Daley asked Ald. Stone to resign as vice mayor

Seems that Berny Stone's version of why Mayor Daley is supporting St. Senator Ira Silverstein for Democratic Committeeman is a bit far fetched. The Sun-Times Columnist, Michael Sneed, who tends to be clued in to the comings and goings of the 5th floor, writes:

The snubbing/drubbing of Ald. Bernard Stone, who has been in office for 35 years, is a classic case of "Upset the mayor -- get tossed under the bus."

• • The story behind the story: Sneed hears Mayor Daley's decision not to back loyalist Stone, 80, for 50th Ward Democratic committeeman had its beginning long before Stone's vote against the 2008 city budget.

• • The first shot: Sneed hears rumbles that Daley sent an emissary from the city's Intergovernmental Affairs office to solicit Stone's resignation as vice mayor -- at the start of Daley's present term.

• • The upshot: Considering his long tenure and loyalty to Daley in the City Council, Stone believed the request to be out of line and refused.

• • The buckshot: Word is Daley, who has a long memory, chalked this up as "strike one" against Stone.

• • The backshot: Stone's subsequent "no" votes on the budget and property tax increases -- despite 18 years of tough political support for Daley (including on such issues as the controversial big-box ordinance) -- seem to be strikes two and three. Stone's big-box vote almost cost him his aldermanic seat last February.

Hugh Devlin, who doubles as an information central for many things in the neighborhood, is right when he says:

It is reasonable that Daley had an idea of the current investigation into voter fraud in the 50th, and knew it was actionable and ongoing, at the time Daley asked Stone to step down.

I'd take it a bit further. If the Mayor sent someone from the Inspector General's office to ask Stone to resign, then he definitely understood the implications of the investigation into Stone's criminal organization and was looking to separate himself from it. The Mayor has enough problems with governing the city; he doesn't need Stone's criminal activities to reflect poorly on him or on the city of Chicago.

None of us do.

Reputation? What "Good Reputation?"

One hears that Ald. Stone contends that there's 'No Doubt About My Good Reputation.'

My wife giggled at that. Which just about says it all.

This is the ward where some residents are embarrassed to admit who their alderman is, even though they love the neighborhood. So Berny is partially right -- there is no doubt about his reputation. It's just not good.

This was true even before one of his hired thugs got indicted. Before the press was called in by a priest at one precinct and the Board of Elections was called in to another. Before all the vacuous rumors Stone and his thugs started about opponents, before he promised to "take out" Lou Lang, Ira Silverstein and Jan Schakowsky. Long before, to be accurate.

It's not just that Berny Stone has gotten old. It's more like all the things he's said and done have come back to haunt him. Remember when Berny was challenged about all the rumors of corruption around him? What did he say? "Call the police."

Well, somebody did. In fact, it sounds like more than one somebody did. Berny Stone standing up at City Hall proclaiming that he still has his good name is just like President Clinton standing up at the White House and telling the nation that he did not have sex with "that woman." Actually, given Stone's braggadocio about his ties to the old machine and Fred Roti, President Clinton was more credible when he claimed not to have had sex with that woman.

Berny, you may have protected yourself from the city's Inspector General, but you can't hide from Patrick Fitzgerald or the feds. You have much to account for before you can even think about getting your "good reputation" back. Trying to argue over what the meaning of "is" is won't help.

Ira Wins Lottery!

St. Sen. Silverstein, having filed his petitions at 9:00am on October 29, will be listed first on the February ballot. Ald. Stone also was in line and filed at 9:00am, which necessitated the lottery. Ira won the lottery for the first position on the ballot.

My dad, brilliant political mind that he has, says that winning the lottery is just like winning the lottery. There are extra votes to be had by being first on the ballot. That's why candidates get up and stand in line on the morning of the first day of filing. Given how close Stone's election was in April, a few extra votes for his opponent may be all that's needed to send Berny packing. It is interesting that he was one of the few incumbents who lost the ballot lottery. Maybe the stars are finally aligning in our favor!

Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Readers. I hope you cherish this time with your families and loved ones.

Jan Schakowsky endorses Ira Silverstein

Our Congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky, has endorsed Ira Silverstein in his race for Democratic Committeeman of the 50th Ward. She did so in a recent appearance of the Northtown News Magazine which can be found on YouTube here.

During the show, Jan said:

When I make a decision about endorsing a candidate, this is because I think that candidate will help to advance the agenda, a progressive agenda, and the agenda of this community, and is really ready to work hard for the kinds of changes and improvements that we need. That's my only criteria.

Unfortunately, that's not such a high bar to meet in comparison to Ald. Stone. Stone really has been one of the worst Committeemen in the city. He rarely attends Democratic Party meetings, he's neglected voter registration in the Ward, and uses that fact (that his constituents aren't registered) when they come and ask for help from the ward office or city government. Stories of Stone's neglect have become legend around the neighborhood, and it seems that everyone has their "Stone ignored (or insulted) me" story.

Electing Ira Democratic Committeeman is the first step to returning balance and fairness to the Ward. As Jan said, "that looks like that will be a race, that will be a lively race."

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.