Mar 16, 2009 9:11 am US/Central
Early Voting Begins For Emanuel's Old Seat
Voters May Go In Early Through April 2 For 5th Congressional District Race
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Early voting begins Monday for the special election to fill White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's old seat in Congress.
Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley topped a field of a dozen Democrats in the 5th Congressional District primary on March 3. He faces Illinois Minuteman Project founder Rosanna Pulido, who won the Republican nomination, and peace activist Matthew Reichel, who won for the Green Party.
Early voting runs through April 2, and the special election is on April 7.
The district includes much of the north lakefront and Northwest Side, as well as a handful of western suburbs – among them all or parts of Schiller Park, Franklin Park, River Grove, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park and Northlake.
Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any designated early voting site in their jurisdiction, although suburban voters must vote in the suburbs. Voters do not need a reason or excuse to vote early, but they must present a valid government-issued ID.
In the city, early voting locations include:
--Wright College, Science Building, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.;
--North Park Village Administration Building, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.;
--Lincoln Park Library, 1150 W. Fullerton Ave.;
--
Chicago Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level.
Early voting is held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all locations Monday through Saturday, and only at 69 W. Washington St. from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays.
Suburban early voting locations can be found here.
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. On his campaign Web site, he focuses on health care reform, the economy, fiscal responsibility, foreign policy, the environment and immigrant rights.
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."
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.
There are several Cook County suburbs that are holding municipal elections on April 7.
For a list of suburbs and candidates, click here.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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