Run off election round-up

We start with this item from the Chicago News Coop. They talk about the mailings against challenger Roderick Sawyer. First however the lay of the land:

It’s up to voters living in the 6th Ward to decide whether to re-elect their veteran alderman, Freddrenna Lyle, on Tuesday, but plenty of people outside the South Side ward will try to influence their decision.

Ms. Lyle is a longtime ally of organized labor groups that did not back Mr. Emanuel’s election as mayor. She also has the endorsements of Mr. Emanuel and business groups that have feuded with the unions.

Roderick Sawyer, her challenger, said the incumbent had been compromised because she was beholden to too many groups with conflicting interests.

“You can’t serve two different masters,” said Mr. Sawyer, who won 25 percent of the vote in the February election to finish second among six candidates and force the runoff.

Ms. Lyle, who received 45 percent, said she did not worry about the possibility that someday she would face pressure from her backers to pick sides on City Council votes where not all of them are in agreement. She said Mr. Emanuel told her he understood that she was not always going to vote for his agenda when he promised to support her campaign at a meeting after the February election.

We already know about the mailers attacking Sawyer, I need to post some so that you know what I'm talking about. Still this is how much money the SEIU and the Mayor-elect campaign committee is spending:

A political fund created to help the mayor-elect’s endorsed candidates in the runoff has spent more than $35,000 to aid Ms. Lyle, state records show.

The Service Employees International Union, which did not endorse Mr. Emanuel, has donated at least $68,000 to her campaign since October, but also has spent tens of thousands on mailings attacking Mr. Sawyer.

While the mailings from Mr. Emanuel’s political committee focus on Ms. Lyle’s record, the service employees’ mailing criticized Mr. Sawyer for owing back taxes and for what it claimed was his support of video gambling. Mr. Sawyer said he was paying off the delinquent tax bills and denied supporting video gambling.

Oh yeah the back taxes mentioned in a few of the SEIU's recent mailers.

A response to Roderick Sawyer's press release

Kari Steele responds to the Roderick Sawyer press release about the incident when a campaign worker from Ald. Lyle's campaign allegedly assaulted a worker from challenger Richard Wooten's campaign. The comment was written at the Concerned Citizen's of Chatham page on Saturday:

This was truly an unfortunate incident that should not have occurred. Despite the taunting, verbal abuse and profanities that were directed at the Alderman, as she and her 80 year old father left their polling place, this type of behavior ...is unacceptable and not representative of the Lyle campaign. The Press Release prepared by the candidates' PR person however is erroneous because the Alderman was in the act of removing her volunteers from the corner when they were again accosted by the 'purported victim.' After the parties were separated, she gave them the address of the office where they could find the volunteer. She did not flee. We look forward to the return of civilized campaigning as the run-off election continues. :-)

Steele is herself a leader of the 6th Ward Young Democrats and a former candidate for Water Reclamation District.

Campaign test -- 1 week results.

On Monday Feb 7 (Monday after the blizzard), my wife and i began an experiment. We either sent e-mails or left voice messages asking each of the 6 campaigns to send us material to help us determine if we should vote for them. The separate requests either asked for the material to be sent to our home, or to a 60619 P.O. Box.

We received 2 e-mail acknowledgements, and a promise that material would be sent soon. This was from Cassandra Goodrum-Burton and Brian Sleet.

But as of Wednesday afternoon, neither the P.O. Box or our home mailbox had any specific mail form the campaigns. We did receive material, but it looks like it was part of the registered voter database. There didn't seem to be anything specific to us (i.e. it's like no one took the time to make sure we had everything to help us in our decision).

Now, it COULD be a problem with the post office...a Medill School of Journalism (Northwestern University) grad student will be publishing a story on our recent problems with the post office...but after all this time, can just the post office be blamed? Is it true that none of the campaigns actually sent us the material we asked?


In 2007, i had varied responses:

Fredrenna Lyle's office had a packet dropped off at our door within days, which included newspapers articles, brochures, etc. (This was after either a call or e-mail)

Karin Norington Reeves conversed with me via Facebook

When I stopped by Eugene Davis' campaign office, they only had an old newspaper with an article. I left my contact info, and found out that they had signed me up to be a volunteer -- thought at that point, i simply wanted to LEARN more about him as a candidate.

I received no response from Thelma Andrews.

For 2011, I was hoping to get a better response...not a "no response"

GCA Mayoral forum on CAN-TV - *this* WED and FRI morning!

An update to JP Paulus' post I didn't catch it on Monday morning. GCA offered an updated scheduled showing of the forum for 8:30 AM Wednesday on Channel 21 and of course one more on Friday morning at 10 AM on Channel 19. This is for those who are able to recieve CAN-TV on their cable services. If you have satellite you may not have CAN-TV.

Also it appears that GCA will offer a link to the 6th Ward Aldermanic forums to be shared whether on blogs such as this one or on social networking websites such as Facebook. Also from the e-mail...

However, Shawn Bell, the cameraman is offering a link that you can use on your website and Facebook page that connects you to his server.

This will allow folks who do not have Comcast to see the entire forum via your website and Facebook page.

He is charging $20 for the link connection to offset his hosting the entire video on his server.

You can pay him in cash or a money order.

How's that for sharing? I should pay the money, but I would imagine it's just easier to find a website such as YouTube, Blip, or even Vimeo to host the video. I admire the videographer for working with GCA to distribute his work but if he reads this post,  I'm posting my ideas. Hopefully this won't corrupt the footage as the GCA e-mail claims that putting the forum on DVD would.

If you want the information to get into touch with Bell e-mail the blog I can forward that information to you if you're not on the GCA distribution list.

An updated release for the update airings of the Aldermanic forum is here!

GCA 6th Ward Aldermanic forum on CAN-TV Feb 14 and 18

Greater Chatham Alliance just announced the CAN-TV schedule of the 6th Ward Aldermanic debate, held at Kennedy-King College on January 22nd

here is their press release:

Did you miss attending the 6th Ward Aldermanic Forum sponsored by the Greater Chatham Alliance Community Council?

Well, here's your chance to get a closer glimpse at the platforms and perspectives offered by the candidates running for the 6th Ward Alderman seat.

GCA would like to thank again the following community groups for their participation at the forum: Sustainable Englewood Initiatives, Park Manor Neighbors Community Council, Roseland Heights Community Association and the West Chesterfield Community Association.

CAN-TV channels can only be seen on the COMCAST Cable Network

Unfortunately, satellite companies like DISH Network and DIRECT TV don't carry it.

Program Schedule

Monday, February 14, 10 a.m. on Channel 21

Friday, February 18, 10 a.m. on Channel 19

Be sure to tape the show if you are working during those dates.

And please-- email, or call your friends, neighbors and family members who live throughout the ward and alert them to this schedule.

6th Ward communities include: Chatham, Chesterfield, Englewood (a section), Park Manor, Roseland Heights and West Chesterfield.

Remember Early Voting ends: Thursday, February 17

Election Day is: Tuesday, February 22

An informed community is an educated community.

The press release states that CAN-TV can only be seen on Comcast. Can TV should be on other providers such as RCN, WOW and others. (AT & T may not have it).
 
Let us know your perspective.

6th Ward Aldermanic forum on Saturday, January 22, 2011

For those of you looking for for a chance to see all the aldermanic candidates, and live, mark you calendars

What: Candidate Forum for 6th Ward Alderman Office
When: Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Kennedy King College, 740 W. 63rd Street (parking available on street and in lot)

SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR – WVON 1690 AM radio personality, Cliff Kelly

The 6th Ward communities of Park Manor, West Chesterfield, Chatham Avalon, Greater Grand Crossing, Roseland Heights and Englewood would like all residents of these communities to come out and listen to the platforms of each nominee running for office of the 6th Ward Alderman in the February 22, 2011 election.

Please plan to attend to hear about the candidates’ qualifications, vision and specific plans for leading the ward during these very difficult financial and social times.

All 6th Ward residents are invited to attend.Please invite your family, friends and 6th ward neighbors!

Come out and hear from the candidates, all were invited to participate:

• RODERICK T. SAWYER
• FREDDRENNA M. LYLE
• BRIAN E. SLEET
• SEKUM WALKER
• CASSANDRA GOODRUM-BURTON
• RICHARD A. WOOTEN

Please join us!

It is important to participate in our own community’s future.

For more information, contact: Ava Martin at 773-412-4025 or Avamart22@yahoo.com

The event is organized by Greater Chatham Alliance, with presidents of leading 6th Ward Community Organizations as panelists (such as Park Manor Neighbors Community Council , Chesterfield Community Council , Chatham Avalon Park Community Council).

The style will be similar to the League of Women Voters format for debates.

Filing begins for Aldermnaic & Mayoral candidates

The website Early and often is tracking the filing for candiates of Aldermanic & Mayoral offices.

So far, only Fredrenna Lyle has filed. Her campiagn was 66th in line, and claimed 4800 signatures.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections pamphlet (page 13), 261 valid signatures are required.

As of 1pm, no one else has filed. (As of 2pm, there were 139 who had filed for city Alderman, Mayor, Clerk and Treasurer).


Other potential candidates listed (with no other data)

1. Burton, Cassandra
2. Davis, Burundi
3. Wooten, Richard
4. Walker, Sekum
5. Sleet, Brian
6. Washington, Sean
7. Sawyer, Roderick  
8. Cunningham, Sidney
9. Sistrunk Sr., Ronald

 If you have any information, please post a comment.

It will be interesting to see how many signatures were obtained, and how many are valid.

Thanks!