Former Ald. Dick Simpson, long the outside critic of Chicago politics and politicians, wants a position on the inside — on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Simpson’s candidacy raises an interesting question: Is an outsider still an outsider when his application comes attached with letters of recommendation from two sitting congressmen, one alderman and the county clerk?
“I have no idea. I just applied. I would bring independent judgment to the position,” said Simpson, who counts U.S. Reps. Danny K. Davis and Mike Quigley, Ald. Joe Moore (49th) and County Clerk David Orr among his backers.
The University of Illinois-Chicago political science professor was one of seven finalists announced Friday to replace outgoing elections chairman Langdon Neal on the three-member board.
OPINION
Neal’s retirement takes effect at month’s end, though he already has handed off the chairman’s role to board member Marisel Hernandez.
His replacement will be selected by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, who has taken the unusual step of conducting a public application process for openings that historically have been determined behind the scenes in consultation with party leaders.
That’s why I’ve devoted an unusual amount of coverage to the $77,798-a-year vacancies (not bad for part-time work.)
Simpson was 44th ward alderman from 1971 to 1979, his tenure on the City Council overlapping with that of Evans. Simpson later endorsed Evans for mayor after the death of Harold Washington.
None of that will necessarily make Simpson one of the favorites for the election commissioner opening.
And then there’s the unpredictability that Evans, who defied the political crowd last month by selecting lawyer William Kresse for a Republican opening on the board, might bypass several applicants recommended by GOP officials.
Then again, nobody in the Republican Party has as much clout with the Circuit Court of Cook County as Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is backing Hyde Park resident Jonathan Swain for the job.
Swain is a lawyer and liquor store owner who’s now chairman of the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals.
Swain and his supporters — who also include Neal and the Rev. Michael Pfleger — tout his zoning board and business experience.
“I believe Mr. Swain is well qualified for this appointment and will well represent all Chicagoans in this position,” Madigan wrote on Democratic Party of Illinois letterhead in his role as party chairman.
I asked Swain if Madigan’s support might prove a hindrance in the current political atmosphere.
“I am real thankful for the speaker’s support, and the rest is up to the Chief Judge,” Swain said.
One factor in Swain’s favor is that he is African-American; Neal’s departure would leave the election board without an African-American member. It’s hard to imagine Evans, the county’s first black chief judge, allowing that to happen.
The five other candidates are Circuit Judge Robert W. Bertucci; Sean Vinck, a former top aide to Gov. Pat Quinn; and lawyers Fred Fortier, Thomas Soule and Betty Tsasmis.
Bertucci submitted letters of recommendation from two prominent Democratic election lawyers who often practice before him in the court system’s county division — James P. Nally and Michael Kasper.
Nally said Bertucci has “stellar grasp of election law.” And Kasper gushed: “Chicago elections are more fair and transparent in part because of Judge Bertucci’s oversight.” Kasper is the lawyer for the state Democratic Party.
Bertucci said he plans to remain on the bench indefinitely if not chosen.
Vinck also has a Madigan connection, having briefly worked as a lawyer in the speaker’s office before serving as Quinn’s chief legal counsel, chief lobbyist and finally chief information officer.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, 48th Ward Democrat Committeeman Carol Ronen and circuit clerk candidate Jacob Meister wrote in support of Tsamis, a civil rights lawyer who said she would bring diversity to the board as a married lesbian.
Fortier and Soule each produced one judge in their corner.
Nobody wants to be too much of an outsider when applying for an insider job.
