What Does Stone's Loss Mean?

Ald. Stone and his supporters repeatedly predicted that Stone would win outright on Tuesday. He brought in machine workers from other wards and spent prolificly on workers from Skokie and Chicago. He brought in the Mayor repeatedly. He leveled ridiculous charges of anti-Semitism and probably sent himself hate mail.

And still he couldn't win.

Berny Stone has created two myths around himself that has helped him stay in power. The first was that he was much beloved. The second was that he was invulnerable. Both myths are now pierced.

Stone refused to run on his record, even though these elections are always about the incumbent. And underneath this is the issue of Stone's health. All Stone's campaign literature made the alderman look drawn and pale. Rumors that Stone spends significant time in local hospitals still persist, although he's said to have moved locations. Other rumors, and that's all these are, say that local nurses have been asked to be on the lookout for Stone and Ilana.

The question we can never answer is whether Stone will actually last another four years.

Stone himself, by sending out literature that makes him appear ill, has made health a key issue in this race. And the spectre of Ilana hangs thick like fog over the next fourty-odd days. No matter what Stone says, Ilana is an issue, both because he has named her as his desired successor AND the fact that his health is suspect.

For the first time, perhaps in the last 20 years, voters in the ward will think seriously about who will replace Ald. Stone. The choice is between two women: Ilana or Naisy. One of them is needs no introduction to the 50th Ward, whether it's her piercings, her biker gang, or her history of partying.

Naisy will do well to introduce herself to the rest of the ward. Ilana is a formidible and nasty opponent.