Election officials expect crowded aldermanic races

November 27, 2006 (WLS) -- In just two weeks candidates can begin filing for the city elections. Election officials are already bracing for what could be a record number of candidates in aldermanic races. What's pushing so many people to run for a spot on the city council?

The battle in the Chicago City Council over the big-box living wage ordinance nearly handed Mayor Richard Daley his most embarrassing political defeat, and it demonstrated clearly that in the wake of multiple City Hall corruption scandals Daley no longer controls the council automatically. So, aldermen can be more than rubber stamps, and at a salary of nearly $100,000 a year, we could see a record number of challengers in the 50 wards, including Mel Monroe, who is going after Dorothy Tillman.

"We are trying to bring the neighborhood up. She is not doing her job, and we expect her to do her job," said Mel Monroe, 3rd Ward candidate.

Businessman Mel Monroe, one of the challengers in the 3rd Ward on the South Side, says that longtime Alderman Dorothy Tillman spent $300,000 in city infrastructure dollars on statues at the corner of 47th and King Drive to enhance the value of land and businesses allegedly owned by the Tillman family instead of fixing up the rundown streets, buildings and vacant lots in the rest of the ward.

"People in this ward suffered," said Monroe.

Tillman is ignoring the allegation as she and a lot of her city council colleagues get ready for aldermanic races that could have a record number of candidates emboldened by the City Hall scandals that have seemingly weakened Mayor Daley's grip on the council and the prospect of campaign cash from business and labor groups in support of candidates on both sides of the controversial big-box ordinance.

"These are important policy-making officers now, and I think that you are going to see the legislative process and interest in the legislative process grow," said Langdon Neal, Chicago Election Board chairman.

Alderman Danny Solis voted against the big-box ordinance at the urging of Mayor Daley. That will be a major issue in his race against at least two other candidates, including former Alderman Ambrosio Medrano, who spent 20 months in prison for taking payoffs from an undercover FBI mole.

"Is he a voice for the mayor or a voice for the people of the ward? That's what people want to know," said Ambrosio Medrano, 25th Ward candidate.

"I have no qualms in being a strong supporter of him, and I will continue to support him because I think that he is doing a good job for the citizens of this city," said Ald. Danny Solis, 25th Ward.

Danny Solis is one of a dozen aldermen whose campaigns may revolve around big-box votes, with labor funding candidates who supported the ordinance and business-backing council members like Solis who opposed it.

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. was about to run for mayor and endorse multiple aldermanic candidates who backed the big-box ordinance. And even though he has decided not to challenge Daley, his wife Sandi may run for alderman in the 7th Ward, which has been represented for years by Bill Beavers, who is moving over to the county board to help Todd Stroger.

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