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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Daley cruises to 6th term

Daley cruises to 6th term
By Gary Washburn and Robert Becker
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published February 28, 2007, 12:30 AM CST


Richard M. Daley laid claim to history on Tuesday, steamrolling two opponents and winning a sixth term that promises to make him the longest-serving mayor in Chicago history.

Another four years in the office will push Daley past the current record-holder—his father and role model, the late Mayor Richard J. Daley.

With more than 95 percent of precincts reporting, Daley had received about 71 percent of the vote to defeat challengers Dorothy Brown and William "Dock" Walls. But Chicagoans apparently considered it a ho-hum election, with only about a third of the city's 1.4 million registered voters turning out to cast their ballots.

A jubilant Daley walked into a ballroom of the Chicago Hilton & Towers to the strains of "Takin' Care of Business" and, in a speech that lasted just a few minutes, claimed victory before excited supporters.

"An election is not an end," Daley declared. "Instead it offers a new beginning. ... I want to thank the people of Chicago for their continued support.

"It means the world to me. I will keep working just as hard as I can for the next four years to justify your faith and confidence in me."

Miguel del Valle, Daley's running mate for clerk, was victorious as well.

Daley's other running mate, Stephanie Neely, won her race for city treasurer without opposition.

Despite his big win, Daley's coattails were not long enough to help all of his City Council allies.

The mayor could face a more independent council because several of his aldermanic allies lost their elections or faced runoffs.

Daley's victory came despite an ongoing federal investigation into City Hall contracting and hiring fraud, marring the mayor's record, putting him on the defensive and threatening to erode his political support.

But polls, borne out by Tuesday's results, have indicated that voters cared less about the federal inquiry and the corruption it brought to light than what they saw as Daley's strong leadership and the direction he was taking the city.

In his victory speech, Daley referred to the scandal, saying that "our city hiring and contracting systems have been reformed," and adding that he will make them even stronger.

Though large by traditional political standards, Daley's margin of victory apparently was smaller than it was in 2003, when he won more than 78 percent of the ballots cast.

But that race was against three political neophytes with little or no name recognition.

This time, Daley faced Brown, a countywide officeholder who has a political base and a proven record as a vote-getter. In her 2004 re-election bid for clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, she won nearly 800,000 ballots cast in the city.

In her contest against Daley, Brown got about 20 percent of the vote.

About a half hour after Daley declared victory, Brown gave a concession speech at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

"I want to congratulate the mayor," Brown said. "We started this campaign with a will to believe. Those of you here continue to have hope and strive for justice."

Brown called on Chicagoans "to hold this mayor accountable," and vowed, "You have not seen the last of Dorothy Brown."

Walls, a one-time aide to the late Mayor Harold Washington, failed to break into double digits.

"It doesn't matter how large the vote total was against us," Walls said Tuesday night. "No one promised us a rose garden. And we're cool with that. ... We're victorious in a lot of ways, even though we didn't win this particular election."

Both Brown and Walls are African-Americans, but neither was able to generate widespread enthusiasm among black voters, and the challengers had little crossover appeal with other racial groups.

In a city with a history of racial division, Daley has sought to build coalitions. He has been careful to include minorities in the top ranks of his administration and has prided himself on spreading resources and public development, including new schools, libraries and police and fire stations, across the city's neighborhoods.

In what foes have contended has been an effort to co-opt potential opposition, Daley has spread millions of dollars of city grant money to church-related and other non-profit organizations that provide social and community services. Many of them are in minority areas and are controlled by local black and Hispanic leaders.

Earlier, with nearly 80 percent of the vote in, Daley had the most votes in all 50 of the city's wards, including those where African-Americans represent more than 95 percent of the population.

Daley was given considerable breathing room last fall when two prominent Chicago Democrats, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, announced their decisions not to challenge him. Both had considered mayoral runs but said the Democratic takeover of the U.S. House after November's elections persuaded them to stay in Washington.

Some Chicago political veterans theorized that the main reason Jackson and Gutierrez took a pass on the mayoral race was because they concluded Daley would throttle them.

The federal investigation put out of business or severely weakened a formidable list of pro-Daley political groups that had fielded political workers for him at election time.

But Daley was able to overcome that manpower deficiency by using troops of traditional Democratic ward organizations; depending on volunteers who signed up for his campaign; relying on his name recognition and popularity; and outspending his underfunded challengers.

At the end of January, state records show that a potent money-raising effort had put nearly $6 million in the mayor's war chest. Brown had less than $200,000, Walls less than $10,000.

Daley, 64, was first elected mayor in 1989. If he serves out his term, he will surpass his father's time in office on Dec. 26, 2010, when he hits 7,915 days as mayor.

But the current mayor has insisted he is not focused on the record and certainly is not seeking to upstage Richard J. Daley.

Still, when asked if Richard J. would be proud of him, he said Tuesday: "I think my dad would be very proud."

The record, of itself, would not mean much, Daley said last week.

"You don't stay here to stay here," he declared. "You want to accomplish things."

Tribune staff reporters Jon Yates, Ray Quintanilla and Gerry Doyle contributed to this report.

gwashburn@tribune.com

rxbecker@tribune.com

Chicago Election Results
Mayor - Chicago - General
2555 of 2605 Precincts Reporting - 98.08%
Name Votes Pct
Daley, Richard (i) 317,266 71.18
Brown, Dorothy 89,235 20.02
Walls, William 39,217 8.80

City Clerk - Chicago - General
2555 of 2605 Precincts Reporting - 98.08%
Name Votes Pct
Del Valle, Miguel (i) 238,984 57.94
Jones, Diane 141,289 34.26
Cerda, Jose 32,163 7.80

Alderman - Ward 2 - General
58 of 60 Precincts Reporting - 96.67%
Name Votes Pct
Fioretti, Bob 2,927 28.07
Haithcock, Madeline (i) 2,130 20.43
Askew, David 1,648 15.81
Johnson, Kenny 1,482 14.21
Doody, Larry 1,168 11.20
Davis, Wallace 1,072 10.28

Alderman - Ward 3 - General
53 of 54 Precincts Reporting - 98.15%
Name Votes Pct
Tillman, Dorothy (i) 3,383 42.75
Dowell, Pat 3,020 38.16
Monroe, Mell 1,325 16.74
James, Angelo 97 1.23
Harris, Benjamin 89 1.12

Alderman - Ward 4 - General
55 of 55 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Preckwinkle, Toni (i) 7,593 76.00
Bolden, Norman 2,398 24.00

Alderman - Ward 5 - General
53 of 55 Precincts Reporting - 96.36%
Name Votes Pct
Hairston, Leslie (i) 6,412 74.54
Worrill, Oscar 1,686 19.60
Hendricks, Sylvester 504 5.86

Alderman - Ward 6 - General
60 of 64 Precincts Reporting - 93.75%
Name Votes Pct
Lyle, Freddrenna (i) 6,488 52.83
Davis, Eugene 3,540 28.83
Norington-Reaves, Karin 1,717 13.98
Andrews, Thelma 535 4.36

Alderman - Ward 7 - General
63 of 65 Precincts Reporting - 96.92%
Name Votes Pct
Jackson, Sandi 6,462 57.47
Beavers, Darcel (i) 3,703 32.93
David, Ron 869 7.73
Brown, Eric 210 1.87

Alderman - Ward 8 - General
68 of 70 Precincts Reporting - 97.14%
Name Votes Pct
Harris, Michelle (i) 8,196 60.72
McAfee, Joseph 1,239 9.18
Shabazz, Faheem 1,131 8.38
Underwood, Cliff 1,001 7.42
Prince, Derrick 742 5.50
Newell, Van 535 3.96
Allen, Dennis 333 2.47
Adams, Sharon 322 2.39

Alderman - Ward 9 - General
53 of 53 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Beale, Anthony (i) 5,591 57.93
Rayburn, Earick 1,986 20.58
Levi, Deborah 1,665 17.25
Ward, Harold 409 4.24

Alderman - Ward 10 - General
49 of 49 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Pope, John (i) 6,209 70.36
Ramirez, Dinah 1,676 18.99
Malesh, Thomas 939 10.64

Alderman - Ward 11 - General
50 of 50 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Balcer, James (i) 7,598 78.92
Segvich, Carl 2,030 21.08

Alderman - Ward 12 - General
24 of 24 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Cardenas, George (i) 2,589 59.27
Sanchez, Carina 1,222 27.98
Salazar, Jesus 178 4.08
Bocanegra, Alberto 163 3.73
Mercado, Alan 155 3.55
Iniguez, Jesse 61 1.40

Alderman - Ward 14 - General
35 of 35 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Burke, Edward (i) 5,013 89.71
Andrade, Paloma 575 10.29

Alderman - Ward 15 - General
51 of 52 Precincts Reporting - 98.08%
Name Votes Pct
Foulkes, Toni 2,005 33.95
Simmons-Stovall, Felicia 1,556 26.35
Dixon, Denise 464 7.86
Burch, William 329 5.57
Jeffries, Janice 303 5.13
Monroe, Shawn 288 4.88
Lewis Dixon, Vesta 222 3.76
Grayer, Tommie 204 3.45
Mallory, Sandra 180 3.05
Dunn, Brian 179 3.03
Anderson, Richard 175 2.96

Alderman - Ward 16 - General
43 of 46 Precincts Reporting - 93.48%
Name Votes Pct
Thompson, Joann 2,328 42.09
Coleman, Shirley (i) 2,023 36.58
Baskin, Hal 707 12.78
Brown, Denise 307 5.55
Lewis, Jeffrey 90 1.63
Johnson, Eddie 76 1.37

Alderman - Ward 17 - General
62 of 64 Precincts Reporting - 96.88%
Name Votes Pct
Thomas, Latasha (i) 5,698 66.30
Hawthorne, Tyrone 1,330 15.48
Williams, Yvette 1,165 13.56
Partlow, Charles 401 4.67

Alderman - Ward 18 - General
60 of 62 Precincts Reporting - 96.77%
Name Votes Pct
Lane, Lona (i) 6,303 49.11
Stewart, Paul 3,382 26.35
Ziegler, Joseph 1,472 11.47
Washington, Sydney 917 7.15
Davis, Eldora 760 5.92

Alderman - Ward 19 - General
67 of 67 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Rugai, Virginia (i) 11,659 54.53
Somerville, John 5,949 27.82
Sheehan, Timothy 3,773 17.65

Alderman - Ward 20 - General
48 of 50 Precincts Reporting - 96.00%
Name Votes Pct
Cochran, Willie 4,198 62.51
Troutman, Arenda (i) 2,149 32.00
Chaney, Edward 369 5.49

Alderman - Ward 21 - General
72 of 74 Precincts Reporting - 97.30%
Name Votes Pct
Brookins, Howard (i) 6,292 46.09
Jones, Leroy 4,706 34.47
Jones, Sylvia 1,203 8.81
McClendon, Mildred 1,048 7.68
Belle, Dwayne 403 2.95

Alderman - Ward 22 - General
29 of 29 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Munoz, Ricardo (i) 2,463 56.80
Gutierrez, Jose 1,079 24.88
Salamanca, Joaquin 440 10.15
Sallas, August 354 8.16

Alderman - Ward 23 - General
54 of 56 Precincts Reporting - 96.43%
Name Votes Pct
Zalewski, Michael (i) 8,818 71.16
Maida, Charles 3,574 28.84

Alderman - Ward 24 - General
56 of 59 Precincts Reporting - 94.92%
Name Votes Pct
Chandler, Michael (i) 2,881 36.03
Dixon, Sharon 1,620 20.26
Anderson, Julius 944 11.81
Worthy, Thomas 850 10.63
Patterson, Donald 840 10.51
Carter, Mark 628 7.85
Brooks, Willie 233 2.91

Alderman - Ward 25 - General
30 of 31 Precincts Reporting - 96.77%
Name Votes Pct
Solis, Danny (i) 3,153 50.36
Morfin, Cuahutemoc 1,449 23.14
Soliz, Juan 581 9.28
Padilla, Martha 526 8.40
Del Valle, Aaron 296 4.73
Acevedo, Joe 256 4.09

Alderman - Ward 26 - General
63 of 63 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Ocasio, Billy (i) 3,569 65.99
Granato, Jesse 865 15.99
Maldonado, Sammy 676 12.50
Vera, Onix 298 5.51

Alderman - Ward 28 - General
60 of 61 Precincts Reporting - 98.36%
Name Votes Pct
Smith, Ed (i) 4,404 60.06
Walker, Shawn 1,726 23.54
Rover, Chubby 493 6.72
Colvin, CaSandra 291 3.97
Greer, Donald 248 3.38
Lyons, Alex 171 2.33

Alderman - Ward 30 - General
40 of 41 Precincts Reporting - 97.56%
Name Votes Pct
Reboyras, Ariel (i) 3,436 70.27
Alvarez, Jose 852 17.42
Strnad, Wayne 602 12.31

Alderman - Ward 31 - General
51 of 51 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Suarez, Ray (i) 4,519 86.08
Hernandez, Ray 731 13.92

Alderman - Ward 32 - General
52 of 52 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Matlak, Ted (i) 3,793 46.83
Waguespack, Scott 3,185 39.32
Zaryczny, Catherine 1,122 13.85

Alderman - Ward 34 - General
60 of 61 Precincts Reporting - 98.36%
Name Votes Pct
Austin, Carrie (i) 8,394 69.82
Moses, Henry 1,414 11.76
Kelly, Bernard 1,369 11.39
Mayden, Michael 845 7.03

Alderman - Ward 35 - General
36 of 36 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Colon, Rey (i) 3,038 46.40
Colom, Vilma 2,218 33.88
Sotomayor, Miguel 1,291 19.72

Alderman - Ward 36 - General
55 of 55 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Banks, William (i) 8,094 75.89
Sposato, Nicholas 2,572 24.11

Alderman - Ward 37 - General
43 of 43 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Mitts, Emma (i) 4,462 59.25
McKennie, Eric 1,183 15.71
Giles, Percy 759 10.08
Abina, Tommy 511 6.79
Jones, Daryl 334 4.44
Jones, Arlene 282 3.74

Alderman - Ward 39 - General
47 of 47 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Laurino, Margaret (i) 6,275 79.30
Belz, Christopher 1,638 20.70

Alderman - Ward 41 - General
56 of 57 Precincts Reporting - 98.25%
Name Votes Pct
Doherty, Brian (i) 9,990 72.48
Markham, Don 2,260 16.40
Hannon, Michael 1,534 11.13

Alderman - Ward 42 - General
68 of 69 Precincts Reporting - 98.55%
Name Votes Pct
Reilly, Brendan 6,802 54.32
Natarus, Burton (i) 5,721 45.68

Alderman - Ward 43 - General
57 of 59 Precincts Reporting - 96.61%
Name Votes Pct
Daley, Vi (i) 4,334 48.20
Smith, Michele 2,960 32.92
Egan, Tim 1,059 11.78
Zelchenko, Peter 370 4.11
Goodstein, Rachel 269 2.99

Alderman - Ward 45 - General
53 of 53 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Levar, Patrick (i) 7,380 56.23
Boyke, Terrence 4,004 30.51
Klocek, Anna 1,086 8.27
Bank, Robert 655 4.99

Alderman - Ward 46 - General
46 of 47 Precincts Reporting - 97.87%
Name Votes Pct
Shiller, Helen (i) 5,834 53.20
Cappleman, James 5,133 46.80

Alderman - Ward 47 - General
52 of 52 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Schulter, Gene (i) 7,241 78.52
Cooney, Martin 1,981 21.48

Alderman - Ward 49 - General
42 of 42 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Moore, Joe (i) 3,657 49.33
Gordon, Don 2,162 29.16
Ginderske, Jim 939 12.67
Adams, Chris 656 8.85

Alderman - Ward 50 - General
45 of 45 Precincts Reporting - 100.00%
Name Votes Pct
Stone, Bernard (i) 5,059 48.32
Dolar, Naisy 2,958 28.25
Brewer, Greg 1,906 18.21
Aftab, Salman

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