Sun-Times endorsements for April 5th election

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Updated: April 19, 2011 12:21AM

The makeup of Chicago’s new City Council is not yet complete.

On April 5, voters in 14 city wards will choose an alderman in a runoff election. No candidate in these 14 wards won more than 50 percent of the vote on Feb. 22.

In 11 of the 14 races, the Sun-Times is sticking with the candidates we originally endorsed before the February election.

These include : Freddrenna M. Lyle (6th); Toni L. Foulkes (15th); JoAnn Thompson (16th); Latasha R. Thomas (17th); Daniel “Danny” Solis (25th); John A. Rice (36th); Tom Caravette (38th); Mary O’Connor (41st); Michele Smith (43rd); John Arena (45th), and Debra L. Silverstein (50th).

In the three races in which the Sun-Times endorsed a candidate who did not make the runoff, we offer the following endorsements:

20th Ward

Ald. Willie B. Cochran is off to a good start in his first term and has earned our endorsement for a ward that includes Woodlawn, Washington Park and Back of the Yards. A former police officer and community organizer, Cochran has burrowed in on the right issues — housing and commercial development, more sports opportunities for kids and foreclosure relief — and is making inroads.

Cochran is endorsed over Che “Rhymefest” Smith, an impressive young hip-hop artist who speaks eloquently about the issues in the ward but lacks Cochran’s experience and expertise. We urge Cochran to put Smith’s passion to work for the ward and to take to heart criticism that as alderman he has not been as collaborative or open to new ideas as he could be.

24th Ward

For 12 years, Michael D. Chandler was alderman of the 24th Ward, doing a pretty good job for the first seven years. He compelled the city to remove a five-story-high illegal garbage dump informally known as “Mount Henry” and brought to his impoverished West Side ward a sorely needed Dominick’s grocery, a bank and — remarkably — a 10-screen movie theater.

But then Chandler grew lax in his duties, voters picked up on that, and four years ago, an upstart challenger, Sharon Denise Dixon, defeated him for re-election. Dixon, unfortunately, has proved to be a bust as an alderman. She is notoriously divisive and ineffectual. Our endorsement goes to Chandler, with every hope that he will return to his early form, working hard for his ward. Chandler has a grasp of the City Council’s legislative process that seems to elude Dixon, as well as a record of working closely with community groups and local police commanders.

46th Ward

Ald. Helen Shiller’s decision to relinquish her aldermanic seat unleashed a flurry of interest in this Uptown ward, with 11 candidates originally vying to represent a ward struggling with crime and ongoing tension around attempts at gentrification. In the runoff, we’re backing James Cappleman, a former teacher and social worker with deep roots in this fiercely independent ward.

Cappleman has a broad and detailed vision for attracting businesses to the ward, fighting crime and giving residents a greater say in ward decisions. Cappleman and opponent Mary Anne “Molly” Phelan, a real estate and tax attorney, don’t differ significantly on the issues but do in experience. Phelan is an impressive newcomer, but we prefer Cappleman because we believe he would be more independent. Cappleman already has many long-standing, constructive relationships in the ward and has displayed a willingness to reach out to those with whom he disagrees.