Run-Off Election Results

Thelma Sardin |

Six of the fourteen citys wards up for grabs in Tuesdays run-off aldermanic election are in the Citizen Newspapers coverage areas. The Chicago Board of Elections cited lower than average turnouts for this election.

The Chatham community saw the match up of incumbent Alderman Freddrenna Lyle and Roderick Sawyer, an attorney and son of the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer. According to the Chicago Board of Elections with all precincts reporting, Sawyer led with 51 percent and Lyle trailed close with 49.3 percent. A total of 124 votes separated Sawyer and Lyle.

Lyle greeted voters outside of Jane Neil Elementary School during the last hour prior to the polls closing. She admitted it had been a hard campaign and was disappointed by voter turnout. I thought that the amount of campaigning that has gone on in the last month would generate a lot more voter participation and that just did not occur. This ward traditionally votes strong and I expected it to vote strong today too. I feel very comfortable that at the end of the day, the record I have established and the vision I have for the ward will be vindicated, Lyle told the Citizen.

On the southwest side, the 15th Ward aldermanic race was led by incumbent Toni Foulkes. According to the Chicago Board of Elections with all precincts reporting, Foulkes led with 69 percent and her opponent Raymond Lopez trailed with 31 percent. Foulkes has been alderman of the 15th Ward since 2007. Her opponent Raymond Lopez works for Southwest Airlines and became captain of his precinct at age eighteen. A total of 1312 votes separated Foulkes and Lopez.

In the Gage Park and Englewood communities, 16th Ward alderman Joann Thompson faced long-time community activist Hal Baskin. The Chicago Board of Elections reports that Thompson led with 56 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Baskin garnered 44 percent, with a total of 461 votes separating the two candidates.

For Baskin, Election Day did not go without controversy.

The Tribune reported that Baskin was allegedly arrested at Nicholson Elementary School, 6066 S. Peoria St. According to the report, the police were called because Baskin allegedly got into an argument with election judges. Baskin was allegedly charged with misdemeanors for assault and intimidating an election judge.

The Citizen contacted both the Chicago Board of Elections and the Cook County States Attorneys Office for separate statements on the alleged incident, however, phone calls went unreturned by Citizen deadline.

The Citizen also contacted Baskins campaign for a statement on the alleged altercation. A campaign worker told the Citizen a response would be released to the media via a televised news conference. However, the news conference had not occurred by press time.

The 17th Ward which includes the Auburn-Gresham community saw a run-off between incumbent Alderman Latasha Thomas and challenger David Moore. At press time with 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Thomas led with 53 percent. Moore lagged with 47 percent.

Thomas is an attorney and was first appointed alderman of the 17th Ward in 2000. Her opponent, Moore is an assistant to the commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review. A total of 313 votes separated Thomas and Moore.

The 20th Ward communities of Washington Park and Woodlawn had witnessed months of heavy campaigning between incumbent Alderman Willie B. Cochran and rapper Che Rhymefest Smith. At press time, Cochran led with 54 percent and 98 percent of the precincts reporting. Smith trailed with 46 percent. A total of 316 votes separated Cochran and Smith.

Cochran has been very vocal in the amount of experience and education he carries over his opponent. He is a former Chicago Police Officer and community worker. Smith, a well-known rapper who co-wrote Kanye Wests Jesus Walks which won a Grammy in 2005, picked up several key endorsements including Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Cornel West.

On the citys west side, 24th Ward alderman Sharon Denise Dixon squared off against Michael Chandler to retain her seat in the City Council. Chandler, a former 24th Ward alderman lost to Dixon in 2007 after running the ward for 12 years.

Apparently, Chandler reclaimed his old City Council seat. According to the Chicago Board of Elections, he garnered 60 percent of the vote. Dixon lagged with 40 percent. A total of 1134 votes separated Chandler and Dixon.

The 24th Ward aldermanic race had been very contentious. Close to twenty people appeared on the February 22 ballot. Chandler and Dixon gained the highest totals to contend in the run-off election.

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