stuck out like Sore thumbs in Lincoln Park the last few days.

     People here care about Obama’s tax raising plans more than any other issue, especially when the Dow Jones is headed towards 1929 levels.




103. - babs - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:49 pm:

     Oops - never mind. 35 isn’t Mell anymore. Damn redistricting…




104. - Scott R - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:52 pm:

     Jan Schawkosky cannot win a Senate race unless it is another low Turnout Special Election.

     Her husband is a Convicted Felon who committed Federal Fraud. She is a non starter




105. - windywarrior - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:53 pm:

     look, we can blame unions, the president and the burger king herb campaign circa 1988 all we want, but the fact is quigley started with a lead and held on to it. i wasn’t with him, but he and his team did a good job here. sometimes, the obvious answer is the right one.




106. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:56 pm:

     In the race for second, Sara is now within 95 votes of Fritchey (city and suburbs combined).




107. - 5ht CD resident - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:57 pm:

     Congrats, Mike and great job Tom B.




108. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:57 pm:

     Well. That was fun.




109. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:58 pm:

     Bill, what did you say about a turnout in the upper 40’s or 50,000?




110. - windywarrior - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:58 pm:

     congrats team quigley. a well played hand.




111. - Inside Cook - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 8:58 pm:

     What happened to Ron Serpico’s (Melrose Park Mayor) and Chris Welch’s double cross in Melrose Park?/ I guess Jesse Martinez(Melrose Park oppostion party canididate for Mayor) won by backing Quigley???




112. - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:01 pm:

     ===Sara is now within 95 votes of Fritchey===

     The surge is working!




113. - Scooby - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:02 pm:

     Wow, Republicans really hate Jon Stewart. Let it go, it’s just a fake news show.




114. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:04 pm:

     rich, thanks for posting the Quigley team list from Lynn. nice of her to do that. big win for them.




115. - Melrose Park - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:07 pm:

     Word all over Melrose Park is that Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica and his Chief of Staff,Mike Manzo along with Jesse Martinez were seen working hard for Mike Quigley in Melrose Park,foiling the double cross which was created by Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico and Al Ronan.




116. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:10 pm:

     Jerry,
     Remember what I said about a lot of money and a big mouth. Try to learn from your mistakes.




117. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:13 pm:

     Hey Bill or is it John?

     Quigley winning is a perfectly acceptable outcome for me. I will have a better relationship with him than anyone else in labor. Fritchey was unacceptable and we made that clear from the outset. We count this as a half win. This race locked in about ten days ago and the numbers never changed. Why do you think Sara went comparative at the end?




118. - Scooby - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:14 pm:

     According to the Trib: “Quigley is expected onstage to address his backers in about 20 minutes, an aide said.”

     Quigley ain’t going out there until after the third period is over, and it’s a 2-2 game so there could be overtime and possibly a shootout.




119. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:16 pm:

     LaborGuy, you talked pretty big here. Not just about your union and your candidate but about other things. Speaking of “other things,” we’ve had over 300 comments just on this race today. Think about it.




120. - JohnR - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:18 pm:

     Update on turnout numbers, 94% reporting:

     Ward Turnout
     1 6.89%
     29 8.20%
     30 12.13%
     31 10.93%
     32 12.08%
     33 18.13%
     35 14.16%
     36 20.83%
     37 10.20%
     38 16.91%
     39 18.25%
     40 20.58%
     41 21.79%
     43 15.49%
     44 12.39%
     45 19.12%
     46 19.11%
     47 18.79%
     50 20.92%
     Total 16.95%




121. - True Observer - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:19 pm:

     O’Connor and Fritchey really screwed up.

     They should have drawn straws.




122. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:20 pm:

     Pretty sure O’Connor was “encouraged” to stay in.




123. - Bill - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:20 pm:

     Jerry,
     Quigley is ok with me. It was always anybody but Sara for us. Your dislike for Fritchey is pretty strange since he had a 100% favorable record on seiu issues. That might change in the future.




124. - dave - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:21 pm:

     “Encouraged” by what campaign?




125. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:21 pm:

     By the 5th Floor.




126. - SaraWho? - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:24 pm:

     Oops, surge not working. General BetrayUs’ fault?
     http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections
     /2009/by_state/IL_Page_030
     3.html?SITE=ILCHTELN&SECTION=POLITICS




127. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:25 pm:

     Hey Bill, I have a funny feeling John Fritchey isn’t looking for a fight with SEIU. That would be a bad move politically.




128. - i'm not surpised - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:28 pm:

     Well here is the Weighted vote for the district…. This should be interesting

     Mike Quigley

     32
     385

     39
     1904

     40
     2664

     41
     17

     43
     3984

     44
     4705

     45
     237

     46
     4793

     48
     5849

     49
     646

     50
     1023

     Total




129. - DaDumb - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:29 pm:

     My position was always that Quigley would be good, so would Sara. Didn’t think O’Connor was serious.

     Based on what I have heard from reporter friends and political friends, Fritchey seemed like there was too much potential for another embarrassment in the making for Illinois and national dems at a time when Obama didn’t need it. If reporters gossip about things, then you have to worry, no matter whether it is true or not.




130. - Just asking - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:33 pm:

     Does this mean Quigley will be a congressman for the next twenty years? Or, will he abdicate his seat to Rahm Emmanuel in the future?
     What happens to Stroger? Did Daley cut a deal to get Quigley into Congress,will sell out Claypool or move him Washington with Obama, and clear to way for re-election for the Toddler?




131. - Quigley's squiggly - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:37 pm:

     All the former SEIU members who lost their jobs in the county hospitals Stroger slashed with Quigley’s vote—-I wonder what they would think about the blatherings of Laborguy and how great Quigley is.




132. - Just asking - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:42 pm:

     What will Fritchey do? Will he be content in the house or will he run for another office?
     What about Sara? What will she do? Is her window of opportuniy closing to move up the political leader?
     What does this say of labor’s support? Is it overrated?
     What about the Polish guy? Did he wake up the Cook County Democratic party into not disregarding the Polish vote? Will the Dem’s(Daley and Madigan and Berrios and the Obama)read the numbers and conclude that a Polish Democrat county wide needs to be brought back into the governing apparatus or else they’ll lose the Polish vote??? Will the irish,Black and Hispanic Democrats of Cook be able to share power with the Polish Democrats,and who’ll lose some power,the black cook D’s,the Irish D’s or the Latino D’s?




133. - cranko - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:42 pm:

     Man, what a weird day. LaborGuy’s turnout model was spot-on. I don’t know if almost $300,000 in ad spending on top of staff time is justifiable when the result is third place, particularly after a day of talking about running votes and 100+ volunteers including Polish and Spanish speakers blanketing the northwest side, though. The implication would be that all that work results in a third place finish in a low-turnout election where the candidates are (to the average voter) fungible; so was the operation not sound? Or the choice of candidate that bad? Just sayin’. Quigley will probably be a reliable vote anyway, but in that case, how do you defend the spending in a Democratic primary?

     I heard something similar to Rich about Patrick O’Connor (though my bar-side source was probably a lot less reputable than Rich’s, I’m sure), thus why his effort was so spotty and lurchy. To answer dave, this guy was saying the “Mayor’s people” but who knows what that even means.




134. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:48 pm:

     YAAAAAAAAAAWN,
     I just woke up and its time to get to work. I have been so busy of late however I forgot this was even happening today. Congratulations to Quigley; the victory appears to be pretty impressive, despite the small turnout. From the quick skim I was able to give it here, it appears that he had far more help (behind the scenes), than was visible to the naked eye.

     I thought that Feigenholtz would win this hands down due to the chromosomal difference in the candidate and the electorate. You have to wonder if the negative advertising turned people away from her, or caused some that might otherwise have supported her to stay home.

     This may well be more interesting than the Congressional race:

     Ten of the commissioners shall be elected from the city of Chicago by the legal voters of that city, and 7 of the commissioners shall be elected from the towns outside of the city by the legal voters of those towns. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a commissioner from the city of Chicago, the remaining commissioners from the city of Chicago shall appoint a suitable person from the city of Chicago to fill the vacancy.

     (55 ILCS 5/2‑6001) (from Ch. 34, par. 2‑6001)

     If Fritchey lives in this district he should pursue this. More money, no travel, less demanding in terms of time, and as 1/17, the potential to have far more impact.




135. - Northshore Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 9:55 pm:

     Good job Tom Bowen… I paid my penitence on line to soon-to-be Congressman-Elect Quigley.

     Anyone but Sara!




136. - ZC - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:01 pm:

     OK be cryptic Rich!

     You are implying O’Connor was encouraged to stay in and draw votes from somebody? Or did 5th Floor seriously think that O’Connor might pull an upset?

     If the former, logically that implies Da Mayor didn’t want to see Fritchey in the seat? Because I can’t see who else an O’Connor candidacy hurts as much.




137. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:09 pm:

     Only SEIU would call 3rd place a half-win. They’ve clearly inherited the “T.V.” from their impeached ex-Governor.

     Bill, better luck next time.




138. - HappyToaster - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:13 pm:

     The candidate with the most constituents in the district won.

     Interesting speculation about which pol, organization or union did this or that. But rolling downhill is always preferable.




139. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:23 pm:

     Looking at this more carefully:

     {If a vacancy occurs in the office of a commissioner from the city of Chicago, the remaining commissioners from the city of Chicago shall appoint a suitable person from the city of Chicago to fill the vacancy.

     (55 ILCS 5/2‑6001) (from Ch. 34, par. 2‑6001)}

     These are the people that will choose the appointee to fill the vacancy, and the appointee does not even appear to need to reside in the district to be represented:

     County Commissioners
     Earlean Collins, 1st District
     Robert Steele, 2nd District
     Jerry “Iceman” Butler, 3rd District
     William M. Beavers, 4th District
     Deborah Sims, 5th District
     Joseph Mario Moreno 7th District
     Roberto Maldonado, 8th District
     Peter N. Silvestri, 9th District
     John P. Daley, 11th District
     Forrest Claypool, 12th District




140. - blah blah blah - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:28 pm:

     Hey Rich, He does think that song is about him. A loss is a win, I’m the most influential… blah blah blah…




141. - Northshore Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:30 pm:

     Let us never forget that Mayor Daley never took an overt position in this race. Had he, the turnout would have been much, much higher and the level of negative campaign adds would have reflected such. This, I believe, was a relativly fair election (even by Chicago standards). Had Hiz Honor been directly involved… HAHHHHH!!!! If you thout Melrose city vehicles with campaign signs was bad, imagine Chicago Streets and Sanitation running the checker program in your local polling place inside the nursing home!




142. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:31 pm:

     The first poll in the race has Quigley at 22%. Our tracking poll had him at 25% ten days ago and he won with 22%. Quigley had the best name recognition and branding in the field and that was apparently enough in this special election. We endorsed Sara for all the right reason and proved once again that SEIU goes all-out when it endorses a candidate.




143. - Northshore Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:37 pm:

     SEIU has a good rep representing its members in the workplace, but a horrible rep in the field of political ops. Their folks are rude and cras as hell with voters. I don’t know which is more aweful: rude laborers or lazy IFT teachers who just throw your lit in the waste bin and then ask you to sign their union time sheet.




144. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:43 pm:

     SEIU volunteers are not rude with voters. That is a moronic statement. Were SEIU volunteers rude when they won ten city council races two years ago?




145. - 5ht CD resident - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:53 pm:

     As a simple observer, I have to ask how anyone can call this half a win for their SEIU candidate? Much like the 2007 aldermanic races, SEIU chose to focus on their “influence” in the races as opposed to their actual results. They went all out, in a very public way, and lost. At some point, likey in 2011, they will have to answer why their very loud, mostly rude and over-bearing bark is worse than their bark.




146. - 5ht CD resident - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 10:58 pm:

     or bite, as I should have said.




147. - Laborguy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:01 pm:

     SEIU has a good relationship with Mike Quigley. We think he will make a great congressman. That is a win in my book. John Fritchey was unacceptable and he lost. Pretty good outcome for SEIU. In 2007 SEIU helped defeat the laergest number of incumbents in the CHicago City Council since 1947. That is not focusing on “influence”. That is winning buddy.




148. - Cynic - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:09 pm:

     SEIU sold it’s soul in Illinois to Rod Blagojevich. I rather liked Sara before she got the SEIU endorsement, post-endorsement…not so much.

     I am very happy that a genuine reformer like Quigley won and hope that Claypool can rise to the challenge of being the only free-thinker left on the County Board.




149. - Rob_N - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:14 pm:

     Congrats to Team Quigley. I called it wrong a few weeks ago, but water under the bridge at this point.

     –

     Couldn’t let this go unanswered…

     Scott R says, “Windy City well said. The Union thugs stuck out like Sore thumbs in Lincoln Park the last few days. People here care about Obama’s tax raising plans more than any other issue, especially when the Dow Jones is headed towards 1929 levels.” (emphasis added)

     Obama’s tax cutting plans include reducing income taxes for 95% of working Americans and returning the remaining upper 5% to Clinton tax levels as the Bush take-two-tax-cuts-and-call-me-in-2010 windfalls for the wealthy expire.

     I hadn’t realized that the wealthiest 5% of America lives in Lincoln Park.

     As for the stock market going to “1929 levels” … that can happen when the guy in charge lets Wall Street know that the laissez-faire free ride is over and unethical, unsustainable greed-before-country is no longer acceptable.

     We’re coming down from a bubble. By definition, that means the overinflated bubble has burst and the market is self-correcting.

     If you don’t believe in free markets, move to a communist country …. or whatever hollow talking point it is the hypocritical “conservative” pundits keep yapping about when they point 4 fingers back at themselves.




150. - Northshore Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:16 pm:

     It will be interesting what re-districting does to the Cook County Board as many are leaving the City of Chicago like the “White Flight” from Detroit… In this case avoiding unruly and regresive Daley tax increases on the average personv and moving to the near suburbs and other environs of Cook County. Unfortunatly Stroger has taken a page out of Daley’s book and levied increased taxes in the County as well…. But, with a migration of population comes incresed representation from city to county on the board. Can not wait!




151. - Mr. Know-it-All - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:34 pm:

     Ok, folks, here’s your postmortem. Enough hyperbole:

     Forys finished 4th because he tapped into a significant portion of the electorate and ran a very effective campaign aimed at them. But since he never targeted the rest of the 5th, he never really stood a chance. The Polish constituency is measurable but not a majority.

     O’Connor finished 5th because he never seriously ran a campaign. One wonders what happens if he’d made a real run at this seat.

     Feigenholtz finished 3rd because - like Forys - her base was too small a portion of the district. Her experience and health-care message resonated with voters, as did the fact that she was the only notable woman in the race…but she didn’t have the organizational support or the “reform” handle. If this election is on a normal primary day, with higher turnout, she might have won this thing. SEIU didn’t hurt her; the schedule did.

     Fritchey finished 2nd because of organizational support. Pure and simple.

     Quigley won because, as others have said, he had the best name recognition going in, and could best claim the mantle of “reformer” in the wake of Blago and Burris. He had the lead from the start and smartly kept it.




152. - Ward Healer - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:56 pm:

     Great job Quigley team! Speacial Election was a tough one to call. Quigley had name rec, good team, and ran smart game. SEIU ran an expensive and ideologically wasteful campaign. The SEIU team should reevaluate its priorities before funding it’s blustering political team to fight other Democrats. There were generally no politically ideological conflicts with any of the top candidates, or even the less known candidates. I’m glad the organized and big moneyed interests did not win this one. Who picks the next CC Commissioner?




153. - Amy - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:59 pm:

     Quigley won 32? really? and look at the sara numbers in 45. you cannot win a congressional election if your numbers cannot make up for the tiny number she got out of that ward with the second largest vote total of any ward.




154. - Ward Healer - Tuesday, Mar 3, 09 @ 11:59 pm:

     Tonight, Mr. Bowen and Com. Quigley deserve to be Mr. Know It All.




155. - Amy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:04 am:

     Mr. Know it All….your postmortem is very interesting. keep up with the honest debate here. the management is very encouraging of opinions from all sorts, not just operatives plying their trade. we need to grow all sorts of people, voters, professionals, volunteers, observers and you’re a good participant.




156. - Laborguy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:30 am:

     Hey Knuckleheads,

     No way Fritchey came in second becasue or organization. Quigley won in 47 and 32. Quigley ran nearly even in 45, 38 and 33. The only committeeman that “delivered” for Fritchey was Alderman Banks. This was Quigley’s race from the beginning and nobody was going to do anything about it. There were absolutely major differences between these candidates. Sara and Quigley are real progressives. Enough said.




157. - Laborguy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:46 am:

     Quigley also won 39. Dick Mell gave Fritchey a whopping 100 vote victory. All but one committeemen delivered absolutely zero. Give Sara Donatelli vote and she runs in second easily. This is a sinmple one. Quigley won it and won it a long time ago.

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