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Many New Faces To Be Elected To City Council

CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- The races for aldermanic seats may not be making big headlines, but they will likely be the factor that will keep the turnout higher Tuesday than it might otherwise be.

As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, 11 aldermen are not up for reelection for reasons as varied as Toni Preckwinkle being elected County Board president, the retirement of budget expert Helen Shiller, and lone Republican Brian Doherty trying and failing to win a seat in the Illinois General Assembly.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

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This has set up battles for several open seats. Only a handful of aldermen are running unopposed, and there are some strong challenges scattered throughout the city.

Among the races to watch, Dellimore says, is the 2nd Ward. Onetime rumored mayoral candidate Robert Fioretti is fighting cancer, and a field that includes respected attorney Genita Robinson. She has been endorsed by the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times.

In the 4th Ward, which was previously represented by Preckwinkle, candidate Will Burns has received substantial attention. The 37-year-old Illinois state representative and University of Chicago alumnus was the subject of a lengthy profile in the Chicago Reader last week. But Burns has plenty of competition, including financial consultant Brian Scott, affordable housing advocate George Rusmey, Norman Bolden, Adam Miguest, James Williams and Lori Yokoyama.

Ald. Virginia Rugai is retiring in the 19th Ward. Her aide and the Democratic ward committeeman, Matthew O'Shea, is up against obstetrician-gynecologist Anne Schaible.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/will-burns-fourth-ward-hyde-park-elections-alderman-toni-preckwinklein-the-fourth-ward-will-burns-seeks-to-take-the-next-step-in-a-promising-c/Content?oid=3263750
In the 20th Ward, the field trying to unseat incumbent Willie Cochran includes rap Che "Rhymefest" Smith. But both the Tribune and Sun-Times endorsed attorney George E. Davis in the race.

Jim Mullen, a former Chicago Police officer who was shot and rendered a quadriplegic, is running in Doherty's old 45th Ward. Among the other candidates are catering business owner Mary O'Connor, city Department of Housing and Economic Development urban planner Thomas Patrick Murphey, along with Barbara Ateca, George Banna, Maurita E. Gavin, Richard Gonzalez, Daniel T. Lapinski, Brock Merck, James J. Shamne, and John Joseph Quinn.

The 43rd Ward is also up for grabs, with Ald. Vi Daley retiring. The Tribune endorsed Tim Egan, the vice president of government affairs at Norwegian American Hospital, who has also won the backing of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, while the Sun-Times endorsed ward Democratic committeeman Michele Smith, a former federal prosecutor. Also in the race are local Neighborhod Watch president Bita Buenrostro, ward chief osf staff Charles Eastwood, civil rights attorney Rafael Vargas and Teamsters representative Carmen Olmetti.

Ald. Patrick Levar is retiring in the 45th Ward, and a crowded field of candidates is vying to replace him. They include police Lt. John Garrido, economist Don Blair, union lobbyist Marina Faz-Hupppert, former commodities trader Michael Fitzgerald ward, real estate agent Anna Klocek, graphic design company owner John Arena, and accountant Bruno Bellissimo, the Sun-Times reported.

A total of 11 candidates are running in the 46th Ward, as Shiller retires. The Tribune and Sun-Times both endorsed attorney Emily Stewart, who is up against 10 other candidates – social worker and community activist James Cappleman, Chicago Police Officer Michael Carroll, streets and Sanitation Ward Supt. Don Nowotny, investment brokerage firm owner Andy Lam, attorney Molly Phelan, Cook County Election Department field coordinator Befekadu Retta, ward Republican committeeman Diane Shapiro, businessman and attorney Scott Baskin, Awake Café manager Caitlin McIntyre, affordable housing advocate Janice Thomas, and former Heart of Uptown Coalition executive director Marc Kaplan.

Ald. Gene Schulter recently announced he would not run for reelection in the 47th Ward, and has endorsed Ravenswood Community Council president Tom O'Donnell to take his place. But the Tribune and Sun-Times both endorsed Northwestern University Office of Emergency Management program assistant Ameya Pawar. Tom Jacks and Matt Reichel are also in the race.

State Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) is endorsed by both major papers in the 48th Ward, where Ald. Mary Ann Smith is retiring. Osterman, the son of late former 48th Ward Ald. Kathy Osterman, is up against Patrick McDonough, Steven Chereska, Jose Arteage and Philip Bernstein.

Ald. Bernard Stone is running for reelection in the 50th Ward, but he is fighting against Debra Silverstein, the wife of state Sen. Ira Silverstein, and architect Greg Brewer, as well as community activist Ahmed Kahn, city engineer Tom Morris, and attorney Michael Moses.

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