Politics is still a family business: a Chicago story
Why is it in Chicago that, when the political squabbling is over and the election totals are tallied, the winners with regularity turn out be those with a financial, personal or family reason to cheer? A classic example of what I'm talking about has been quietly unfolding for some months here. It's the story of how long-time Chicago congressman Luis Gutierrez announced his retirement, and how his daughter a few months later suddenly is poised to become alderman of the 30th Ward. In the middle of all of that is Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the guy who will be filling that congressional seat, County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.
Coincidence? Maybe. All of the principals insist there's no insidious deal here, that things just sort of turned out that way. But when things turn out the Chicago way, you have to wonder. Decide for yourself. Last November, after filing his petitions to seek a new seat in Congress, Gutierrez abruptly announced that he was withdrawing them, saying he'd decided to retire and was backing his good friend and political ally Garcia to succeed him. In the best Chicago political tradition—like, for instance, the decision by Rep. Bill Lipinski to retire and the immediate move to install his son, Dan Lipinski, in his place—Gutierrez caught everyone cold. There was almost no time for anyone else seriously interested in running for Congress to get their political and financial act together.
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez announced last year he would retire from congress at the end of his current term. His daughter, Jessica, at center, is now running for alderwoman Rep. Luis Gutiérrez announced last year he would retire from congress at the end of his current term. His daughter, Jessica, at center, is now running for alderwoman. Why is it in Chicago that, when the political squabbling is over and the election totals are tallied, the winners with regularity turn out be those with a financial, personal or family reason to cheer?
A classic example of what I'm talking about has been quietly unfolding for some months here. It's the story of how long-time Chicago congressman Luis Gutierrez announced his retirement, and how his daughter a few months later suddenly is poised to become alderman of the 30th Ward. In the middle of all of that is Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the guy who will be filling that congressional seat, County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.
Coincidence? Maybe. All of the principals insist there's no insidious deal here, that things just sort of turned out that way. But when things turn out the Chicago way, you have to wonder. Decide for yourself. Last November, after filing his petitions to seek a new seat in Congress, Gutierrez abruptly announced that he was withdrawing them, saying he'd decided to retire and was backing his good friend and political ally Garcia to succeed him. In the best Chicago political tradition—like, for instance, the decision by Rep. Bill Lipinski to retire and the immediate move to install his son, Dan Lipinski, in his place—Gutierrez caught everyone cold. There was almost no time for anyone else seriously interested in running for Congress to get their political and financial act together.
There is a bit of a problem. The 30th Ward seat now is held by Ariel Reboyras, who has handled lots of tough political chores in the City Council for Emanuel and who the mayor can't just walk away from without political harm. So, what to do?
Gutierrez and Emanuel both have insisted that no there's no deal, and especially one connected to the congressional switcharoo. "You have no evidence to back up any of that," says Gutierrez. Sources close to the mayor say the same thing. But while Reboyras didn't return my calls, a source close to him says he doesn't want Emanuel's public endorsement, which could backfire in the ward, but only access to the mayor's potent fundraising network. And that assumes, of course, that Reboyras doesn't decide to retire and take a job as say, deputy city commissioner in charge of bottle cap collection. Assuming one is offered, that is.
That, of course, would not happen. Not in Chicago, where the family business of politics—think Daley, Burke, Rostenkowski, Lipinski, Hynes and now Gutierrez—is an insitution. It's just a coincidence.
https:// www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180509/BLOGS02/180509831/politics-is-still-a-family-business-a-chicago-story