Ira Silverstein Runs for Committeeman
Today, Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein did Ald. Stone the courtesy of telling him that he would run against Stone for 50th Ward Democratic Committeeman. Stone has held the Committeeman's job since 1999, when Howie Carroll resigned.
The role of the Committeeman is to run the local party, including encouraging voting, registration and filling the party's election judges, as well as participate in running the city and county party organizations. In Chicago, being the alderman and committeeman has been a powerful combination - and few are respected unless they serve both functions. But Stone has been a lackluster committeeman, to say the least.
All three of the Cook County Democratic meetings that I've attended, Stone didn't show. Regulars who attend party meetings know that Stone will fall asleep if he does come, and he rarely has input anyway. He does what he is told. When the party choose Todd Stroger to fill in for his ailing father for County Commission Board President, Stone sent a proxy - in support of Todd. Just like he was told.
Voter registration in the ward is among the lowest in the city. There are very good reasons for this: it's too much work for Stone and his organization and it would dilute the power Stone has in the ward. For want of a good party organization, Democrats in West Rogers Park have to look elsewhere.
Stone has created a culture of corruption around his party organization. He demanded that election judges pass his petitions during the general election in 2006. There were repeated calls to the State's Attorney and Chicago Board of Elections because of the numerous violations by Stone's workers.
By contrast, Ira Silverstein was the first Democrat not endorsed (or slated) by the Democratic organization to win a Northside Senate seat since 1972. He has served us ably in the state legislature, and now offers himself up to lend his good name to the Democratic label here in the 50th. A strong family man with good values has to be a better choice than what we have now.
Labels: Bernard Stone, Democratic Committeeman, Ira Silverstein
posted by Jay @ 11:08 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I hope this is the end of Stone and once we get him out as Ward Committeeman, bernie will retire from his Council Seat. I wonder what the reactionary editor of "Israel News" will do now. He won't be able to play the "We need an Alderman with a Mezzuzah" i.e. don't vote for a Christian rubbish he pulled during the Aldermanic race.
Dick Devine will be running against Ira in the 2/5/08 primary for his Senate seat... I big birdy told me that.
I am starting a campaign to get Jay on the ballot. This way he will have to do more than complain about everything. Jay would actually come up with solutions.
I will vote for Jay and when he wins, I will take over his blog and start complaining about everthing he does.
Jay for Committeman...
Ward Committeeman is a non paying job.There is no power behind it either, not like it use to be
I don't know but States attorney to State Senator seams like a step down.
Anonymous said...
Ward Committeeman is a non paying job.There is no power behind it either, not like it use to be
August 20, 2007 2:30 PM
Yes that is true but then Jay can see the world from the otherside of his blog
Is this fight really going to help Ira?
I don't see how it hurts him. Stone promised to beat Lou Lang -- and couldn't get more than 50% for Moses in the 50th! I seriously doubt that Stone can convince Lang (or any of the other committeemen) to oppose Ira. I don't think he can even beat Ira here, let alone Skokie, New Trier or Northfield.
Add to this that there's good reason to believe that Stone can be beat as Democratic Committeeman. There isn't a lot of support here for Stone's decision for the young Stroger to replace his father on the ballot. He doesn't attend Democratic Party meetings, and he hasn't been effective at promoting, let alone improving, the Democratic Party here. Ira's a good man with strong ethical standards; no one can dispute that. Ira would be a great advocate for Democratic values and the Democratic Party!
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