Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Winning the Democratic nomination in a special primary election on Tuesday sets up Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-10th) to replace former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who left Congress to be President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

But while the district is heavily Democratic, Quigley is not unopposed. He will face Illinois Minuteman Project founder Rosanna Pulido, and peace activist Matthew Reichel in the general election on April 7.

Turnout for the special election on Tuesday was estimated as low as 17 percent. Quigley won his party's nomination among a field of 12 Democratic candidates. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Quigley had 11,902 or 22.1 percent of the vote.

"After all we've been through Illinois in the last six months or so, this is really the first chance the voters have had to say enough is enough," Quigley said. "We're fighting for change and reform."

Pulido won the GOP nomination with 969 votes or 25 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting, while Reichel won for the Green Party with 164 votes, or 34 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

Quigley, of the Lakeview neighborhood, campaigned as a reformer and fiscal watchdog in the heavily Democratic district. A Cook County commissioner since 1998, Quigley's reputation for taking on establishment Democrats earned him the endorsements of both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

The field of Democratic candidates Tuesday also included longtime Chicago Alderman Patrick O'Connor (40th) and state Reps. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and John Fritchey (D-Chicago).

Fritchey had 9,603 or 17.9 percent of the vote and Feigenholtz had 9,025 or 16.8 percent of the vote. O'Connor had 6,184 or 11.5 percent.

"Mike is going to make a great congressman and I am going to be proud, along with all of you, to have him as the next congressman of the 5th District," Feigenholtz told supporters.

Quigley said he thought the race would be closer, saying he was humbled, appreciative and honored by his win.

"We've been fighting for reform for 10 years," Quigley said.

Quigley campaigned as a reformer and fiscal watchdog. A Cook County commissioner since 1998, Quigley's reputation for taking on establishment Democrats earned him the endorsements of both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

On his campaign Web site, he focuses on health care reform, the economy, fiscal responsibility, foreign policy, the environment and immigrant rights.

During the administration of late former Cook County Board President John Stroger, Quigley gained notoriety along with Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D-12th) for fighting against the senior Stroger's proposals for tax hikes to balance the budget and calling for cuts instead. In 2005, the group joined with Republican candidates in defeating the late Stroger's proposed hotel and restaurant taxes.

Quigley has also locked horns with Mayor Richard M. Daley over the expansion of tax increment financing districts, which divert property taxes with the intention of funding community improvements.

Quigley has since had similar dust-ups with current County Board President Todd Stroger, but was attacked in advertisements during the Congressional campaign for supporting Stroger in the 2006 election.

Quigley is a native of west suburban Carol Stream, but has spent his political career on the north lakefront. He served as an aide to former 44th Ward Ald. Bernard Hansen while earning his master's degree in public policy from the University of Chicago.

He ran unsuccessfully in 1991 for alderman of the 46th Ward against longtime incumbent Helen Shiller, but won his Cook County Board seat in 1998, and touted himself as the first reformer on the board.

Quigley was also announced a bid for Cook County Board President in 2005, but abandoned the effort, deciding to back Claypool instead. Claypool lost to the senior Stroger, who was stepped down due to ill health before the general election.

Claypool, in turn, served as Quigley's campaign chairman in the Congressional race.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Quigley and opponent Feigenholtz briefly dated.

Pulido, a second-generation Mexican-American, is director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, part of a national volunteer civilian border patrol group that wants to stem illegal immigration.

On her campaign Web site, she calls the special election a "window of opportunity to send a conservative voice to Washington." Her major issues of focus are illegal immigration, care for senior citizens, pro-life issues and gun rights.

Reichel, the youngest candidate in the group at 27, is a political analyst and French language translator who previously served as an organizer for Illinois Peace Action. He calls himself a "career activist."

Voter turnout was low at 17 percent in the 5th Congressional District which has 348,678 registered voters in the city of Chicago and Cook County suburbs.

"It's always low in a special primary," said Jim Allen, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections. "There's a short amount of time to get to know the candidates. There's not as much enthusiasm or knowledge as you'd have with a presidential or gubernatorial election where there are months of buildup or scrutiny."

The largely white district of Poles, Germans and Irish with a sizable Hispanic population has been Emanuel's since 2002. The district has voted overwhelmingly Democratic in past elections for Emanuel. It's the same seat once held by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former House Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski. But the district has also elected a conservative Republican – Michael Flanagan won the seat in 1994 when Rostenkowski was under indictment.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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