Thursday, February 10, 2011

What Do Endorsements Mean for the 2nd Ward Alderman Race

The race for 2nd Ward Alderman is heating up and the field is still relatively wide. We haven't spent much time providing information on this race for a variety of reasons (mostly because we don't feel like we're the most knowledgeable in this area). Regardless, it's important to the future of the Sloop, so will try to pass along articles and tidbits we find.

Today the Chicago Journal published a story talking about some of the endorsements the candidates are getting and what if anything they potential mean:
It’s hard to measure how important endorsements are, but they can bring candidates visibility, money and volunteers. In both wards, the incumbents expressed some skepticism about the importance of these endorsements.

Ald. Fioretti’s activity the last four years is way more important than any endorsements,” said Tom Gradel, campaign spokesman for the alderman. “He didn’t have all the endorsements in 2007 and he still got the most votes.”

3 comments:

Prairie District said...

Depends on the endorsement. If SEIU endorses a canddiates, and with that endorsement comes $50K, access to their polling, votes from their members and 50 workers to man the phones and canvass the neighborhood, well that is a very significant thing. If it is a newspaper endorsement with nothing behind it it makes for a nice inclusion on a mail piece, email or social media blast; but studies show it doesn't figure in much to voter chocies.

Dennis McClendon said...

Make up your own mind: Come to the aldermanic candidates forum this Saturday morning, Feb. 12, at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash. Third Ward forum runs from 9:00 to 10:30 am, then a meet-and-greet from 10:30 to 11:00 am, followed by the Second Ward forum from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The forum will be moderated by a League of Women Voters representative and is sponsored by Greater South Loop Association and South Loop Neighbors.

Dissappointed TAX Payer said...

It means more less than visionary leadership for the 2nd Ward. South Loop residents out to be outright pissed about lack of progress on schools, parks, world class infrastructure. Yet now we have out Alderman wanting to give up our necessary TIF money for "Sweet Home Chicago", for affordable housing?

We have the opportunity and need to provide legitimate business and complimentary neighborhood infrastructure in the area, yet the answer is "Affordable Housing"? Affordable housing is a SCAM. It is a red herring; a way to control pay to play more locally, and a indirect way to pay back to the SEIU and other unions, while stiffing tax payers.

It is nothing but a hidden TAX increase, and another in the long line of entitlement programs.

Keep ignoring the infrastructure issues and needs and you will have plenty of affordable housing.