To the editors:
These individuals and thousands of other Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, gay-lesbian activists and lakefront progressives did not “leave” the Washington coalition. Rather, they simply declined to accept Tim Evans as the self-proclaimed heir apparent. They have chosen to support Rich Daley who, in many ways, is more progressive than Evans and has a record to back up his claims.
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While Daley has run a campaign devoid of racial appeals and name-calling, Evans–perhaps in desperation–has his allies fan the racial flames, while he personally attacks Daley based on the fact that the State’s Attorney does not actually try cases and that he failed the bar exam twice before passing it. On the first point, the previous State’s Attorney–now a judge–Bernard Carey, did not try cases either. The office, with 1,100 employees, is the largest prosecuting office in the nation. It requires a leader to administer it; set policy; coordinate with the police departments and other prosecutorial offices; lobby the state and federal legislature, supervise the hiring, training, promotion and evaluation of the employees; deal with the county board on funding; and perform a myriad of other tasks–all of which Daley has done very well, according to objective observers. As to the bar exam, one is reminded of the quote of James Michener, to the effect that “character is what we do on the third or fourth try.” Rich Daley is a hard worker, a skilled administrator, a savvy and honest politician, who has a record and reputation of surrounding himself with excellent staff and inspiring them to perform well.
Doug Cassel replies:
Daley’s record does contain progressive achievements. I noted most of those listed by Bernardini. But there is also another side to Daley’s record that Bernardini wholly ignores. Indeed, my central point was that Daley can usually be counted on to do the “right” thing when it’s politically easy. But when it’s not, he usually ducks or takes the wrong side. Where was Daley from 1981 through 1986 on the fight against Jane Byrne’s illegal and discriminatory ward remap? Where was he from 1983 through 1987 on Council Wars? Where was he this January on bringing City Council reforms to a vote before the election?
I also agree that Daley’s lack of trial experience and his failing the bar exam twice are not important in this mayoral election. My concerns about Daley rest on other grounds.
