Tuesday, April 1, 2008

How about some old 6th ward Democratic news?

I was just perusing the Aldermanic newsletters and I found this in the November 2007 newsletter...
We’ve received some calls from residents concerned about a little paragraph in Sneed’s column on Tues. The story stated that Congressman Bobby Rush would not run for the position of Ward Committeeman of the 2nd Ward. It went on to state that
he would be joining the 6th Ward Democrats as President. Here’s what happened. The Ward committeeman is the party representative in the Ward. The job pays no money whatsoever. There are Democratic, Republican and soon to be Green Party Committeemen throughout Chicago. The Ward committeeman in our Wards is charged with running the election, even when he/she is not on the ballot. The Ward committeeman is charged with getting out the vote and encouraging people to vote for the candidates of the party he/she represents.

Because patronage is no longer legal and the job does not pay, Ward committeemen positions are not as coveted as they once were. Some people run for Committeeman to get access to the party leaders; to be players in the political system, or to influence the selection of candidates. Congressmen have access to the party leaders; are big time players in the political system and can and do influence the selection of candidates. So the Congressman decided it was not worth the money it would cost to challenge the new Alderman in what is almost a totally new Ward. He discussed this with me on several occasions and I was honored that he would want to join the 6th Ward as his ‘political’ home. He does not live in the 6th Ward and has no intention of moving into the 6th Ward, thus he has no intention of ever seeking elected office from the 6th Ward. I asked him to join our organization as President and he accepted. That’s it, that’s all. No games, no ulterior motives, no intrigue.
I understand this is basically old news but we should know what's going with the party leadership in this ward. Rush does represent a piece of the 6th Ward as a member of the US Congress, but I guess the rules are different if you're not the elected to serve the ward in a party capacity.

It's kind of unfortunate that I'm not a regular Sneed reader or otherwise I'd wonder about this one myself. I wouldn't have asked too many questions nor would I have assumed that he had plans in anyway for the 6th ward. I would wonder if he should participate in a political organization of a ward he doesn't reside in.

BTW, I did mention that the committeeman's offices were up for election in the February 5th Presidential Primary. At this point we know who represents the Republicans, Democrats, & the Greens around the city. The Alderman's message explains in detail the job of a ward committeeman as you see in the quote above. Even including the patronage angle. A very excellent description.

Most Democratic organizations in the city are referred to as either enter ward # here Democratic Organization or enter ward # here Regular Democratic Organization. A few years ago I Googled the 6th Ward Democrats and it appears at the time they were named the 6th Ward New Democrats. It almost sounds like a new regime and a break with the past. I should add that the sixth ward Democratic Committeeman is the City Democratic Chair. Well I mentioned that here on this blog.

Let me just note the party structure locally is strange and I'm talking about for the Democrats and Republicans. Outside of the city, the county is divided into Townships. Like the wards in the city, the townships also elect a committeeman. Normally the township do it during a Gubernatorial primary, while of course the city wards would do it during a Presidential primary.

On top of that there is a county party as well as apparently a city party. This is for both the Republicans and Democrats. Suburban and city Democrats and Republicans elect a chairman for the county of course the city have to elect a chairman for their own respective party organizations. Are you confused yes?

I have to wonder where the county ends and the city starts. What role do city party leaders (i.e. committeemen) play when part of the county party? Or perhaps I'm just over thinking this. I think I am.

Well that's what I get for being a political junkie!

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