The Watchdogs: 43 races for alderman draw $5.6 million

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10-21-09 Mayor Daley delivers his 2010 budget to the City Council in a special meeting in the council chambers. Brian Jackson/Chicago Sun-Times

Updated: March 4, 2011 4:25PM

Chicago’s mayoral candidates have drawn the big headlines, but there are also 43 smaller political battles brewing in neighborhoods across the city.

They’re Chicago’s contested aldermanic races. And while they haven’t drawn the same sort of attention, they have managed to attract some fair-sized political contributions from the business community, unions and everyday people.

Since July, the 235 aldermanic candidates in those 43 races have raised more than $5.6 million, new campaign-finance filings show. They’ve spent a total of more than $3.8 million so far, heading toward the Feb. 22 municipal-general election.

Among the races that have attracted the most money since July 1:

† In South Shore, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th), first elected in 2007, is facing a rematch with Darcel Beavers, Cook County Commissioner William Beavers’ daughter. Altogether, Darcel Beavers, Jackson and three other candidates have raised a combined $82,000. A sixth candidate raised nothing.

† Ald. George Cardenas (12th) is battling five opponents for a third term representing residents of Brighton Park. He’s raised more than $135,000 since July. One of his challengers — Alberto Bocanegra Jr., the 12th Ward Green Party committeeman — has raised more than $50,000. Another candidate, coffee shop owner Jesus “Jesse” Iniguez, has raised more than $30,000.

† Matthew O’Shea, the 19th Ward Democratic committeeman, has raised more than $200,000 in his bid to replace retiring Ald. Ginger Rugai (19th), whose turf includes the Beverly and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods. This includes contributions to both his aldermanic campaign fund and the 19th Ward Democratic Organization, which O’Shea chairs. His four opponents, combined, raised less than $50,000.

† In Bucktown, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) has raised more than $63,000 in his bid for a second term. His three opponents have raised more than $80,000 combined.

† In Edison Park, the race to replace the city’s lone Republican alderman, Brian Doherty (41st), who decided not to seek re-election, has drawn 11 candidates. Eight have raised more than $195,000 combined. They’re led by Richard Gonzalez, a Chicago Police officer and owner of a real estate management company, who has taken in more than $50,000 ($43,000 of which he lent himself). John Joseph Quinn, a former city zoning official, has raised $43,000. Mary O’Connor, owner of Shamrock Catering and the 41st Ward Democratic committeeman, raised more than $34,000. And Maurita Gavin, Doherty’s secretary, has raised more than $30,000.

† In the 43rd Ward, which includes Lincoln Park, eight of the nine candidates for retiring Ald. Vi Daley’s seat raised more than $800,000 combined. The ninth candidate reported nothing. Four candidates — attorney Rafael A. Vargas; Bita Buenrostro, manager of Dublin’s Restaurant; Michele Smith, an attorney and 43rd Ward Democratic committeeman; and Tim Egan, vice president of Norwegian American Hospital — each raised more than $125,000.

† The 45th Ward in Jefferson Park has seven candidates vying to replace retiring Ald. Patrick Levar, with six raising a combined $420,000 plus. Three of the candidates raised more than $100,000 each: Michael Fitzgerald Ward, a commodities trader; Marina Yolanda Faz-Huppert, a City Hall lobbyist for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and businessman Don Blair.

† Eleven candidates are seeking to replace Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) in Uptown. Three have raised no money, while the others have raised a combined $150,000-plus. Befekadu Retta, who works for Cook County Clerk David Orr, has raised more than $96,000. Mary Anne “Molly” Phelan, an attorney, took in more than $85,000.

† Ald. Bernie Stone (50th), whose ward includes West Rogers Park, is seeking his 10th term against four challengers, including accountant Debra Silverstein, the wife of state Sen. Ira Silverstein. Ira Silverstein ousted Stone as the 50th Ward Democratic committeeman four years ago. Stone has raised more than $100,000; Debra Silverstein more than $70,000. A third candidate, architect Greg Brewer, has raised more than $26,000.