By Bob Seidenberg
Considering the late start mayoral challenger Jeff Boarini got and his lack of name recognition at the start, how should Mayor Daniel Biss’s 62.4% to 37.59% percent victory over the challenger be viewed?
Jeff Smith, a longtime observer of Evanston’s political scene, took a crack at that question in a podcast interview held a day after Tuesday’s election.
Biss’s name recognition, 20-some years of experience, and large fundraising chest gave him a decided advantage over Boarini, a virtual unknown who entered the race late, Smith noted.
”You can look at it two ways,” said Smith, president of the Central Street Neighbors Association, which sponsored one of the election season’s major mayoral debates.
“Sixty two-38% is strong, a strong win in most contexts,” he said. On the other hand, “looking at how lopsided the resources, the experience, the brand, the organization was, it’s a surprisingly strong showing for Jeff Boarini.”Incumbents hold a decided advantage in such cases, he said. Smith also discussed the challenges faced by the opponents of the city’s stadium deal — including Clare Kelly, Tom Suffredin and Parielle Davis, running in the election.
Davis, a newcomer, won election to the seat located in the Seventh Ward, where Ryan Field is located, despite not receiving the backing of the current and past ward leaders.
Listen in more to what Smith had to say to The Reporters/Inside Evanston at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jCTioMng2SD4A0OeSFQGn?si=qWXVlWojSFyXUTSLOWlQaQ%0A%0A
