While the news that Chicago elected its first black female--and openly lesbian--mayor is a national story today, there is another development that is being overlooked.
Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th) was the City Council floor leader for Mayor Richard M. Daley as well as his lame duck successor, Rahm Emanuel.
O'Connor was defeated yesterday by Andre Vasquez, a democratic socialist. Two other socialists, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) and Daniel La Spata (1st) won in Chicago first round of aldermanic elections and the mini-leftist wave brought Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) to victory as well.
That means Chicago will have four socialists among its 50 members. And possibly five as one race is too close to call. Rod Blagojevich's sister-in-law, Deborah Mell (33rd) trails socialist Rossana Rodriguez by 24 votes.
Chicago, the only major American city that is losing population, is a fiscal disaster. Its pension plans are unsustainable and default seems likely.
Socialists aren't very good at money, of course.
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