Aldermen to face plenty of competition
Chicago's new batch of candidates includes four convicted felons trying to reclaim aldermanic seats, a man who said he is homeless, and a Colon in a repeat race against a Colom.
A total of 259 people signed up to run for city offices as of 5 p.m. Monday, the final day of a weeklong filing period for candidates who want to get on the Feb. 27 ballot. Five people filed to run for mayor, seven for city clerk and two for treasurer.
Four of 50 wards have open seats: the 7th, 8th, 15th and 18th. The 15th Ward has the most candidates, with 15 people signed up to try for the post held by Ald. Theodore Thomas, who is not running for re-election.
"After 17 years, what the mayor is doing is just a little bit too little, too late," she said. "He didn't send the right message to his people that corruption was not to be tolerated at City Hall in 17 years." Brown said she is "truly committed to putting the last nail in the coffin of corruption."
A total of 245 people filed to run for alderman alone. Only three of the 50 city aldermen are without challengers: Manuel "Manny" Flores (1st), Thomas R. Allen (38th) and Tom Tunney (44th).
"Fewer incumbents got a pass than normal," said Tom Leach, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections.
Political warhorse Edward M. Burke (14th) is being challenged by Paloma Andrade.
Some political observers say the challenges are linked to City Hall corruption scandals, fallout from the mayoral veto of the big-box ordinance, and a tasty $98,125 aldermanic salary.
Sylvester "Junebug" Hendricks, who filed to run for 5th Ward alderman, said in his petition he is homeless .
Among the candidates in the 25th Ward is Joe D. Acevedo, who was featured in a Chicago Sun-Times report on city employees on disability leave.
The first and last days of filing are popular because they help candidates get either the coveted top or bottom slots on the ballot -- thought to be the most likely to be picked by voters.
And it wouldn't be Chicago if there weren't a few convicted felons among the candidates, all former aldermen: Wallace Davis Jr., who was convicted on federal corruption charges, and three scooped up in the Silver Shovel investigation: Percy Z. Giles, Virgil E. Jones and Ambrosio Medrano.
Eighth Ward candidates include the Rev. Joseph McAfee, a career burglar who turned his life around after a 1971 release from prison and a pardon from Gov. Jim Thompson.