Eliminating the competition

Chicago Reporter, The, May, 2003 by Pamela A. Lewis

First Ward Alderman Jesse Granato went into this year's election attempting to do what has become a common first step for incumbents in local aldermanic campaigns: eliminate the competition.

Manuel "Manny" Flores, Howard L. Crawford Jr. and Jay G. Ramirez all filed to oppose Granato, a two-term incumbent. Granato's campaign dug into the opponents' nominating petition papers and qualifications, launching challenges against all three to eliminate those not "qualified to run for office," said Granato.

He had some initial success. Ramirez withdrew from the race, and Flores was removed from the ballot for failing to meet a two-year residency requirement.

The strategy backfired, however, when Flores successfully filed suit to overturn the residency law and narrowly outpolled Granato in the February election. Crawford, who remained on the ballot when election officials overruled the challenge against him, finished a distant third.

Flores then beat Granato head-to-head with a decisive 59 percent of the vote in the Northwest Side ward's April runoff.

"People think their voices won't be heard in a system where things are already pre-determined," said Flores, who takes over as 1st Ward alderman this month. "But we prevailed."

Political veterans acknowledge the objection process has long been the easiest way for incumbents to win re-election. And many argue that incumbents who want to intimidate and wear down their opponents have abused the process.

Newcomers who have only prepared for an issues-based campaign aren't usually as successful as Flores--in fact, they typically find themselves losing long before Election Day, The Chicago Reporter found. Candidates in mostly African American and Latino wards are particularly vulnerable.

A total of 240 candidates, including 49 incumbents, filed to run in this year's 50 aldermanic races. Petition challenges were filed against 142 of those candidates, including five incumbents. A Reporter analysis of those objections shows:

* Of the 137 non-incumbent candidates who were challenged, 75, or 55 percent, were booted from the ballot, and nine others withdrew.

* Nearly 81 percent of the 146 candidates who faced incumbents in mostly black and Latino wards faced objections, compared with 44 percent in predominantly white wards.

* Four incumbents faced challenges in black wards. In white wards, one incumbent faced a challenge. None were removed from the ballot.

"It's very easy to get on the ballot if you just follow the rules, and the rules aren't that hard," said Burton Odelson, a longtime Chicago-area election attorney who was on the team that represented President George W. Bush in the legal dispute that followed the 2000 election.

But political newcomers often learn the hard way that they must be meticulous in carrying out even the easiest of tasks--like collecting signatures--if they want to fend off objections. And some, the Reporter found, are not prepared to defend themselves against such challenges, or savvy enough to launch them.

"By no means did I have a clue" that the objection process existed, said Norman H. Bolden, a radio advertising executive, who ended his unsuccessful aldermanic race deep in debt from costs incurred fighting objections from 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle.

In fact, many recent aldermanic candidates, including Bolden, said they were unable to launch grassroots campaigns of knocking on doors and talking to voters because they spent all their time and money just trying to stay on the ballot.

"The average person doesn't know they should hire an attorney before running for office," said Deb Gordils, a mother of two who successfully fought off a petition challenge but ultimately lost her race against 33rd Ward Alderman Richard E Mell, father-in-law of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Flores recognizes the need for some type of objection process but said incumbents have abused it by filing frivolous challenges to wear down opponents.

Robert T. Starks, associate professor of political science and inner-city studies at Northeastern Illinois University, said the process provides cover for incumbents focused on self-preservation, especially in minority wards where there is "more dissatisfaction with representation."

"They need to protect themselves," Starks said. "And this is the cheapest way."

Meeting Requirements

Chicago-based election attorney Thomas Jaconetty said that serious candidates should begin their campaigns by hiring attorneys to guide them through the process.

"It's not the time for on-the-job training," he said.

Here's how getting on the ballot should work: A potential candidate collects at least 240 signatures from registered voters in his or her ward and files them with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners along with a "statement of candidacy" form that includes the candidate's name, address, the desired office and a statement listing his or her qualifications.

Then a statement of economic interest must be filed with the Cook County Clerk's office detailing his or her employment and income information. The candidate gives the election board a receipt from the clerk's office showing the form has been filed.