Feb. 26th, 2019 09:23 am
Mares in the race
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muckefuckMy polling place was sparsely attended this morning, which was dispiriting. I know that more and more people are voting early or absentee, but even so the proportion of city residents choosing the next mayor could be small indeed.
And for once we really have a choice. The race is so wide-open at this point that it's almost impossible to predict who'll even make it to the second round. There is no clear machine favourite this time, not even with a Daley in the running. At least one of the candidates, Amara Enyia, has both impeccable progressive credentials and is far from a no-hoper. It's not even inconceivable that the runoff election in April could be between two Black women.
And--for the first time in my decade in the ward--it's a similar story for the aldermannic election. There's a general feeling that machine hack O'Connor is an embarrassing racist grandpa who needs to be put out to pasture but it's hard to say who of the two women and two MOC running is best poised to replace him. I plumped for the guy he accused of trying to spearhead a Nigerian power grab but I'd also be quite happy with the socialist Chicano ex-rapper.
In total, there were only four offices on the ballot (and no referenda for my ward, because Racist Grandpa doesn't care what we think) making it the shortest ballot I think I've ever seen. So maybe the reason I didn't see more people is simply that you can complete the process in less time than it takes to hail a Lyft.
And for once we really have a choice. The race is so wide-open at this point that it's almost impossible to predict who'll even make it to the second round. There is no clear machine favourite this time, not even with a Daley in the running. At least one of the candidates, Amara Enyia, has both impeccable progressive credentials and is far from a no-hoper. It's not even inconceivable that the runoff election in April could be between two Black women.
And--for the first time in my decade in the ward--it's a similar story for the aldermannic election. There's a general feeling that machine hack O'Connor is an embarrassing racist grandpa who needs to be put out to pasture but it's hard to say who of the two women and two MOC running is best poised to replace him. I plumped for the guy he accused of trying to spearhead a Nigerian power grab but I'd also be quite happy with the socialist Chicano ex-rapper.
In total, there were only four offices on the ballot (and no referenda for my ward, because Racist Grandpa doesn't care what we think) making it the shortest ballot I think I've ever seen. So maybe the reason I didn't see more people is simply that you can complete the process in less time than it takes to hail a Lyft.