Last week the Chicago Reader ran a story that the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce had hired political lobbyist to identify candidates to run against seated Alderman who opposed Walmart. http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chamber-of-commerce-walmart-pullman-freeman-institute-nick-delgado/Content?oid=2223637. Per the story the Walmart forces were willing to spend up to $700,000 per candidate to unseat currently seated Alderman. One target of these lobbyist was Alderman Lyle.
Along with Walmart the video gambling and gun lobby are working in the background attempting to garner support. Lastly, the labor unions, and City Hall are working in the community and will be supporting candidates.
No time in the last 20 years have I seen this much interest from outside "special interest" attempting to takeover a local community. They have all decided that this is their ward and they will place the candidate they want. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has created groups such as "Choose Chatham" (supported Walmart) and "Put Illinois Back to Work" (supports Video gambling) to confuse people. We hear about this on the state and federal level but never on the local level.
With this much money floating around can we get a candidate who will do what is right for community over what special interest wants? Can the community wade through the onslaught of propaganda we will see over the next couple of months and make informed decisions?
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