My Endorsement for Mayor; and for Alderman of 5th and 20th Wards

Although Patch publications do not endorse political candidates ... as Patch Mayor for the Hyde Park Patch, that privilege is available to me, speaking as a commentator. Here are my endorsements for the Tuesday, April 2nd Run-off Election:

Mayor of Chicago: This is by-far the most-qualified and most evenly-matched set of two candidates for Mayor, since the Run-off procedure began in the 1987 election for Mayor. A person who votes for Lori Lightfoot and a person who votes for Toni Preckwinkle should each be extremely happy with their choice for Mayor.

At the recent 40-minutes-each, in succession, forum at Logan Center this past Wednesday March 13th, the thoughtfulness of Toni Preckwinkle was far more evident than one sees in other forums or when both candidates are at one table simultaneously. I must say that as an Alumnus of the College of The University of Chicago (class of 1973), it is extremely difficult for me to choose against a fellow College alum. So despite the fact that Lori Lightfoot is an alumna of the UChicago Law School (JD 1989), I hereby side with the College and I endorse Toni Preckwinkle.

Toni's 50 years of work as a teacher, as an Alderman, and as the President of the Cook County Board (i.e., chief executive officer of Cook County) as well as the Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party, give her an unmatched breadth of experience on which to make great judgments for what new policies and actions are needed for Chicago ... especially for the strikingly poorest parts of the city.

20th Ward Alderman: Nicole Johnson versus Jeanette Taylor. Again, both candidates are excellent, and a welcome change from recent 20th Ward Aldermen who have spent time in jail for crimes committed while being Alderman. Nicole Johnson has the energy of youth together with an outlook diametrically opposite to previous Aldermen. I endorse Nicole Johnson for Alderman of the 20th Ward.

5th Ward Alderman: It is time for a change. The typical and continuing methods, practices, and behavior of a Chicago Alderman who began 20 years ago ... at this point in 2019, are almost a disqualification for any prospective Run-off candidate for Alderman. In my mind, times have now passed Leslie Hairston by, for the needed energy and new ideas from the 5th Ward Alderman. I and others have reported great difficulty in reaching Alderman Hairston by email. If something urgent is happening, and a same-day response is needed (such as upon the shuttering of Treasure Island Foods last October), that fact and failure to be a "communicative alderman" to every constituent ... is politically unacceptable. And even a less-urgent matter requires the politeness of a response to every email from every resident of the 5th Ward. After 20 years of Alderman Hairston, it is now time for modern communication skills, for fresh ideas, and for a fresh leader for the City Council and for the 5th Ward. I endorse Will Calloway for Alderman of the 5th Ward.

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