Not just race - ethics up for vote | News

Not just race - ethics up for vote

02/29/2012 10:00 PM

by DICK SIMPSON

In the last election, the first two viable Latino candidates in Chicago’s history, Gery Chico and Miguel del Valle, made a strong race for mayor. Recently, new Latino aldermen and county commissioners like Jesus Garcia have been elected and moved important legislation forward.

In the ward remap battle, Latinos successfully remapped the wards to gain seats in the City Council. But not all Latino empowerment is positive.

For instance, Joe Berrios is the first Latino boss of the Cook County Democratic Party. He is also County Assessor and a throwback to the bad old days of assessor Parky Cullerton — nepotism, patronage, corruption and machine politics.

For progressives, two important races are shaping up. One is the second run of the very attractive young progressive Latino candidate, Rudy Lozano. Lozano came within a few votes of defeating veteran State Rep. Dan Burke in the 2010 election. He is running this time in the newly remapped 21st legislative district against Latina former journalist Silvana Tabares. She is supported by machine aldermen Ed Burke, George Cardenas, Michael Zalewski and Speaker Mike Madigan.

If Lozano, who narrowly lost last time, wins the district, which runs from Soiuthwest side Chicago communities like Little Village into suburbs like Stickney, voters will be electing a strong, new progressive voice in Springfield. That is why he is endorsed by County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, and the unions such as the AFL-CIO.

Beyond the issues of jobs, education and public safety, electing a new progressive voice to the legislature is key. Lozano will fight for broader issues of access and equity. He will be part of the next generation of leaders who will unite the city and the suburbs in overthrowing the machine and antiquated government.

At an even higher level, there is the grand battle between Ald. Rick Munoz and Dorothy Brown, the black incumbent Clerk of the Circuit Court. Munoz, with Ald. Joe Moore and then-Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, has led the progressive or Independent voting bloc in the Chicago City Council during the last of Daley years and the first years of Emanuel’s reign.

At one level, this is a simple contest between who can best provide sound management in the county courts. This is not trivial in an office of over 2,000 employees and a budget of $100 million. In filing current court of documents under Clerk Brown, attorneys are frequently given carbon paper to make copies. They cannot file documents by computer like most modern court systems. The clerk also invested $50 million in taxpayer funds in banks that were at risk of collapse but gave political contributions to Dorothy Brown. On the efficiency level, there is no doubt that Munoz would do better.

More importantly, Dorothy Brown is ethically challenged. There are not enough words in this column to describe the scandals in the office. I detail them in our Anti-Corruption Report No. 3 at chicagopolitics.uic.edu. Her many conflicts of interest include accepting gifts and campaign contributions from employees directly under her control, and the famous “Blue Jeans Days” in which employees can dress down on Fridays if they contribute to unnamed and unknown charities. Then there is the over use of a driver, “security officer,” and county car for personal errands. As political strategist Don Rose has written, she “turned out to be less than competent, venal, ethically challenged and an overly ambitious politician.”

Rick Munoz, on the other hand, has been endorsed by ethics reform leaders such as Former City Inspector General David Hoffman who said of him, “Rick Munoz has long been a truly independent voice of reform, especially during a time when it was extremely challenging to be independent.” So the choice between a hack incumbent or a reformer would seem to be an easy one.

Both Dorothy Brown and Rick Munoz are charismatic. But they represent the divide of old and new politics. Dorothy represents the past and Rick represents a better, more positive future. A vote for Munoz (and Lozano for those who live in his district), will empower not only Latinos but all of us.

In the ward remap battle, Latinos successfully remapped the wards to gain seats in the City Council. But not all Latino empowerment is positive.

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By Chicago Voters are Very Tolerant from But Bad Behavior Must Still Have Limits
Posted: 03/03/2012 5:04 PM

I'll be the first to admit that Dorothy Brown is no saint, but then again, neither is Rick Munoz. Both have their flaws. The race for Cook County Court Clerk might very well hinge on the old adage "The Lesser of Two Evils". Right now however, I am leaning towards voting for Brown because of this disturbing video about Munoz. Any elected official who treats his constituents this way will have a very difficult time justifying staying in office! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUvWEm2zry8

By Moy Moreno from Pilsen
Posted: 03/02/2012 1:47 PM

Dick Simpson is a good professor with experience in Chicago politics far beyond our own. Progressive aren't just in 22nd ward. I think that there are other interesting primary races to look at in the southwest side. In the 2nd district, community activist Temoc Morfin is running against incumbent Edward Acevedo and Joe Trutin. Also, in the 24th district UIC alumni Robert Reyes is running for the first time against incumbent Lisa Hernandez. Its not just about Rudy and Rick this time...Peace

By George from Far West Side
Posted: 03/01/2012 1:12 PM

From all the people who could go against Dorothy Brown, the best person is Rick Munoz. The same Munoz who\'s father is in jail for id scam. The same Munoz with gangbanging ties. The same Munoz who also doing shaddy stuff like Brown. Judge Aurelia Pucinski (who needs to be concern about her own re-elected with her flip-flopping self) and now Dick Simpson (who will never be elected alderman againg) are backing him. Something sounds fishy here.

By Bobby Digital from LV/Pilsen
Posted: 03/01/2012 1:02 PM

The Clerks race is simple to me, it is not about who has more scandals then the other because they both have their baggage. It is about who wants the job? And Ms. Brown has made it clear that she does not have a genuine interest in being our Clerk when she ran for County Board President and again for Mayor of the City.

By Sam from Near West Side
Posted: 03/01/2012 12:37 PM

Mr. Simpson you shouldn't calling yourself a college professor. A real professor would had done research on Munoz and Brown. Reading from people's comments, they not only know more than you on Munoz, they are not blind like you. I still remember Channel 7 news reporter Chuck G.'s story on Munoz's father ID scam in Little Village. I guess you missed that, too.

By bill marks from south chicago
Posted: 03/01/2012 12:22 PM

Mr. Simpson, I also would like to say that you like the rest of the so called media are relied upon to tell the truth so why didn't you tell everyone about Mr. Munoz you say he is a progessive, but you don't tell us that Mr. father is in jail for creating false documents for illegals, you don't tell us that he has only supervised 10 employees, that he is the last alderman to finally have police cameras installed in his ward, that the Frateral Order of Police endorse Dorothy Brown.

By Bill Marks from south chicago
Posted: 03/01/2012 12:14 PM

Mr. Simpson as a progressive I am shocked that you would call Clerk Dorothy Brown the black candidate. I never thought of you as a raceist. Shame on you to support a confessed Latin King member Munoz (in Chicago Magazine) an Ald. of the 22nd ward who shakes down bussiness owners and takes money from the Waste Companies in his ward. The companies were just ordered closed yesterday from the Mayor. So how could you support such slime.

By bigpa01 from dolton,ill
Posted: 03/01/2012 11:18 AM

Who is Dick Simpson? Racist or writer? I don't understand why he has to use the statement "Dorothy Brown, the black incumbent....Why say this? He didn't say Munoz the mexican! Clerk Brown's successes should've been printed like E-filing is in place now, $356 millions of earned revenue,etc. Ald. Munoz reformed? Ex-gang member? Midwest Generation gave large contribution to his campaign,the same company that polluting the city and under fire from the Mayor, He approved the parking meter deal. Wow!

By Sally Jones from Hyde Park
Posted: 03/01/2012 11:17 AM

I am an older woman, native Chicagoan, whose family has been her since 1856. I am shocked that Dick Simpson would write such a slanted biased piece. It is not journalism, but a reiteration of false information he must be getting from Munoz. Munoz is an ex Latin King gang member; his father is currently in prison for selling fake IDs; He coerced the Whitney Young High Principal to admit his daughter when she could not pass the entrance exam. And you call tis man a Progressive, a reformer? Help us

By Morris from Bucktown
Posted: 03/01/2012 10:07 AM

Dick Simpson should be in jail for the crime he commits calling himself a professor. They call him "The Ego" behind his back because he comes down from his Ivory Tower only when he can make money calling everyone corrupt. Get a real job, Dick. And stop inflicting your race-baiting press conferences on the students.

By Kit Duffy from Logan Square
Posted: 03/01/2012 2:19 AM

Ninety-five percent of Tabares' contributions track back to a reactionary Latino organization for whom Ed Burke's daughter-in-law works. We taxpayers pay the price for corruption and if in this election cycle, when there are so many excellent alternatives to business-as-usual elected officials, we shouldn't complain that our pockets have been picked.