Dan Farley
(Chicago, IL) — December 30, 2009. Democratic state representative candidate Dan Farley, who is seeking the House seat on Chicago’s north side being vacated by Democrat John Fritchey, yesterday swept an IVI-IPO endorsement re-vote.
Farley, a former Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, captured 17 votes from the local IVI-IPO voters to 3 votes for opponent Ed Mullen and 0 for Ann Williams.
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of the IVI-IPO and [I am] committed to promoting a progressive social agenda, coupled with fiscal responsibility and honest, ethical government,” said Farley.
The Independent Voters of Illinois–Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) state board of directors last week rescheduled the re-vote for last night because the board had rejected the earlier local district endorsement of Farley, determining some of the voters were ineligible.
According to a source, there was grumbling among some IVI-IPO state board members and other observers that the 47th Ward Democratic Organization, led by Committeeman and 47th Ward Alderman Eugene Schulter–who supports Farley, “stacked the deck” of the local IVI-IPO voters and the endorsement process, stiffing any non-Schulter allies.
Indeed, among the IVI-IPO voters were Schulter himself; Shulter’s wife, Rosemary; Farley, Farley’s father, former State Senator Bruce Farley (D-Chicago); Farley’s mother, Karen; and Farley’s wife, Darianne–which represented 35% of Farley’s endorsement vote. .
Schulter’s IVI friends and family program for Farley–who were all qualified IVI-IPO voters–Dan Farley and his wife have been IVI-IPO members since January 2009–they helped put Dan Farley over the top.
Still, the 47th Ward Democratic Party scarcely dominated IVI endorsement process, heck, it was more like a dinner party that did.
But before a single reformer squawks or squeaks or squalls about the “Machine” and its conquest of reform, keep in mind that Schulter, Farley and the rest played by IVI-IPO’s own voter recruitment rules. Period.
If Schulter had the organizational presence of mind and foresight to recruit and organize IVI-IPO voters early, well, bully for him. Remember “Precinct Organization” is part IVI-IPO’s name. And who better than a Ward Committeeman to organize voters in precincts? Don’t like the result? Change the rules.
Meanwhile, if IVI-IPO reformer types want reform candidates to win endorsements and elections over Democratic Ward Committeemen and its backed candidates, they will have to work like Democratic Ward Committeemen to do it, starting with recruiting reform voters in precincts–early.
Now on to weightier issues on the minds of newly unemployed voters–like the size of campaign posters.
Argh.
Gov. Pat Quinn
David you are on top of your game today. Well said. Now let the campaign begin with a healthy debate about property taxes and public transportation just to name two. HAPPY NEW YEAR
Posted by dan ingram | December 30, 2009, 3:40 PMI won’t squeak, squawk, or squeal that this vote is indicative of the Machine’s conquest of reform. I never believed that the IVI-IPO represented reform in the first place. For me it’s more of a mislabeling issue. Never has the letter “I” been so abused. Now, does anyone know of any good jobs out there for a down-on-his-luck sign painter?
Posted by Prairie Pundit | December 30, 2009, 3:41 PMDan,
Happy New Year.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 30, 2009, 3:53 PMPraire,
Clever.
Happy New Year.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 30, 2009, 3:54 PMI think you’re missing the point. The IVI-IPO is, by definition and mission, inclusive and wants regulars, Greens, even the occasional Republican in the mix. I don’t think they have a beef with the organizational strength of 47. Instead, its that 47 cuts deals with the benefit of voters months before elections (this deal was cut last winter) and then backs their own regardless of whether their own is capable of telling it straight (he didn’t) and making it right (he didn’t), Did IVI take a hit in its ideological flank when schulters guys all raised their hands and voted for a guy who supports capital punishment and chairs make-believe committees? You bet. Says more about schulters ethic than it does about IVI-IPO. Look schulters org just wants the benefit of 100,000+ ad hits when the IVI mailer goes out. That’s not much to celebrate no matter who you favor in this election.
Posted by libby | December 30, 2009, 5:48 PMLibby,
If IVI-IPO stands silently by an endorsement of a candidate who opposes a major public policy principle embraced by IVI and stands officially silent when the campaign claims a chairmanship of a non-existing IVI committee, then I think IVI is missing the point.
Thank you for reading.
Happy New Year.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 30, 2009, 11:38 PMIf ANYONE STILL BELIEVES that IVI-IPO’s endorsement is worth swaying even ten votes, they are delusional.
Posted by m. labrant | December 30, 2009, 11:43 PMMullen and Williams are better off making voter contact. Let Shulter continue to dilude Farley into believing that IVI is relevant.
The fact that the whole family was there is precious….Dan’s father, his wife.
The whole Farley dynasty. How about the family parole officer? Was he there as a voting member too?
You may be right David but I don’t know that it’s fair to make sweeping conclusions about the organization or its members because of something you think they should say or do in one instance. Besides, I don’t believe IVI-IPO requires the candidates it endorses to pass some litmus test or drink some Koolaide.
I have a question. Are you as critical of Schulters organization for not making formal statements about things that may bump and bruise his org? Why not?
M.Labrant, voters still walk into polling places with IVI-IPO literature so the group still influences some number of voters more than you think. The weird thing is that makes the Alderman and his friends sensible for coveting the endorsement. What they’re willing to do to get is where things start to look freaky. I think you’re right about voter contact. My hunch is that’s more valuable than an endorsement from any one person or group.
Posted by libby | December 31, 2009, 1:02 AMLibby,
Dan Farley is obviously drinking no IVI Kool-Aid–he’s drinking his own champagne.
Happy New Year.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 31, 2009, 1:41 AM