Mark Sloane picks up another Endorsement for 6th Ward Alderman

Submitted by msloane on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 09:14

In addition to the Endorsement by the Evanston Review, which is read by a majority of residents in the 6th Ward, and the only "Highly Recommended" ranking by the Board of CSNA, Sloane on friday picked up the endorsement of the Jessica News, the Kingsley Elementary School Room 205 newspaper written by Jessica Sloane.  "I am proud that this highly regarded paper is supporting my candidacy" Sloane stated.  Sloane did question why the other candidates were not interviewed prior to the endorsement and the editor indicated that she did not live with them.
 
It's rather funny to watch as an outsider the jockeying that occurrs in the last few days of the election.  Endorsements from elected officials or a newspaper not in our ward that have not completed any due diligence, which did not even interview each candidate seem far from independent and unbiased.  Even an endorsement by a leader in the community for a candidate that was extremely close to receiving a "Not Recommended" ranking from this person's organization, questions motives associated with the Endorsement.
 
As a good friend and political consultant expressed to me, "Mark, if the residents of the 6th Ward do their homework, research the candidates and make their decision on the facts, you will win this."  Here's to hoping for an informed, unbiased, independent electorate.
 
Good Luck to All!                              Mark Sloane

Comments

jeffpsmith

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 13:32

For those who remember the City Council at its most dysfunctional, there was a period when, it seemed, a number of aldermen could not brook disagreement without making it personal. If someone disagreed, the dissenter must be (a) deluded or (b) corrupt. We saw a recurrence of this at the end of the Tower debate, where Eb Moran called into question the motives of the dissenting aldermen. We have also seen such argument used by some Tower opponents.
 
There is peril in going down that path. In policy debates, and elections, sometimes people just disagree. In the 6th Ward, where most objective onlookers feel all candidates have merit, but none were visible on recent ward issues such as Three Crowns Park, the B1a district, the Starbucks, or even the Central Street plan, the suggestion that there is some obvious choice is an understandable candidate perspective -- but it is not most voters'.
 
One other thing that happens in the closing days of a campaign is that candidates grapple with huge uncertainty and unknowns in a process they cannot control, that they fear will reflect personally on them -- after all, they are being judged. Especially if it is their first election, they blow small events out of proportion. Some, desperate or fearful, launch a last-minute negative blitz. Or feel the need to cast aspersions on late-breaking campaign developments they do not understand.
 
The 6th Ward was, to me, a close decision. My "due diligence" included re-reviewing every candidate questionnaire as well as the LWVE questionnaires. I also reviewed the questions and answers at the CSNA forum. You may recall one question, in particular, about separate taxing districts for the branch libraries. I specifically asked candidates only to answer the question if they'd previously thought about it. It was obvious that the concept had never occurred to some candidates; nevertheless, all felt compelled to answer. Only two indicated any open-mindedness on the issue.
 
I am, myself, still chewing it over. But I've given it enough thought and research, for over two years now, that I know it merits some consideration. So, to me, it was a good test question, where the "correct" answer is probably, at this stage, "we should look into it."
 
I am endorsing the two aldermanic candidates whose answers I thought best, not just because of that issue but because they are thoughtful on other issues as well.
 
In the 6th Ward, I have also known Mark Tendam for some years, have been welcomed to his home on multiple occasions, and have had chance to interact and discuss civic issues with him prior to this campaign. That he has support from liberal elected Democrats is a factor, but only one. He also has the support of many mutual friends and other folks I respect for nonpartisan reasons, such as Dick Peach, a super Evanston small businessman, and Jay Lytle.
 
I don't need to put down any other candidate in order to justify my choice. Although only one person can win most elections, politics isn't a zero-sum game. Winning is not the only thing. How you win or lose is important. Your opponent today may be your ally tomorrow. The advice, "Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat," is well-taken. As is the admonition that in today's loss may be planted the seeds of tomorrow's victory. I look forward to working with the next Council, and hope that they all look forward to working with residents, supporters or not.