2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 10/16/06 Section: Opinions
Withdrawn candidacy
A lot of people urged me to run for City Clerk of Chicago. Friends, family and colleagues all offered their advice and support as I weighed the decision of whether to run for the office.
After much careful thought and consideration, I decided to seek the office when no one else announced their candidacy.
When I announced my bid, I said I would serve only one term in the office. I said I would serve only one term because I thought the position should be abolished as an elective office. It is not a policy-making position, and combining it with the Treasurer's office, or making it into an appointed office, would allow its duties to be performed without elections or politics coming into play. I also called for a 'Sunshine' ordinance, under which the City Clerk would post aldermanic votes online.
But after the announcement that Mayor Richard Daley had appointed Democratic state Sen. Miguel del Valle, of Chicago, to the position, I have decided not to seek the office.
My reasons for withdrawing are simple: unity and a worthy candidate.
I thought it was in the best interests of unity for the city to withdraw my candidacy. As names were bandied about, I saw the beginnings of a long and fractious fight for the office. The scandals and political infighting of the past few years have plagued Chicago enough. My withdrawal is, I hope, a beginning to the healing process.
Sen. Miguel del Valle has had a long career in Illinois politics. I have a longstanding respect for his exemplary service as a state legislator. He is the first Latino to hold the position of Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate, and he co-chairs the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.
His background in education led him to become vice-chairman of the Education Committee, and he is co-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Education Funding Reform.
Sen. del Valle has been a longtime advocate of reform in politics. He is a proven leader, and has been able to bring together different groups in the political spectrum to work together for a common goal.
Sen. Miguel del Valle truly exemplifies the term best and brightest.
It is with the utmost respect that I withdraw my candidacy for City Clerk of Chicago and endorse del Valle for the office.
Respectfully,
Commissioner Frank Avila
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
of Greater Chicago
(773) 763-2300
citizensforavila@sbcglobal.net
Junior's Monday night football
Just wanted to respond to Daniel Jerez's article about the Bears and Lance Briggs attending Junior's MNF viewing parties. I am a huge fan and go to Junior's quite frequently for most of the Bears and playoff games, etc. I have also attended the first two viewing parties with the Bears the last two weeks.
I couldn't disagree more with Daniel with regards to the format of the events. Two weeks ago, Antoine Walker of the NBA was sitting at the bar amongst fans. Lance and Tommie Harris, among others, were hanging out doing shots and hob-nobbing with fans and acting like regular guys. Lance brings in his own DJ Squeeze from MTV and they raffle off signed memorabilia from Lance and other teammates and when guests win, Lance personally hands them the articles and takes a picture with them. The players have been sat in a room known as the Red Room, which is totally open to the public and non-Bears players sit at the tables directly next to the players.
I will admit last week wasn't quite as hands on, as the weather was inclement and some no-shows, like Kirk Hinrich and Snoop Dogg, put a damper on the evening, and the players did tend to keep a bit more to themselves, but as usual, Lance was seen making table visits and shaking hands. Due to increased autograph hounds and other amateur activities, the security around the players was beefed up, and expectedly so.
I agree with Mr. Jerez that Junior's is not your typical sports bar, as it's loungy and clean with good food, but with 20-some odd plasmas showing every available sporting event playing, I would hardly say that if it's not a sports bar, what is it then? Ten sports-related neons in the windows, sports related promos, The Score does the Bears pre-games there and pro athletes hang out there-must be a salsa bar. Perhaps Mr. Jerez expected the players to recognize his celebrity and they should have approached him, maybe they were intimidated by his stature.
-brianlabo@hotmail.com
A lot of people urged me to run for City Clerk of Chicago. Friends, family and colleagues all offered their advice and support as I weighed the decision of whether to run for the office.
After much careful thought and consideration, I decided to seek the office when no one else announced their candidacy.
When I announced my bid, I said I would serve only one term in the office. I said I would serve only one term because I thought the position should be abolished as an elective office. It is not a policy-making position, and combining it with the Treasurer's office, or making it into an appointed office, would allow its duties to be performed without elections or politics coming into play. I also called for a 'Sunshine' ordinance, under which the City Clerk would post aldermanic votes online.
But after the announcement that Mayor Richard Daley had appointed Democratic state Sen. Miguel del Valle, of Chicago, to the position, I have decided not to seek the office.
My reasons for withdrawing are simple: unity and a worthy candidate.
I thought it was in the best interests of unity for the city to withdraw my candidacy. As names were bandied about, I saw the beginnings of a long and fractious fight for the office. The scandals and political infighting of the past few years have plagued Chicago enough. My withdrawal is, I hope, a beginning to the healing process.
Sen. Miguel del Valle has had a long career in Illinois politics. I have a longstanding respect for his exemplary service as a state legislator. He is the first Latino to hold the position of Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate, and he co-chairs the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.
His background in education led him to become vice-chairman of the Education Committee, and he is co-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Education Funding Reform.
Sen. del Valle has been a longtime advocate of reform in politics. He is a proven leader, and has been able to bring together different groups in the political spectrum to work together for a common goal.
Sen. Miguel del Valle truly exemplifies the term best and brightest.
It is with the utmost respect that I withdraw my candidacy for City Clerk of Chicago and endorse del Valle for the office.
Respectfully,
Commissioner Frank Avila
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
of Greater Chicago
(773) 763-2300
citizensforavila@sbcglobal.net
Junior's Monday night football
Just wanted to respond to Daniel Jerez's article about the Bears and Lance Briggs attending Junior's MNF viewing parties. I am a huge fan and go to Junior's quite frequently for most of the Bears and playoff games, etc. I have also attended the first two viewing parties with the Bears the last two weeks.
I couldn't disagree more with Daniel with regards to the format of the events. Two weeks ago, Antoine Walker of the NBA was sitting at the bar amongst fans. Lance and Tommie Harris, among others, were hanging out doing shots and hob-nobbing with fans and acting like regular guys. Lance brings in his own DJ Squeeze from MTV and they raffle off signed memorabilia from Lance and other teammates and when guests win, Lance personally hands them the articles and takes a picture with them. The players have been sat in a room known as the Red Room, which is totally open to the public and non-Bears players sit at the tables directly next to the players.
I will admit last week wasn't quite as hands on, as the weather was inclement and some no-shows, like Kirk Hinrich and Snoop Dogg, put a damper on the evening, and the players did tend to keep a bit more to themselves, but as usual, Lance was seen making table visits and shaking hands. Due to increased autograph hounds and other amateur activities, the security around the players was beefed up, and expectedly so.
I agree with Mr. Jerez that Junior's is not your typical sports bar, as it's loungy and clean with good food, but with 20-some odd plasmas showing every available sporting event playing, I would hardly say that if it's not a sports bar, what is it then? Ten sports-related neons in the windows, sports related promos, The Score does the Bears pre-games there and pro athletes hang out there-must be a salsa bar. Perhaps Mr. Jerez expected the players to recognize his celebrity and they should have approached him, maybe they were intimidated by his stature.
-brianlabo@hotmail.com
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