4 Part Harmony - Or Not

I went to the forum at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse. No love-in there. I was in a rush because of the Simmons statement, so left my notebook behind. Most of what follows is from the few scribbles I made on campaign literature, and my own sense of things.

How the Candidates came across:

1 - Joe - He is beating the drum about his record, which is standard Election Tactics 101. Unfortunately, because he fails to rise to the legitimate bait set by his challengers he winds up looking like a one-note Sally with nothing new to say or offer. He is very proud of CAPS, but doesn't acknowledge the perception of all 3 challengers that the program as it is currently conducted is terribly flawed. He is very proud of standing up to Daley, and mentioned the Shakman decree. Anything less and he would have been tarred by that brush. He cites kind words from Dick Simpson about his willingness to take on issues. Believes DEVCORP is doing a good job and thinks a Chamber of Commerce will result in less services, citing the Chambers elsewhere (Lincoln Park mentioned) that are 1 man bands. DEVCORP has a staff. Reminded everyone that the 49th includes West Ridge and a portion of Edgewater. He reiterated he is holding hearings on the CTA's apparent inability to run their operation, and Jim shot back that CTA is underfunded and that issue needs rectification.

I still cannot vote for Joe. He has the air of a guy who is going to rest on his laurels. As Chris Adams pointed out, the job is not a job for life. Joe behaves as if it is.

2 - Jim G - If ever there was an earnest Boy Scout, Jim is it. He is passionate, but in a different way from Don Gordon. He takes the role of community activist seriously and can legitimately point to the Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park and his RP 2012 plan as examples of his willingness to plow in and get involved. He says he won't be taking money from developers, he wants the public to know he is making decisions on their behalf, not as part of a quid pro quo. He specifically mentioned an encounter at the infamous Marshfield building in discussing how the poor are treated. He also talked about a drug dealer brazenly walking into the art studio at Glenwood and Morse and offering to be their supplier during his comments about crime. Joe had no such stories to tell. Jim recognizes the value of consensus and building good relations with the mayor's office. Stressed revitalizing CAPS, youth clubs. Need to do what can be done within the scope of the job since some things, like Illinois campaign laws, are out of reach and he can't change.

Jim is probably a pragmatic type who will cut deals as needed to move his agenda forward. That doesn't make him unethical, just a follower of the truism that "Politics is the art of compromise."

3 - Don G - the man is passionate and it comes through. He isn't afraid to speak his mind and say what he thinks, and he says it with emotion, just shy of being strident. He made a commitment to cap his re-election campaign funds to $50,000. Joe called him on this campaign, specifically Dan Sullivan's contributions and Don fired back again that he was talking about the reelection campaign. When asked about the relationship with the mayor's office he pointed out that you don't publicly call your boss a goof or make him look bad. You work quietly behind the scenes to get done what needs doing. He is on message all the way. Focused on Actions vs Words. He told the story about his upbringing again, emphasizing his empathic bond with those who are poor and struggling, and ended his closing remarks by saying no one wanting to live in RP would be tossed overboard from the boat.

Don knows how to compromise as well, and I suspect that he would save any public fireworks for those moments when nothing else will work.

4 - Chris A - Now here is the avuncular Everyman, with a reporter's notebook, who wants to know why a Chamber is a bad thing. He cited Jarvis Square as an example of one person , Sullivan, doing what a chamber would do. Chris strikes me as a very relationship oriented guy who would go out and get everyone's opinion and consensus. Much like Barack Obama when I think about it. His personal hero is Paul Simon. He's friendly, likeable, wants to get things done, and wants RP, West Ridge and Edgewater to thrive.

I like Chris, but I have a hard time seeing him drawing a line in the sand or doing battle with the rest of Club 50. He wants to do the right thing and make this a better place. His experience as an editor has kept him in the eye of his readership, is it enough experience to survive Chicago's political storms.

The audience applauded on those items they cared about. The Blue Lights were not popular with the crowd and the perception that all they do is move the criminal element to new corners is widespread. Don seemed to have the easiest time getting the audience going in his direction, although I don't think the room was stacked. I came away with the sense that Joe did not have much support in the room.

From the International File - There are Chinese students visiting and they attended the forum. An opportunity to see American style democracy in action.