More blogs on the 49th ward election. This one by someone named Cathy.
What can I say? I'm one of those good citizen types who takes my right and duty to vote seriously. So despite the fact that my vote will most likely count for naught, I trudged over to the local elementary school that is my polling place this evening after I returned home from work.
I cast a ballot against Hizzonner, Richie Daley. I know that he will remain mayor until he quits, dies, or goes berzerk and eats a human baby live on WGN, but I just couldn't bring myself to connect the lines (our new voting method) for him.
When I told Jeff I wasn't going to vote for him because of all the corruption that has come to light with regard to his administration of late, he just scoffed good naturedly. "C'mon, Cathy! You've lived here HOW long?" Yeah. I know. We in Chicago are proud of our corrupt politicians. It's endearing.
I also cast a ballot against our incumbent alderman. For a long time, I thought that he was a good guy. Things have improved in my neighborhood, without a doubt, but they still have a long way to go. And this summer when I attended a community meeting about whether a certain problem property should open its doors once again as a watering hole, I saw the alderman in action. It was clear that he was on the side of the building's sleazy owner--a notorious slumlord whose infamy is legend throughout Rogers Park. And the guy was responsible for the utterly foolish local law against foie gras. I'm not a huge fan of liver--no matter what creature it comes from. And I certainly am against the cruel treatment of geese and/or ducks. But a city ordinance against a foodstuff? Feh. There are SO many more things that need doing. Such as working to boot out sleazy slumlords. Or gang abatement. Or attracting better shops and restaurants.
At any rate, I voted for one of his opponents--the plumber. All of his opponents seemed to be decent options. I just liked the idea of a plumber doing the job.
But, as I said, I'm certain that neither Daley nor our incumbent alderman will be unseated.
UPDATE: While Daley sailed through to another term, our alderman faces a run-off election! So maybe my vote DID count for something, although the guy I voted for did not make the cut for the run-off.
posted by Cathy VanPatten at 8:20 PM
Blognotes: Dear Cathy, Rumors swirl around here. I don't know where you got this information. How could you take your vote seriously? There was no plumber running in the 49th ward. Nor were there any Republicans.
9 comments:
I once had a poly sci prof who questioned our defense of voting rights and input into foreighn policy. Simply stated he asked us this: Do you want your next door neighboor to vote on issues affecting your rights? Informed voter is just that. Can't even figure out who she's voting...... oh oh I'll have to sign off before I leave with a dangling, oh heck, you know what
Hmmmm. It was an interesting choice:
--the former editor who could blue pencil and reedit the way an alderman handles the ward.
--the electrician who could change the way an alderman conducts himself. (Yeah there's a pun in there - sue me.)
--the IT guy who reprograms the way an alderman handles constituent service.
All good choices.
Is an uneducated Vote worst than no vote at all ? Based on the general voter apathy in this country - I tend to think not. Folks have to start to be part of the process somewhere. At least the vote fro the “plumber” was not bought and sold.
I hope Cathy will continue to educate herself on the issues and vote for the “independent” in the runoff.
the problem is people only care about the every 4 years november elections. that's what gets the primetime buzz. it's black v. white. good v. bad. what people don't realize, i would argue, is that the primary elections are the most important. that is where the real issues are talked about and there is a real choice. and until we get people to focus on the primary just as much as they do the "traditional" november elections, we are in trouble...
she was right that Jim was a trademsman anyway....
I just have to ask: when was the last time Jim G. did any work with his hands that did not involve the female anatomy?
Pamela, that’s cute.
rogerparker, no doubt if they're smoking it the may have bought it on Morse. I saw a deal going down yesterday at 2:30 under the blue light. Nice.
Oops! I'm sure I got the idea that he was a plumber from campaign literature... but thanks, all, for disabusing me of that notion.
It would have been nice if you could have let me in on the conversation a little earlier, though.
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