The Chicago Sun-Times reported today that people interested in replacing longtime Ald. Ed Smith need to turn in their cover letters, resumes and letters of recommendation by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6.
This is the second time this year that Mayor Daley is accepting applications for a West Side vacancy in the 50-seat Chicago City Council.
In March, Daley appointed then-state Rep. Deborah Graham in the 29th Ward to replace Ike Carothers, who pled guilty to corruption charges and is now serving time in federal prison. Graham was one of more than 20 eligible candidates for the $110,556-a-year post; click here to see an earlier AustinTalks story that includes links to each application.
Smith announced two weeks ago that he would be resigning, effective today, and he’s endorsed one of the 10 candidates who filed by the Nov. 22 deadline to run in the February municipal elections.
Smith told AustinTalks last week that he’s leaving before completing his term so that he can put his energy toward campaigning for the person he wants to replace him – longtime aide and former Maywood Village Manager Jason C. Ervin – and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who is running for mayor.
“I’m not sick. I’m not indicted,” said Smith, who’s served in the City Council since 1983. “I just decided it was time for me to go.”
It’s not clear how quickly Daley will make his decision, or whether he’ll interview candidates like he did last time when filling the 29th Ward vacancy.
Smith’s replacement will serve until May 16, unless he/she wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the Feb. 22 election (or the most votes if there’s a run-off in early April).
In addition to Ervin, the nine other candidates who filed petitions to be on the February ballot are Carol G. Johnson, a program director at Bethel New Life; William Siegmund; Michael A. Stinson; David J. Young; James Ogden; Chicago Police Department veteran Erick Von Kondrat; Velda Brunner; Shawn A. Walker, who ran against Ald. Smith in 2007 and 2003; and Carmelita P. Earls, commander of operations for the Chicago Fire Department’s Training Academy.
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I’ve been living in the 28th ward for over 12 years and ive never met a canidate running for anything, like right know i havent heard about any canidates running for alderman. i got search the web to find a canidate to vote for, whatever happend to the canidate finding you to ask you to vote for them… come on now!!