Daley "Won't Interfer" in Stone-Silverstein Race

Several weeks ago, word wafted around the neighborhood that St. Senator Silverstein had done his due diligence while deciding to run for Democratic Committeeman. Ira spoke to various power centers in the ward and the city, inquiring about whether he should run against Ald. Stone.

Several people that I've spoken with have said the same thing: Ira is a reluctant candidate against Stone, compelled to run because things have gotten so bad. The 50th Ward is in the bottom half of voter registration, and the wards that are closest to it are far more depressed economically (that may be hard to believe). Stone rarely attends party functions and generally sends his proxy. Those who set up the meetings assume that if Stone comes, he will fall asleep -- and ask those sitting near his seat to "give him a nudge" if he does fall asleep during the meeting. Stone is generally disengaged with the party and disinterested in the things required of the Democratic Committeeman.

These facts are not unknown to the Mayor or to the county party leadership. So I made inquiries to see if the rumors were true, that the Mayor would staying out of the race. Now we know: the Mayor "won't interfer" in the committeeman's race in the 50th Ward.

This is interesting because the Mayor was clearly responsible for Stone's re-election as alderman. After Haymarket had dropped Berny for being too difficult, the Mayor sent in Mike Noonan to salvage Stone's re-election. A number of ward organizations were brought in to fill the numerous holes in the Democratic Club's organization.

We hear that Ira would like to keep this race positive. That hardly seems likely given Stone's prior campaigns. Being Jewish has not kept Stone from attacking his opponents in the past. But Ira isn't an unknown quantity in the neighborhood. He really is a beloved leader. Unlike Berny, people don't pretend to love (or fear) Ira. I think it is unrealistic to expect Stone not to fiercely attack Silverstein, or to rumormonger, or to threaten him and his supporters -- but I admire Ira's belief that he can run a positive campaign against Stone.

With Mayor Daley deciding not to get involved, Ira might be right!