Despite a federal indictment on bribery charges and being kicked out
of the Illinois General Assembly in August, former state Rep. Derrick
Smith may be elected to his old seat today in Illinois’ 10th House district.
Across
the 10th state House district today, which loosely includes the Garfield Park and West Town
neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side but also stretches near the
lakefront, ripped apart signs can be found that state Derrick Smith is
“Wanted” for “Disgracing the Democratic Party” and “Crimes Against the
Residents of the 10th District” and “Federal Bribery.”
Yet support
appears lukewarm for Lance Tyson, the 10th District Unity Party
candidate and former chief of staff for Cook County President Todd
Stroger. Tyson has billed himself as the “real Democrat”
For example, PI
caught up with Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) at a polling place in the
Ukrainian Village neighborhood. Fioretti is also the 2nd Ward Democratic
Committeeman and part of a coterie of West Side Democrats, including
Secretary of State Jesse White, who agreed to “unify” their support
behind Tyson.
But Fioretti said Tyson’s get out the vote efforts left something to be desired. Read more »
The Illinois state legislature does not hold summer sessions, but
this year longtime Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, a Chicago
Democrat, 