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.