6th Ward: Lyle vs. Sawyer a choice of political style

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

There’s not much of an age difference between 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, 59, and run- off opponent Roderick Sawyer, 47. So you really can’t call it old-school vs. new school.

In this economically diverse and increasingly crime-plagued South Side ward stretching west from Chatham and Park Manor to East Englewood, it is not even about different visions.

Sawyer vs. Lyle in the April 5 election is more about political style.

“There are some policy things we differ on. He thinks I should have been more proactive on business development, that my process of having businesses go before community groups and vet their proposals is a hindrance,” said Lyle, one of seven incumbents in run-offs supported by Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel. “I don’t superimpose my decisions on the community.”

Both Lyle, on the City Council 13 years, and Sawyer, son of the respected longtime 6th Ward alderman and late Mayor Eugene Sawyer, raise as top priorities crime, education, and jobs.

With entrenched middle-class pockets on the east and similarly lodged poverty pockets on the west, it’s the ward where two Chicago police officers, Thomas Wortham IV and Michael Bailey, died in brazen, high-profile murders in Chatham and Park Manor, respectively.

Of the 16 Chicago public schools in its boundaries, 14 are on academic probation.

And while a recent report said the ward in the last decade bucked the trend of declining jobs — actually seeing a 9 percent increase — business corridors like those on 71st, 75th and 79th streets, or Cottage Grove, could stand fewer empty storefronts.

“And it may not be as sexy as those three issues, but an overriding concern when I talk to people is the lack of response to basic service requests,” said Sawyer, knocking on doors on a recent weekday. “The alderman has become complacent and thinks she has done her job. But the key is to do your job well. A ‘C’ might pass in school. It won’t get you elected.”

Polls show this race tight. Lyle in February took 45 percent of the vote to Sawyer’s 25.

Both are lawyers, with longtime involvement in politics.

Both grew up in and still live in Park Manor.

Lyle attended public schools, University of Illinois at Chicago and John Marshall Law School; Sawyer, private schools, DePaul University, and IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law.

Lyle is single, raising a teenage niece and nephew. Sawyer is married, a father of two. Lyle enjoys Masterpiece Theater, and Sci-fi, e.g. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings.

Sawyer enjoys amateur deejaying, and playing basketball, softball and dominoes.

And this race has had much drama, accusations of dirty politics, altercations and arrests — the latest stemming from alleged lies in Emanuel-donated Lyle mailings and phone banking.

“None of this negativity is coming from us. I keep our focus on the differences and keep them respectful. That’s not been my opponent’s view,” said Sawyer.

“We’re talking about hope and change for the 6th Ward and improving the quality of life, while she’s just talking about me,” he said. “She says she has nothing to do with these negative things, but either you’re not controlling of your campaign, or you’re a liar.”

Said Lyle: “I think what happens is your supporters become truly vested in your campaign. It becomes very personal to them. They don’t understand that it does not mean that I hate this person or that he hates me. But on the street, when you have two groups of supporters who want their candidate to win with all their hearts, it just explodes. We constantly guard against that. At the end of the day, we will all live in this community. Together.”