As noted in both the Sun-Times and the Daily Southtown yesterday, Ald. Ginger Rugai (19th) is involved in the fight of her political life. For the second time in four years, she’s being challenged by prosecutor John Somerville. To further crowd the field, a third challenger, developer Tim Sheehan, has entered the race.
Both challengers say that they will bring new development into the 19th Ward, which includes Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park; Somerville accuses Rugai of keeping it out. In turn, Rugai points to the development she has brought into the area – it’s hard to argue with something as tangible and high-profile as a Borders, right? But challengers argue that it’s just not enough. She says she knows it isn’t enough and points to ongoing plans to make things even better.
You can “meet John” in a short video at Somerville’s Web site, and at 19th Ward Agenda, blogger Sean Lowry presides over an amusing Web site chronicling the race and other issues in a ward where politics has always been front and center.
in the year 2009
Ginger will retire as alderman. Sheehan will be appointed by Mayor Daley as a replacement alderman.
In the year 2009…
NSH, explain what you mean? I saw today that the Trib endorsed Sheehan for the 19th. Interesting how all the Daley loyalists are being challenged while his only challenge comes from lightweights Dock Walls and Dorothy Brown. The man is a genius.
of course the trib endorsed Sheehan (sussex and riley guy), he is a great candidate. Knows the commercial market, personal, engaging charismatic. The 19th ward democratic organization can’t get behind him until Ginger is gone though. I believe he is running for name recognition to make his bid as the next appointee to the ward chair.
If he’s running for name recognition, it’s too build his biz. He does know a lot, but he’s too old to make a serious big to be appointed. Further, it seems illogical that the 19th Ward D.O. would even run the risk of losing the seat by running her just so they could hand it off to someone coming out of nowhere. If she wins the appointment will come directly out of their office much like they did with Dart.
Sheehan is 52. I think he’s got a few good years left :).
The 19th ward is famous for handing off aldermanic seats to political newbies (see Ginger Rugai). Furthermore, Sheehan runs in all the same circles as Ginger, It would make sense for them to gain name recognition for their candidate because Somerville would cry foul (ala claypool) if he does not get the seat nomination.
They also cannot risk Somerville being elected as he would dismantle everything they have built since the early 70’s, even BAPA.
Rugai worked for Joyce, that’s why she was given the nod. Somerville’s people allege that Sheehan was a plant to split the anti-Rugai vote. If they pass the seat off, it will be to someone a lot younger. I have a name in mind that I am not sharing. Two names actually. Will be interesting to see which one it is.
But I agree that Somerville is bad news.
Somerville is an outstanding States Attorney, and a close friend of the family. I cannot agree that Somerville is “bad news” He is polarizing and that may be his downfall from ever becoming an elected official.
And why is Somerville so polarizing? Because he attacks rather than promotes. He can disagree with Rugai on the issues, but why attack her? If he’s for change, what is the change and how does he plan to do it?
IT’S ABOUT TIME Ms. Rugai got some serious opposition! One of the best high-schools in Chicago is located in her ward (Agricultural Sciences), but when they sought to expand the campus some time ago, she refused to allow it. Way to go, Ms. Alderperson – apparently your slogan is “Plenty of kids left behind and who cares because nobody in my ward wants to be a farmer.”
Anon, it’s interesting that everyone in a community that’s culturally prone to sending their kids to Catholic schools is now growling about the lack of public schools. The problems with our dismal public school system run throughout the entire school system. For better or worse, however long this little pocket Chicago that remains one of the last little islands on the South Side, the majority of the people will send their children to Catholic schools for at least a portion of their education.
To me, it seems the problem is more in line with the rising costs of tuition in Catholic schools. You and a few others say that you want a public school for the neighborhood kids. Well, it can’t happen because it’s discrimination. If you think the neighborhood should put its already (in my opinion, unfairly) tarnished reputation for having a few “racist” people on the line, then I suggest you do a little internet search on South Boston in the 1970s. They look quite foolish and that is exactly what will happen if people like you press to get a “neighborhood school” that still won’t serve the majority of the community and really only serves as a talking point for someone who wants to unseat the current Alderman.
If you are concerned about the future of your neighborhood, please consider this information and vote against the current 19th Ward Alderman.
For the last four years, the 19th Ward has suffered under the leadership of Ald. Rugai. The vacant storefronts, traffic problems, poor park facilities, and senior citizen mistreatment all while our taxpayer money is squandered on bad ideas like traffic rounds, street barriers, and patronage jobs for her political supporters.
Why support this corrupt behavior. Why is the 19th Ward the way it is? Ald. Rugai likes to take credit for accomplishments that she had nothing to do with, instead of actually going out and performing her job and doing what she is being paid for doing. (Quite nicely mind you) The development at 111th and Kedzie Ave, should have been finished years ago, Walgreen’s wanted a new store ten years ago, but Rugai was too busy trying to evict Burger King and bulldoze the land into a park from the Library to 111th Street.
Walgreen’s puts up stores in months on corners everywhere, come on Rugai you are paid for the power to make these things happen and they are taking forever because of city politics. That development was selling itself, no hard work there. There are still dozens of empty retail space and if you even try to open a local business, Ald. Rugai will just ignore you and make it impossible to stay in business. See for yourself, call the Ward office, you will get a ward pawn who will shoot your business hopes down or ignore neighborhood concerns, (if they even answer the phone) and you can never get a meeting with Ald. Rugai. “You know she is very busy and doesn’t have the time to meet with you” – Ward pawn.
What about our local parks, Rugai takes credit for these improvements like the White Sox Fields at Mt. Greenwood Park, but if you look at them, they are not maintained and are sometimes unusable; their excuse is they do not have the workers or equipment. Well Ald. Rugai how about using your power to help the situation, what good are these facilities when they are not maintained? Residents are out there doing it themselves, at least give them equipment. The parks say they cannot afford to improve, so the residents have to have fundraisers and put their own money in to rehab the parks, while you could be lobbying with your power, instead you waste our taxpayer money.
Traffic has come to a grinding halt in areas all over the Ward, due to barriers that are supposed to keep “outsiders” of the neighborhood from passing through unnecessarily. We know what that is about and what a waste of our taxpayer money, not to mention the traffic problems and emergency vehicle limitations it has imposed. Seniors suffer spikes in property taxes and lack a voice in the Ward. Seniors worry about their safety and the neglect that the current Alderman has issued them. The infrastructure of the 19th Ward has deteriorated, streets are in disrepair, and sidewalks are cracked. The time for a change is now and long overdue.
The “Political Machine” is tired and leaking oil, it is time to shut it down and end the corruption and misappropriating of funds while the 19th Ward suffers with no changes in the last decade. As concerned residents of the 19th Ward, please vote against the current Alderman Virginia Rugai this upcoming election.
NOTE: some format changes were made, but this comment was otherwise untouched.