Back when Harold Washington and Edward Vrdolyak were slugging it out for control of the local Democratic Party, a race for committeeman in the 49th and 6th wards would have telegraphed the future of local politics. But these days there’s little passion in the trenches–most party leaders have sworn oaths of blind allegiance to Mayor Daley, and there’s no struggle for control of the organization. As a result, several interesting matchups in the March 17 elections are going virtually unnoticed–whatever their outcome, these races will not affect the power structure.
At that time Hartigan was lieutenant governor. Two years later Preston became one of his top aides. After Hartigan left office in 1976, Preston opened a local law office. In 1983 he became committeeman, defeating Mike Kreloff, one of Orr’s closest allies. Ever since then Orr’s followers have regarded Preston’s presence as a political affront.
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After graduating from the University of Illinois at Champaign, McMenamin worked at several banks until 1984, when he and a friend bought Current Technology Corporation, a four-person electronics manufacturing firm in Elk Grove Village. Since then the firm has moved to Bensenville; it now employs 35. “Politically, I am an anomaly,” he says. “When I go to meetings of progressives, I find that I’m usually the only one there who works in manufacturing. I like to think that my company has survived an incredibly competitive business environment through a practical application of my political philosophy, which is based on empowerment, openness, and trust.”
Similar arguments have been advanced against Sawyer by Alderman Steele, whose rapid rise to office documents some startling changes in black politics. A graduate of Harlan High School with a private law practice on the south side, Steele entered his first campaign in 1989, the special aldermanic election that was held to fill the vacancy created when Sawyer became mayor. “I didn’t decide to run in that election until I went to a community forum and listened to what the people were saying,” says Steele. “My wife said to me, ‘There are no good people running, why don’t you run?’ And I said, ‘Maybe I will.’”
Now Steele wants to be committeeman as well as alderman (it’s not unusual for politicians to hold both offices). “I am a Democrat, but I feel that Sawyer is not expressing the wishes and desires of the people in slating meetings,” he says. “This election will be about moving the Sixth Ward toward independence and away from machine politics.”
“I believe a lot of [Steele’s] early success had to do with animosity toward me from Evans’s supporters. That hurts. I’ve never tried to hurt anybody in my life. Even with Tim I hold no bitterness. The grief and pain I went through–I survived it all. I’m thankful for that. Hopefully, I made some contribution to the city. I don’t think we’ll lose–but if we do, I’ll go out with my head held high.”
