If all politics is local, then all the fun politics is in local elections. Off year contests and early primaries are the best places to find these little tidbits. The big mayoral races, the statewide races in Kentucky, Louisianna, New Jersey and Virginia and many, many other local contests where the real shenanigans still take place.
These are the places where electoral legends are formed. One of my favorites is former Newark, NJ mayor Sharpe James actually having the City of Newark Police tear down Corey Booker’s billboards in the 2002 Newark Mayor’s race.
So, tonight I hear from a friend in Chicago — February 27th Election — who is sitting there waiting to see something from his opponent’s campaign.
A 48-hour filing for the campaign of Mayor Richard Daley.
George W. Dunne Campaign Fund 201 East Chestnut Apartment 20C Chicago, IL 60611 $10,000.00 2/15/2007 Richard M Daley Campaign Comm (2A)
George Dunne was the longtime president of the Cook County Board and Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. He passed away in May of 2006.
A friend writes,
Only in Chicago can dead people vote and dead politicians still give money.
George Dunne ia probably smiling in his grave right now.
Update, Thursday: The Chicago Tribune’s Clout Street blog is on the case:
[O]ther beneficiaries of [Dunne's fund] have included Todd Stroger’s successful bid for Cook County Board president ($5,000); losing Democratic congressional candidates Dan Seals and Tammy Duckworth ($1,000 each); the International Ministry in Chicago ($10,000); and the University of St. Mary’s of the Lake in Mundelein ($3,000).
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