I was downtown last night, a night of great expectation for all of Chicago and Illinois. I was looking forward to watching a man that I admire greatly in Chicago, David Hoffman. Within a few months he assembled a loyal, caring, classy bunch of loyal political fighters of the like I have never seen. I am proud of the work I did to help. I am proud to be part of one of the noblest adventures I have ever embarked. David’s work at the Chicago Inspector General, with a limited budget, and against all odds, is the stuff reformers dream about. The campaign I witnessed is one I will never forget, ever. I do not think I will really ever admire another public servant to the degree I have with David Hoffman, unless were talking about Patrick J. Fitzgerald. I can see why the people of Chicago and Illinois have a hard time voting, the results. I already miss all the e-mails from David Hoffman’s campaign, but I am waiting for the next battle. I picked my leader, who will you follow to make America better? Photo by Patrick McDonough
8 Replies to “David Hoffman: a special moment in Illinois history February 2, 2010”
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I want to thank you for your tireless dedication and hours spent volunteering in our effort to elect David Hoffman as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. Although we did not prevail, it is truly heartening to see such a fine group of people rally around a candidate like David Hoffman. Thank you to all who said yes when we asked. And asked again. And then one more time.
Those whose job it is to analyze the percentages in this race wonder how we came so close and I know a large part of the credit goes to those of you who stood out in the rain, then snow, and freezing cold to meet voters and spread the news of David’s candidacy. From the gathering of signatures for the petition drive to standing in the dark hours of the morning outside polling locations on February 2nd — and all the volunteer opportunities in between — you helped build a volunteer organization that was over a 1,000 strong at its finish and you should be proud.
I hope we have the opportunity to meet again on another campaign. We came together in the name of reform, integrity and honest, responsive government. So many voters learned about David Hoffman because of our efforts and I can only think that this is the beginning. See you soon.
Warmly,
Karen Nystrom
Director of Volunteering
Any chance of a challenge since neither candidate got 50 %? and I worked in a polling place where once again the tenants had Bren coached to vote for specific candidates. Maybe a 2nd chance could shift other candidate votes. Just insulting to have a thug on the ticket running against a warped Republican
Wow Pat once again your public support doomed every candidate…Hoffman, Terry O’brian and that judge Burrell. You should have earned after losses in the suburban election last year or 2 years ago.
If you really want to see Daley loose in 2011 you should come out and support him.
By the was what about that $250 donation to made to Hoffman campaign? (Response) I provide a show for FREE for all candidates you turkey. Quite Frankly, some other people charge money and do not pay taxes on the income. Every candidate is welcome on my show you bankrupt loser. I also had preckwinkle you dummy. I did not have Hoffman but I did try. Chicago Clout members gave thousands of dollars to Hoffman. We want honest people in government. I give money to those with a moral compass. I do not give money because I want something in return. People are losing their houses thank to the goverment leadership.
IT WAS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO CAMPAIGN FOR YOU . I HOPE TO DO THE SAME WHEN YOU RUN FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO . (GOD BLESS)
Mayor David Hoffman. It would be a cake walk!!!!!!
So when you give money it is a donation? Any other City employee makes a donation you call it bribe or did you bribe Hoffman? (Response) I will explain this in court so all of you understand.
February 6, 2010
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
On more than one occasion during his campaign for the U.S. Senate, voters told David Hoffman he was running for the “wrong office” — the “right” one being mayor of Chicago.
The question now is whether Mayor Daley’s former corruption-fighting inspector general will parlay his strong second-place finish behind Alexi Giannoulias into a campaign for mayor next year.
The day after the election, an exhausted Hoffman refused to comment on his political future.
“I’m just focused on taking a break and spending time with my family. I’m not really thinking much beyond the next few weeks,” said Hoffman, 42.
Attorney Patrick Collins, who served with Hoffman in the U.S. attorney’s office and again on the Illinois Reform Commission, has his doubts.
“He just spent a million bucks of his own money and put his family through a real difficult journey,” he said.
Mayor Daley, who has not yet decided whether to seek a seventh term, sounded a bit defensive when asked whether he was impressed with Hoffman’s maiden political voyage. The former inspector general earned the nickname “Abby Hoffman” for the bombs he threw at the mayor’s office.
“Everybody worked hard. … Everybody did a good job. … I don’t know why you pick one person. Why is that? I know. You’re friends with him,” Daley told a reporter.
Asked whether he’s concerned about Hoffman running for mayor, Daley said, “I don’t know. I don’t know why you’re asking about him. Boy, you’re really good friends with him.”
The mayor’s comments unmasked a sore point in the Daley camp: that Hoffman used the power Daley gave him to embarrass the mayor, “create a platform to run for office out of City Hall” and become a media darling.
“This guy has never had a bad story yet. Not even when he did bulls— investigations that never went anywhere,” said a mayoral insider, who asked to remain anonymous.
“He did pretty well [in finishing a strong second to Giannoulias]. But only because he’s never been in a fight, you guys keep touting him and he hasn’t done enough to warrant any negative stories.”
In a Democratic primary that drew a record-low 26 percent city turnout, Hoffman won 15 wards and 96,040 votes — 29.3 percent of the citywide total. His reform credentials helped him sweep the north lakefront wards. He also captured the 1st, 32nd, 35th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd and 50th Wards.
That’s a base to build on against a mayor with a 35 percent approval rating and an anti-incumbent leaning electorate livid about the parking meters mess, the Olympic flame-out and City Hall corruption scandals.
But even if Hoffman gets enough of a protest vote to force Daley into his first-ever runoff, the former inspector general is unlikely to be the guy in second place in a race almost certain to include an African-American candidate.
“It isn’t about winning. It’s about getting to the runoff,” the Daley adviser said.
“If Hoffman and three or four others do decently, maybe they keep Daley from 51 percent. But you end up with Daley and the black candidate in the runoff. I can’t see it being David Hoffman. It’s much more complicated with a semi-unknown without a big base. That’s not the scenario that gives someone a base to beat Daley.”
Charles Thomas
A Chicago City Council committee will consider an ordinance that will allow the inspector general to investigate aldermen. Mayor Daley is seeking to give the inspector general more power. What do aldermen think of the proposal?
Right now, as written by the Daley administration, this ordinance appears to have little chance of passing the City Council. Many aldermen say they simply will never trust an investigator appointed by the mayor.
Most City Council members ABC 7 interviewed agree: No inspector general appointed by Mayor Daley should have investigative power over the aldermen.
“I think those of us who disagree with the mayor, our staffs and ourselves would be subject to harassment,” said Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th Ward.
Earlier this week, the mayor, who appoints the IG to four-year terms, recommended his investigative powers be expanded to include patronage hiring abuses and the city’s 50 aldermanic offices.
“I think, after the Carothers issue, people are losing confidence in government,” said Mayor Daley.
Isaac Carothers, the 29th Ward alderman, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges last week and became the 29th council member to face a similar fate since the early 1970s.
Nonetheless, Aldermen Bernie Stone trusts the feds to investigate his colleagues more than he would an IG appointed by Daley/
“A member of the executive branch should not be investigating the council. It could be used as a political tool against the council,” said Ald. Bernie Stone, 50th Ward.
“I don’t have the political power to conduct political witch hunts. I don’t have that. The inspector general has the independence and power to deal with investigations,” Mayor Daley said.
The 33rd Ward’s Dick Mell says he might go along with the mayor’s plan if the aldermen helped select the IG.
“If there is a way of having a joint aldermanic hand in a mayoral appointee or something like that, we can look at,” said Mell.
But, Alderman Joe Moore, who introduced a similar measure to increase the IG’s power last year, notes that the Daley plan does not an increase in funding for the IG’s office.
“So, without those additional resources, it’s really an empty gesture,” said Ald. Joe Moore, 49th Ward.
In other action Wednesday morning, council members approved an ordinance to stop aldermen from hiring relatives using a secret finance committee account.