Chicago’s leading Democrats are ready to take on their disgraced former colleague Derrick Smith, the state rep who won a primary despite being arrested for accepting a bribe a week before the election.

On Thursday, a panel of influential politicians picked Lance Tyson, former chief of staff to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and a lawyer.

But Tyson won’t be running as a Democrat — he’ll be running as a third-party candidate under the banner of the 10th District Unity Party.

That’s because Democrats couldn’t convince Smith to resign after helping him win his primary battle against Tom Swiss, a former head of the Chicago Republican Party. Democrats said they wanted to make sure the seat stayed in Democratic hands.

But when Smith said he wouldn’t resign after winning the election, and proclaimed his innocence, politicians said they couldn’t let Smith win and decided to back a new candidate.

The decision was made by a group of Democratic committeemen led by Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Jason Ervin. Tyson was picked from a group of three finalists who included Chicago police officer and Homeowners of Westtown head Eddie Winters, and Ervin’s girlfriend, insurance manager Melissa Conyears.

“This will not be an easy campaign,” White said after announcing the decision. “We want to make sure you hit the ground running.”

Tyson needs to get 1,500 signatures in order to get on the ballot. He said he’s ready to do that, get out and let people know why they should vote for him. It’ll be an uphill battle getting people to vote for him instead of just voting straight-ticket Democratic.

“I think the first move is massive education, and what that will require for me is hitting the streets,” he said Thursday. “That’s what I plan to do, is to hit every single precinct up in the 10th legislative district, and knock on as many doors as possible that’ll let me in and tell my story — let them know that they, in fact, have a choice.”

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By Matt from Dearborn Park
Posted: 06/09/2012 11:34 AM

I should have added that they will have that choice, Not A Democrat, as long as the Republicon voter suppression efforts do not succeed in disenfranching minority voters as they are trying to do in Florida and Ohio. Why anyone would vote Republicon is beyond me. If its so bad for you, perhaps joining the tea party and moving down south is your best bet. Just a thought.

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By Matt from Dearborn Park
Posted: 06/09/2012 11:29 AM

To: "Not a Democrat" You say silly you, you thought the voters were supposed to pick the person. They voted for Smith in a Democratic Primary (which I guess you didn't vote in, since your're not one) They voted for him because they did not want supposed Democrat-who really is not a Democrat-Swiss winning the primary. Now, if he gets the required number of signatures, he will appear on the ballot as a member of a third party. The voters of the district will get to choose again.

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By Really??? from Near West Side
Posted: 06/01/2012 11:12 AM

Rumor has it that Lance Tyson doesn't live in the district. Politics as usual. Right up there with Anezette Collins. I bet he will be renting some place in the area real soon.

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By Really??? from Near West Side
Posted: 05/30/2012 8:34 AM

Please, for the love of God, give the West Side a real candidate to vote for! The only one that seemed viable was Mr. Winters. At least it seems he doesn't have an political connections. But, opps, that is the Chicago way. If you aren't connected you don't have a chance. If you speak up against the Chicago way, the machine screws you. Seriously, this city, especially west side politics needs help. To say a candidate is "too white", isn't that racism? It would be if it was the other way.

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By Sam from Far West Side
Posted: 05/26/2012 11:41 AM

Corrections: People who worked for Stroger, Daley, Madigan, Burke, Beavers, etc. need to quit it. Once it comes out you have connections with these people, you will not get elected.

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By Sam from Far West Side
Posted: 05/26/2012 11:37 AM

Stroger's flukie and alderman's girlfriend needs to drop out, period. Jesse White needs to stop picking people. He is already 2-3. I am just waiting for some mess to come out about Patricia Van Pelt Walkins. She is the one who beat Annezette Collins. Also hand pick by Jesse White. People who worked for Stroger, Daley, Madison, Burke, Beavers, etc. need to quick it. Once it comes out you have connections with these folks, you will get elected.

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By Not a Democrat from Chicago
Posted: 05/25/2012 3:28 PM

PART 3 of this Fairy Tale....after this 'panel of influential politicians' rigged the process to put a vegetable's son in office, the 'panel of influential politicians' set its sights on Blago, where after disposing of this criminal (who also started his political career picked by a 'panel of influential politicians'), they then further put the IL Democrat corruption freak show on parade with clowns like Quinn, Burris, L Madigan, Jesse Jr., V. Jarrett, and the Greek-Banker-Ganoulious. Wow!

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By Not a Democrat from Chicago
Posted: 05/25/2012 3:16 PM

...yet years before wanting 'Erckle Stroger' and Tyson out of office, the merry band "of influential politicians", manipulated Stroger's fathers health (probably kept him on life support for all we know), to further manipulate the Cook Country Board Elections, ensuring an incumbent vegetable on life support could be re-elected, in order for, you guessed it, a Democratic 'panel of influential politicians' to handpick his successor....

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By Not a Democrat from Chicago
Posted: 05/25/2012 3:06 PM

Silly me, I thought citizens were supposed to elect their candidates? How anyone supports these inept, corrupt Democratic politicians is beyond crazy. First the Democrat leaders tell the sheep to vote for Smith in the primary, despite his criminal acts, as the other D candidate was 'too white'. They further manipulate the voting process by handpicking a candidate of their choice, who is a machine hack, that worked for 'Erckle Stroger', they guy they hated and wanted out of office...