Never in more than half a century of voting was I as undecided as I am about Chicago’s February 28 mayoral election.
Four years ago I was on Lori Lightfoot’s bandwagon, but she has reportedly alienated nearly everyone she has worked with during her term as mayor. Wondering how much sexism colors views of her, I tried to put personality aside, but being able to get along with people is critical to accomplishing anything.
I swing back and forth about Paul Vallas, former Chicago budget director and head of four large school districts, including Chicago’s. Vallas has experience, ideas, and energy. But my liberal self feels apologetic about leaning his way. He was endorsed by the Chicago police union and its Trumper president; I don’t agree with all of his positions; and his critics say he leaves chaos in his wake.
Besides Lightfoot and Vallas, the other true contenders are Brandon Johnson, candidate of the we-first Chicago Teachers Union; Chuy Garcia, outed as a crony of indicted politician Mike Madigan; and Willie Wilson, whose statements about “hunting [criminal suspects] down like rabbits” have turned off a large swath of voters.
The polls predict that four of the nine candidates — aldermen Sophia King and Roderick Sawyer, state representative Kam Buckner, and activist Ja’Mal Green — will get less than 2 percent of the vote each. Even though King’s demeanor has impressed me in debates, and a Chicago Sun-Times mayor quiz tells me that my views best align with Buckner’s, supporting either of them seems like throwing away my vote.
Indecision is plaguing nearly everyone with whom I speak about the election. The candidates for mayor dominated the conversation when I got together with friends in my building last week. If anyone had a unreserved choice, he or she didn’t say so.
Former Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn said in his newsletter that he hadn’t made up his mind. That the hyper-informed Zorn is on the fence speaks volumes.
Not voting has crossed my mind. I’ve skipped judicial races when I haven’t taken the time to research the candidates. But the stakes are high in this mayoral election, and I’m not uninformed. Besides, I’d have the same dilemma when the two top vote-getters face off in April.
Whenever I’ve voted for a lesser evil before, I could summon up some justification for the choice.
What should you do when there is no one you would feel okay voting for?
For what it's worth, my vote is for Vallas. We really need a change.
ReplyDeleteA neighbor referred me to the endorsement of Gazette Chicago, which covers our neighborhood. Its decision was between Vallas and Johnson — interesting because one is considered the most liberal in the race and the other a conservative. Maybe the point is that we need to try something different.
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