In her Sun-Times column today, Laura Washington notes the "buzz" surrounding the 1st Congressional District seat held by Rep. Bobby Rush, who has been plagued with health problems as of late. She imagines the potential field of candidates who might enter a special election if Rush were to step aside, citing Aldermen Toni Preckwinkle and Sandi Jackson, as well as State Sens. Kwame Raoul, James Meeks, and Jacqueline Collins.
But she concludes by dousing some ice water on that prospect, noting that "let the voters decide" ain't the Chicago way:
Of course, this might all be premature, as Rush, his wife and key aides all insist that he's on the rebound. I hope that is true and wish him well.
Still, the sharks are circling, and in Chicago, that's bad news for everybody.
Why? If Rush is unable to continue to serve, the Democratic Party regulars will activate their tried-and-true version of "democracy." Committeemen from the 1st District will gather at the smoke-free Allegro Hotel. (It won't quite be like the good old days, but someone is bound to sneak in a cigar).
Why not call a special election and let the voters decide? Nah. The party insiders will cut a shady deal and pick their own hack. That person will win, be able to serve a full, two-year term and will be difficult to dislodge the next time around.
This shameful, family-and-friends policy has saddled us with the likes of Cook County Board President Todd "It's My Sandbox" Stroger and U.S. Rep. Dan "College Professor" Lipinski.
Let's hope voters smoke this one out before it's too late.
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