* The Tribune has proclaimed next year the “Revolution of 2010” in the wake of Mike Quigley’s primary victory this week…
What if Tuesday’s treacherous rebellion spreads?
Quigley won Tuesday’s primary with not a lot of money, no help from ward bosses and no endorsements from the public employee unions that have a chokehold on so many of Chicago’s Democratic politicians.
This was, though, the first chance voters have had to express themselves since Rod Blagojevich imploded and a bevy of his fellow Democrats—Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton—ran off a cliff together. Maybe it will occur to this crowd that, by blatantly reneging on their earlier support for a special election to fill Obama’s Senate seat, they tried to push around Illinois voters once too often. […]
The comedy du jour was hearing machine pols try to explain away Quigley’s win by noting that voter turnout in the special primary was light. Wait a minute: Those are the same pols who usually crow that light turnout helps their candidates—and disadvantages reformers such as Quigley who don’t have big ward organizations or labor armies.
Look, it was undeniably an impressive win and there’s a good argument to be made that voters rejected the Democratic organization, since about two-thirds of them cast their lot with candidates who weren’t directly affiliated with the Machine. But, let’s not get completely carried away with ourselves yet. This may very well spread, and it will definitely have an impact on short-term politics, but Quigley did score just 22 percent of the vote on Tuesday.
Also, if you’re gonna trumpet a coming revolution, perhaps you should first check state laws…
Committeemen Tom Tunney (44th), Tom Sharpe (46th) and Michele Smith (43rd), the three of you control the lion’s share of the weighted vote of committeemen. Together, you can install a reformer here. Patrick O’Connor (40th) and Ira Silverstein (50th), Democratic voters furious at party bosses will be watching how you and the other committeemen fill Quigley’s seat.
Um, here’s the pertinent state statute…
[Oops. I stand corrected. The Trib is right. Sorry about that. And sorry about not getting to this sooner. Was away from the computer.]
I’m hearing that Randy Barnette, the 39th Ward Democratic committeeman who supported Pat O’Connor in the congressional race, is expressing early interest in the seat.
* Meanwhile, speaking of the county board…
Meet Cook County Commissioner “Tweetie.” That’s the handle outspoken Republican Tony Peraica uses in posting his live play-by-play of County Board meetings on Twitter, the online micro-blog that’s all the rage.
Last month, Peraica started posting short messages — called “tweets” — during board meetings about everything from contract votes and political bickering to his opinions and wisecracks in 140 characters or less. […]
During Wednesday’s County Board meeting, Peraica posted 15 tweets, including updates on major votes, mild self-promotion and a jab at Commissioner Mike Quigley, who won the 5th Congressional District Democratic primary the night before. […]
County Board President Todd Stroger said Peraica should probably pay closer attention to what’s going on during meetings rather than “twittering his thumbs.”
“I think it’s strange,” Stroger said. “It doesn’t sound kosher. He probably shouldn’t be typing while we’re doing business. Maybe that’s why he can’t remember how he voted on things two weeks ago.”
* Related…
* Stroger cool to Quigley win
* Could Quigley’s win be Stroger’s as well?
* Why Quigley beat the Ward Bosses
* Quigley win a promising sign
* Likely Rahm successor is no insider
* Politico: The Dover Group, which has been consulting with Quigley on fundraising and strategy, is also planning a March fundraiser in Washington
* Press release: Illinois Green Party Congratulates Matt Reichel Primary Victory