Feb 19, 2007 7:57 pm US/Central
South Side Aldermanic Race A Family Feud
Darcel Beavers And Sandi Jackson Vying For Power In 7th Ward
by Mike Flannery
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Two women from feuding political families aren't holding back in the marquee aldermanic race in next week's election.
Darcel Beavers and Sandi Jackson are fighting to represent the city's 7th Ward on the South Side. As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, the charges are flying between the candidates.
Although she was appointed to replace her father as alderman barely two months ago, Darcel Beavers was his chief of staff for a dozen years before that, grounds for her chief challenger to blame the Beavers' family for problems in the 7th Ward.
"Let's talk about the fact that crime has risen under their watch," Jackson said. "We now have more police cameras with blue lights than we've ever had before."
But noting that Sandi Jackson is married to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., the alderman counters that many local problems stem from his alleged failure to bring home federal dollars.
"He was elected to the 2nd Congressional District. Where's the resources that he should be providing?" Beavers asked.
"She should be running against her opponents, not against Congressman Jackson," Jackson, Jr. said.
With the Jesse Jackson family personally involved and spending as much as $300,000 on this aldermanic contest, whether Sandi Jackson wins or loses will attract attention from coast to coast.
A New York Times story last weekend noted the congressman wants one day to replace Mayor Daley.
All sides say this contest is about local issues, such as the need to develop more retail businesses.
"We need Old Navy there. We need Marshall's there. If I could get Neiman-Marcus there, I would love a Neiman-Marcus," Jackson said.
"We did develop. There's a Jewel a LaSalle Bank, an ALDI store, Walgreen's, McDonald's," Beavers said. "Who does she know here in Chicago? She's been in Washington all her life."
The candidates' combined spending in the race could exceed a half-million dollars. Two more candidates are on the 7th Ward ballot: Ron David and Eric R. Brown.
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