“I believe anybody who can read and write can run that office,” said Thomas Fuller, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for clerk of the circuit court. “The only real value of the clerk’s office is jobs.” The three dozen or so citizens seated before him chuckled. From Fuller, a wiry, often contentious politician, it was an awful and somewhat unexpected truth.
After Fuller’s presentation, the membership discussed his honesty and his compatibility with their stand on the issues, as well as how viable Fuller would be as a candidate. Hands went up and down, the yellow cards flashing like lights at a dangerous intersection.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
“We’re in a moral and financial crisis,” Byrne told the IVI-IPO, then went on to discuss the more mundane matters of the clerk’s race–computers and night-court hours, child-support enforcement and jobs. She promised, if elected, to stay out of the 1989 mayor’s race and complete the clerk’s term.
“I stand on my record,” she said.
“But I heard the tape myself,” the questioner insisted.
“I’ve gotta wipe my hands,” he said to no one in particular after Byrne walked away. “Doesn’t this feel too much like deja vu?”
“How can she say that?” gasped a sandy-haired woman in the audience. She stood up. “How can you say that? You didn’t support Washington.” (The question of her support is controversial, but even a committeeman working on Pucinski’s campaign admits that she did support Vrdolyak.)
