Forrest Claypool has conceded to incumbent John Stroger in the Democratic primary race for Cook County Board president.
E-mail from Forrest Claypool:
We've had a long night. As the experts pore over the data, I'd like to take this moment to sincerely thank the thousands of people who donated time and resources to our campaign. Your sacrifice and your sense of involvement and your devotion to reform of Cook County government are something I will never forget.
Daina and I thank you sincerely. My best wishes to everyone.
Forrest
Blognotes: I would like to thank James Ginderske. He's about as tough as a campaigner gets. Yesterday it seemed like James and I were outnumbered 30 to 1, yet James kept battling, all day. The goons working for David Fagus, Alderman Moore and the democratic machine party were hard to match on this day. It's no wonder people don't volunteer against these thugs. But I'll be back to try again. These guys don't scare me. Next time I'll have the hoagies.
9 comments:
from the Sun Times:
"Those new machines cost the federal government $52 million, and city and county officials had expressed concerns because they had only four months to learn the software."
What on earth would these people do if they really had to work for a living? Four months is an eternity in the real world! I was sharing/teaching a database with my group and it took an hour plus my being available to anyone needing help. That's minimal compared to 'software', but give us a break. $52 million and then what, use it as an excuse in November?
This election shouldn't be over until all ballots are counted. Of course, gotta find the 'lost' ones too. That's the amusing part, the ballots were bigger than a home made Gernhardt sign. Craig's sign's don't get 'lost' they get STOLEN
Wow, this is the worst political face-kick since November 2004. I really feel broken-hearted today. Corruption abounds.
> Next time I'll have the hoagies.
Will work for Nemo's.
You sent Mr. B's photo out to the media? That's wonderful.
Blogger Bob: I don't wish any ill will either, but I hope your nausea is contagious enough to start a real action plan on this. We have a right to DEMAND that Forrest be in the receivership line. The paper listed possible receivers of the award: Jessie Owens and the truck lady for two. Now isn't that comfy? Not on your stomach right? When you feel better, would you consider pitching in on a ward wide effort to educate voters and stand guard in November? Enlist friends/neighbors and have our own precinct captains to put on the heat.
In response to Thomas Westgard's remarks as to why Claypool lost... I can think of several reasons. First of all, he never effectively appealed to African-American voters. His campaign was dominated by self-proclaimed white progressives and by North Side/lakefront pols like Aldermen Gene Schulter and Mary Ann Smith. There was little incentive for the black community to side with Claypool, other than the facts about Stroger's pathetic administration, and that wasn't enough to overcome emotions.
Claypool's past ties to Mayor Daley undercut his progressive platform. His record of cutting jobs while heading the park district proved lethal in getting labor support, or in getting any backing from two groups who probably got more votes for Stroger on the Far Northwest Side than did the area's ward committeemen (Frank Coconate's Northwest Side Democratic Organization and Dominick Longo's coalition for Better Government).
Claypool's campaigning style did little to get the average voter enthusiatic enough to come out and support him, at least in the numbers needed to win (particularly on the Northwest and Southwest Sides and in the more blue-collar suburbs). In retrospect, perhaps it would have been better had Claypool dropped out in December in favor of Mike Quigley (a far more scrappy and active-style campaigner) than the other way around.
The John Stroger had his stroke, and suddenly the African-American community had a reason to come together (even though it meant disregarding Stroger's career of ignoring the advancement of black political enpowerment).
By the way, does anyone know yet how the 49th Ward did in this race?
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for HOnest Government
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