Momentous special election: 1995 Illinois' 2nd Congressional race

In 1995 a special election took place to select a successor to Congressman Mel Reynolds (D-Chicago); he was found guilty of various sexual assault charges involving his relationship with a 16 year-old girl. Reynolds, picture above, was later found guilty of a slew of financial crimes, and for those indiscretions (not the sex crimes), Bill Clinton commuted Reynolds' sentence in a forgotten chapter of Pardongate.

A bunch of Democrats filed to run for Reynolds' old job, a juicy plum as the 2nd Congressional District is the safest of Democratic seats--to the winner goes the promise of lifetime employment, something the perv Reynolds squandered.

Among those candidates were Jesse L. Jackson Jr., Emil Jones, and Alice Palmer.

Jones, now the president of the Illinois State Senate, had the backing of his close friend Alderman William Beavers of Chicago's 7th Ward, and Palmer had the backing of the area's progressives, better known as the "Hyde Park Liberals." But "Junior" won the race thanks to the muscle of his father's Rainbow/Push Coalition, and still represents the 2nd.

His win initiated an open feud between the Beavers camp and the Jackson family. In late 2006, Beavers resigned his aldermanic seat and arranged it, in the Chicago way, so his daughter Darcel could take his place. But last year Darcel Beavers was trounced by Sandi Jackson, wife of Jesse Jr., in the 7th Ward aldermanic election.

The next act of this play, perhaps the penultimate one, will place on Tuesday. Sandi Jackson is challenging William Beavers, who is the incumbent Democratic committeman of the 7th Ward. Beavers didn't quit his City Council seat with no place to land, he's a member of that pathetic body, the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

But if Sandi Jackson wins, not only does that further strengthen the Jackson empire on Chicago's South Side, it will position them to finish off the Beavers clan if Comissioner Beavers chooses to run for re-election in 2010.

The Jacksons similarly disposed of the Shaw brothers, identical twin pols who only have the mayor's office of suburban Dolton to their name.

And did you think I forgot about Alice Palmer? After her defeat, she scurried to get nominating petitions together so she could hold her State Senate office, another safe seat for the Democrats. A young man named Barack Obama successfully challenged Palmer's paperwork, and he ran unopposed in Democratic Primary the following year.

Free Chicago Tribune regisration may be required for the link.

As for Obama, if he does end up winning the presidency, Jesse Jackson Senior's national position will be diminished. His race-baiting brand of politics won't play well with an African-American living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It'll force the elder Jackson, and the rest of his family, to focus locally. Junior dropped hints in 2006 that he was considering challenging Richard M. Daley in last year's mayoral race, but dropped the talk after the Democrats won majorities in Congress. He may yet make a move on City Hall.

These tales, and battles, go back to that special election in 1995.

I have to add this postcript, just to show how bizarre politics in Chicago is. Reynolds' sentence was commuted at the urging of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. To show his gratitude, Reynolds challenged Junior in the Democratic Primary the following year in an attempt to win back his Congressional seat--the younger Jackson crushed him.

Thanks for the link: It's My Mind

Technorati tags: Obama politics Barack Obama Illinois 2008 Election Democrats Chicago Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jr. Bill Clinton Pardongate Mel Reynolds