Mondays with Mike: Second City? We’re #1, dammit!

This is a pretty significant Monday here in Chicago.

First, the week began with my fair city winning a dubious honor: A study done at the University of Illinois-Chicago found the Chicago metro area to be the most corrupt in the nation. (Again.) That state of Illinois has some catching up to do: The UIC report ranked it only the third most corrupt in the country.

I’m with Lightfoot. Check out her campaign site for more info.

For you non-Chicagoans, here’s how insane it can be: Key aldermen like Ed Burke and state legislators like Michael Madigan have law firms. A fellow Democratic Party hack has (until very recently) always managed to win the Cook County Assessor’s election. So, once in office, the assessor routinely over assesses large properties owned by those with deep pockets. Those owners then go…where? Wait for it…to the Burkes and Madigans to pay a pretty penny in legal fees to get their assessment adjusted fairly. That’s all legal here in the Land of Lincoln. And that’s the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s see, what else happened today? Oh, a beam supporting a Lake Shore Drive bridge cracked so badly the northbound lanes in a very busy part of the Drive had to be closed. Perhaps there’s a relationship between item #1 and item #2? You betcha. Around here we call it the corruption tax. It’s not just what we pay—it’s how little we get for it because so many people are on the take.

And third, early voting opened across the city. In all 50 wards, Chicagoans can vote for Mayor and aldermen starting today (check out locations and hours). Election day is February 26.

The good news on the corruption front is that the aforementioned Alderman Ed Burke has been indicted by the Feds. Plus, there have been extensive wiretaps (meaning there’s probably more shoes that will drop). Another alderman (Danny Solis), who’s in his own hot water, reportedly wore a wire for a while. And it’s been reported that somewhere on various tapes, House Speaker Mike Madigan—a kingpin in the whole operation—can be heard.

So, cog-by-cog, the machine is falling apart.

The bad news is, Chicago voters have a habit of self-flagellation when it comes to mayoral races. “What’s his name? Daley? Ah, yes. I’ll vote for him.”

And it doesn’t help that the simple act of holding a municipal-only election in February is, in effect, statutory voter suppression. It’s the way the insiders have always wanted it. (Changing the election date is one of four common sense, practical changes recommended in this Tribune guest op-ed—it’s a good read.)

As for my vote? The better known candidates for mayor so far are all very connected in one-way or another to Burke or other smelliness. I’ve also nixed anyone who announced after incumbent Rahm Emanuel announced he would not run. They’re not exactly courageous, crusading reformers.

Among the rest, I’m wholeheartedly voting for Lori Lightfoot. She hasn’t held elected office (is that good or bad?), but she has been meaningfully engaged with police reform and has served in municipal posts. She’s a former Federal prosecutor. She’s currently a successful attorney and a partner at a heavyweight law firm. She has no ties to any of the usual suspects, past or present.

There are other reasons, and this Chicago Sun-Times endorsement covers them nicely.

Subjectively, I just trust her. I judge her to have integrity (she represented Republicans in a gerrymandering case, and won). She seems like she knows how things work. She’s forward thinking but not flaky or naïve.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. My fellow Chicagoans, I hope you’ll support Lightfoot, but if you don’t, I urge you to vote and skip the usual suspects.

Otherwise we’ll all be getting what we deserve.

Note: For non-Chicagoans, the mayoral race is an open election. There are oodles of candidates this year, and this being Chicago, most are Democrats. If no one receives 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote getters will compete in a run-off.