Friday, March 7, 2008
News / Clout City Here come the Republicans!
Posted by Mick Dumke on Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 2:32 PM
While John Daley was recently leading the county board through bitter budget negotiations, one of his most impassioned enemies was officially launching a revolution to seize control of the 11th Ward. Of course, even Carl Segvich would admit that these plans are--well, let's just say they might take a little while to come to fruition. As followers of Chicago politics know, the 11th Ward, centered in Bridgeport, is the home base of the Daley clan, and by extension the Chicago Democratic machine. And John Daley, in addition to being the finance chairman of the county board, is the ward's longtime Democratic committeeman--the official title for what amounts to "ward boss."
Carl Segvich's attitude toward John Daley and his older brother the mayor can only be classified as loathing, if not obsession, and over the last few years he's run a series of suicide campaigns against them and their allies. In 2003 Segvich lost an unwinnable race against 11th Ward alderman James Balcer, who shares an office with John Daley; in 2004 he fell 40 votes short in a challenge against the ward's silent and inactive GOP committeeman, George Preski (whose wife is an aide for the Chicago Board of Elections); in 2006, Segvich took on John Daley for county commissioner and, as expected, got crushed; and last year he lost another bout with Balcer.
But last month he again ran against Preski for Republican committeeman--and won, 358 to 219. (In contrast, John Daley, running unopposed for Democratic committeeman, received 8,680 votes.) Segvich, a salesman when he's not raging against the machine or the moral turpitude of our society, officially assumed the post just over a week ago. On Friday I reached him on the phone for a chat.
So how’d you win this time?
By appealing to the people who are really sick and tired of the betrayal of the public trust. I’ve been working on it for four years now, so name recognition helped. I really knocked on a lot of doors in four years. And this election, in December and January especially, I was out there in the ice and snow, and people invited me into their homes.
People didn’t slam the door on a conservative Republican in Bridgeport?
The 11th Ward is one of the biggest political paradoxes in the country—it’s obviously Democratic, but people there are conservative. They are against affirmative action. They are by and large Catholics against abortion. They are for putting in the pornographic filters in the libraries.
What people outside the ward don’t understand is this: the Daleys are not liked in the 11th Ward. They may be feared, but they’re not liked. People there are still Democratic because they’re intimidated by the Daley mafia. They’re afraid if they revolt they won’t get their garbage picked up. But I think this is the beginning of a political conversion. The Daley name is getting really old and haggard. People here are becoming more bold, more outspoken. I’ve only been in office ten days, and I have six or seven precinct captains, and one of them was a longtime precinct captain for John Daley. I plan on filling all 50 precincts with captains.
There weren’t Republican captains in every precinct before?
Absolutely not. It was a house of cards—just a shell.
So what exactly have you gotten yourself into with this job?
I’ve gotten myself into a great opportunity to expose corruption. I’ve gotten myself into a great opportunity to just give a hell of a political competition to John and Rich Daley. I’m now responsible for promoting conservative candidates up and down the ballot, from dogcatcher to state senator to president. I have to give people the support to say it loud and proud: we are against Daley.
You’ve said one of your primary responsibilities is to recruit Republican election judges.
I have to recruit them, help them fill out the paperwork, deliver it to board of elections, and make sure they’re appointed. I have to make sure John Daley isn’t at the Chicago board of elections blocking my appointments.
It’s also very important I do a good job at raising money. I plan on opening up a physical office, which is very uncommon for a Republican [in the city]. I think maybe two or three [Republican committeemen] have offices. Most work at their kitchen table.
And one more thing—I will be filling [Republican] vacancies on the ballot. We need to have competition again. People are walking into these offices.
It doesn’t seem like the party is in very good shape.
There are still a lot of liberal Democrats who are [passing] as Republican political officers, so the state of the Republican Party in Chicago is still weak. However, I would say we have new life with [newly elected] Cook County chairman Lee Roupas. I think he’s smart and he’s experienced enough--even though he's just 25--to be able to lead the Cook County Republicans to be an honest organization, to be honest public servants of integrity, and to really get citizens to take Republican ballots and mean it.
Have you heard anything from the 11th Ward Democratic organization since you won?
Not a word.
Do you think you’ll be able to take out the Daleys any time soon?
Well, I’ll say this: I don’t think that Mayor Daley will be mayor longer than March 1, 2011. Either he will lose that election or he’ll be indicted and leave office before that.
Showing 1-29 of 29
If Carl can get just one challenger candidate for every office, the citizens will then have the opportunity, in the General Election, to: HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
They had a radio show together that last two shows. Neither one of these two have a job or common sense.
"Neither one of these two have a job or common sense." But you do, right? A job and the commonest sense of kissing the butts of whoever pays the most for the use of your lips.
"I think maybe two or three [Republican committeemen] have offices." does anyone know where these are?
The radio show will be back! My new Job in Elmhurst had a conflict with the time. But Carl and I will be back talking about the Daley's, Joyce's, Degnans,and the corruption at all levels of Cook County!
Carl Segvich is a sincere and hard working man. I am a Democrat and have some disagreements with Carl. But we are both Catholic and recognize a higher power and the importance of the family and sanctity of life. Carl is a good man. Carl is a good Republican. If he does a radio show with Frank Coconate--God Bless him. We need more people like Carl Segvich.
What job do you have in the suburbs Frank?. Must be a bad one as you are a braggart. Why so secretive? You are the first to rap everyone else, so where do you work? Deleo has many jobs.
Making Jesse Jackson Jr Mayor of Chicago; Just so the White flight could take off, Crime rate go SKY HIGH, The 911 system LITERALLY clogged because of the severe deluge of police calls, Businesses leaving in droves, City Income Tax atop even higher taxes under the Luciferian Jessay Juniah, Crack Houses & Illegal Drug Trade far more persistent, etc. With his KISSASS Tony in the demonic deeds. How pathetic.
What a subtle, discrete, delicate and genuine expression of bigotry. I'm impressed. Now, when is it that you got your green card?
Carl is a hero that won the election in the 11 Ward. Despite all odds Carl was victorious. Carl was on Chicago Clout, that site helped many winners in the election.
....But a left-wing commie creep comismerating with the demons. Like the Chicago Clout Socialist swill.
Coconate is a code inspector in Oak Brook. His family lived in Oak Brook for years and the old mayor was his cousin.
Nice try, you need to know codes to inspect. Far cry from digging ditches in the sewer department.
".....you need to know codes to inspect..." You're not from around here, are you?
http://www.chicagoclout.com/weblog/archives/2006/03/frank_coconate_in_action.html HaaaaHaaaa DomLong
hey! I'm a pervert cop and I knew nothing about the being a polieman. The only requirement was that i was Jan Pestka's son.
I'm a high ranking soldier in the elite airbourne unit that is hiding in Florida to dodge the war in Iraq. Do you think anyone can get this position?
I run the Building Department, you know the one. We are always shaking down all those developers. I knew nothing about buildings when i became Commissioner. My qualifications? I rear ended Judge Shelia Kilroe and married her!
Judge Shelia Kilroe is mayor daley's cuz! She also ran his campaign committee.
I'm very qualified, when you compare me to the above mentioned City Job holders. As well as O'Hare expansion manager Rose"Victor Reyes girl friday" Andolino,ex-alderman Mark Fary, Rock head Commissioner Brian Kenner,Alderman Pat O'Connor's brother Rob O'Connor, Water Commissioner John Spatz, Streets and sanitation Commissioner Mike Picardi,Chris Kozicki, John Whirity,.....
To Pat - posted by Rep. John Fritchey I know that for various reasons, there hasn't been a lot of politics, or much else, discussed on my blog lately, and for that I apologize. But I have to write a post that I simply never imagined writing. Earlier tonight, I was informed that one of my closest friends, Pat Botterman, had a heart attack and died. Just writing that is simply surreal. Most of you might know Pat as the Wheeling Township Democratic Committeeman, and as the foundation and conductor of numerous campaigns, big and small. Pat won some big ones and lost some big ones, but if you spoke with him the day after a campaign, he would be the same after a loss as he was after a win. It was not that he didn't care, far from it. He just had an ability to put things in perspective that I will always envy. Pat is the one person in politics who I have ever met who would NEVER back away from a fight, big or small, as long as he believed in it. For that trait, many loathed him. For that trait, I will always respect him. But if you really knew him, you knew that he was as genuine, as solid, a person as you could ever hope to meet. Stoic, loyal, fiercely independent, unflappable, he was great at what he did in politics, and loved doing it. More importantly, he had a contentment and perspective on life that never ceased to amaze me. We traveled to political events around the country, and each trip gave me the chance to know him a little better. And while I never saw him laugh hard, his absurdly dry humor made him as funny a person as I ever met. When I was driving to Springfield this afternoon, Pat called me, as it turns out, shortly before he died. I was on the other line, and I told him that I would call him back in a little bit. I never did. I'm so sorry. God bless you Pat. You'll be missed.
"God bless you Pat. You'll be missed." what an ego Fritchey thinks Botterman is reading his blog from the great beyond
What grandstanding Johnny-boy. Such self importance makes me feel impotent. How about some "Gee Golly Goshes" and some "Why Shucks" and "I hope the Folks are taking it Hard". I wish you spend more time talking about your sins, YOU NEVER SUPPOTED FRANK COCONATE, never gave him a dime you silly goose. Shut up and open up your blog. Opps -gas slipped out-
Pat McDonough please get off the posting here. You are disrespecting the dead. You are disrespecting John Fritchey
Pat McDonough please get off the posting here. You are disrespecting the dead. You are disrespecting John Fritchey
"Requiescat In Pace PAT BOTTERMAN March 11th - 7:37 a.m. To Pat - posted by Rep. John Fritchey I know that for various reasons, there hasn't been a lot of politics, or much else, discussed on my blog lately, and for that I apologize. But I have to write a post that I simply never imagined writing. Earlier tonight, I was informed that one of my closest friends, Pat Botterman, had a heart attack and died. Just writing that is simply surreal. Most of you might know Pat as the Wheeling Township Democratic Committeeman, and as the foundation and conductor of numerous campaigns, big and small. Pat won some big ones and lost some big ones, but if you spoke with him the day after a campaign, he would be the same after a loss as he was after a win. It was not that he didn't care, far from it. He just had an ability to put things in perspective that I will always envy. Pat is the one person in politics who I have ever met who would NEVER back away from a fight, big or small, as long as he believed in it. For that trait, many loathed him. For that trait, I will always respect him. But if you really knew him, you knew that he was as genuine, as solid, a person as you could ever hope to meet. Stoic, loyal, fiercely independent, unflappable, he was great at what he did in politics, and loved doing it. More importantly, he had a contentment and perspective on life that never ceased to amaze me. We traveled to political events around the country, and each trip gave me the chance to know him a little better. And while I never saw him laugh hard, his absurdly dry humor made him as funny a person as I ever met. When I was driving to Springfield this afternoon, Pat called me, as it turns out, shortly before he died. I was on the other line, and I told him that I would call him back in a little bit. I never did. I'm so sorry. God bless you Pat. You'll be missed." C'mon, Fritch-Face, you know you were overjoyed to hear of the passing of this thorn in your side. I bet your dick got hard at hearing the news.
It takes a pathetic bunch of losers to make posts like these. You people have outdone yourselves this time.
Carl Segvich once told me that he didn't believe that women belonged in the workplace. This is progress? One tool for another.
Latest in The Blog
-
11/21—Lights Festival Freebies
Many local establishments are giving away free treats during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
- Nov 20, 2009
-
Still More on the Mezuzah
- Nov 20, 2009
-
Dinner and a Show: Friday 11/19
Some recommendations for what to do tonight, paired with nearby restaurants.
- Nov 20, 2009
- More»
Author Archives
-
On edge in the precincts
Tension follows another shooting on the south side.
- Sep 25, 2009
-
Fall Books Special
Mean Streets: Chicago Youths and the Everyday Struggle for Empowerment in the Multiracial City, 1908-1969Andrew J. Diamond | University of California Press
- Nov 5, 2009
-
Nation: when it comes to the privatization of parking, do as we say, not as we do
- Sep 8, 2009
- More»
Comments (29) RSS