By Steve Rhodes
“Just getting in the race to take on a Chicago alderman in next year’s election could get tougher if a change proposed by a lawmaker from the Cook County Democratic establishment becomes law,” the Tribune reports.
Uh-oh.
“To secure a ballot spot, aldermanic candidates would have to gather at least 500 valid voter signatures – the same number now required of state representatives, whose districts have nearly twice the number of residents as city wards – under legislation making its way through the Illinois House.”
Geez, I think there are some wards where 500 voters can damn near elect you.
Of course, it would take 1,000 to 1,500 names in reality once the lawyers get done combing through your petitions.
“The bill’s sponsor is Rep. Joseph Lyons, a Northwest Side Democrat and veteran county employee who makes $100,000 a year at a human resources job.”
Okay, but what in the world does he have to do with aldermanic elections?
“He’s also the nephew of the late Tom Lyons, the former county Democratic Party chairman.”
Oh.
“Rep. Lyons said he’s trying to even the petition requirements across all wards.”
Why?
And who brought this to him? I mean, he didn’t come up with this on his own.
“Lyons said he discussed his idea with some city aldermen, whom he declined to name. ‘I just ran it by a few people,’ he said.”
Idea: FOIA his schedule. Let’s find out who’s scared.
“To get 500 signatures should not be a burden,” Lyons told the Trib. “The more friends you’ve got, the easier it should be. And if you don’t have any friends, you shouldn’t be running for alderman.”
To the contrary; in Chicago, the new rule oughta be that only those without friends should run for alderman. Friends are killing us.
Beer, Cigars, Hockey, Women
“That kind of celebration is not unusual in Canada.”
Duh. Get a life, IOC. (AP, too, for asking about it.)
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Although I’ve been loving AP’s Olympic videos; I love their news videos too. They have a really good YouTube channel.
March Madness
Bloodshot-style.
Their Kind of Town
What others say about Chicago when they talk about Chicago.
Pundit Patrol
The third and hopefully final installment will appear on Monday, not today. Didn’t get it finished, sorry.
Snow Job
Just sayin’ . . .
1. “Washington’s Bipartisan Snowstorm,” by Douglas MacGregor, Fort Myers News-Press, Feb. 12, 2010.
2. “Winter Sport In Washington,” by Jack Higgins, Chicago Sun-Times Feb. 26, 2010.
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Of course, there have been other variations on the theme. But Higgins looks like he’s the last one to the party.
3. “Snow,” by Signe Wilkinson, Philadelphia Daily News, Feb. 2, 2010.
4. I couldn’t find it, but there was one recently that had a snowplow dumping snow from an overpass to the street below while a plow on the street below was flinging its load to the overpass above – also in the name of bipartisanship.
Plagiarism? Theft? Stale minds thinking alike?
It’s actually a clever concept, but . . . just sayin’.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Just warming up.
Posted on February 26, 2010