Just a few years ago, the 36th Ward Democrats were an important cog in Mayor Richard M. Daley’s machine who essentially enjoyed control over Chicago’s real estate boom.
After Tuesday’s election, though, the once-formidable patronage army no longer could claim even the alderman’s seat in the middle-class ward on the western edge of the city. Nicholas Sposato, a firefighter who has railed against the ward bosses for years, unseated Ald. John Rice, a lifelong organization loyalist, in the biggest upset of the City Council runoff election.
Unlike other defeated candidates, Rice offered no congratulations to his foe on Wednesday in his first public comments since the polls closed.
“It’s a sad day for the people of the 36th Ward, because the people have no idea what they just did to themselves,” Rice said, alleging that the ward would suffer because Sposato does not understand the inner workings of local government – and does not know the major players at City Hall – as well as he does.
Rice is a protégé of the former alderman and veteran Democratic committeeman William J.P. Banks, best known for his 20 years as chairman of the council’s Zoning Committee, starting from the time Daley took office in 1989.
In that capacity, Banks oversaw the city’s historic housing boom and the overhaul of the zoning code, but he gained notoriety as his family profited from his zoning panel’s eagerness to approve new real estate projects. His late brother, Sam Banks, and nephew, James Banks, ran the busiest zoning law practice in Chicago, winning approval from the zoning committee for hundreds of plans put forward by developers.
Banks resigned as alderman in 2009, and Daley honored his request to appoint Rice – who was his driver – to complete his term. The succession plan worked smoothly until Sposato forced a runoff by finishing second and keeping Rice short of a majority in the February election.
Banks did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.
Sposato had failed in his attempt to unseat Banks in 2007. The odds against him also appeared to be high in Tuesday’s runoff, given that Rice won 48 percent in the six-way, first-round voting compared to Sposato’s 24 percent.
Sposato said he too did not think he would win when he saw that the turnout was low, a trend that historically favors organization candidates with legions of campaign workers to get out their vote.
Rice’s campaign committee received donations of more than $139,000 since July, with Banks contributing $27,500 and $10,000 from former state Sen. James DeLeo, another prominent ward Democrat. Sposato had less than $48,000 in his campaign coffers, including $20,000 of his own money.
Still, Sposato captured 56 percent of the vote on Tuesday.
“People are tired of machine politics in the ward,” Sposato said. “They just wanted a little more openness. They didn’t want this guy rammed down their throats.
“Obviously, it doesn’t look too good for the 36th Ward Democratic Organization. [Rice] was their guy.”
Rice also was Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s guy in the race. The 36th Ward is in Emanuel’s old congressional district, and the ward Democrats aided his first U.S. House campaign in 2002. The CNC reported last year that 36th Ward Democratic loyalists collected nominating signatures for Emanuel’s mayoral bid.
But Rice ended up as the only one of the 10 Emanuel-endorsed runoff candidates who did not receive any help from the New Chicago Committee, a political fund formed to help the mayor-elect’s council allies.
Rice said Wednesday he had no hard feelings toward Emanuel.
“I had the money to run my own campaign,” Rice said. “I didn’t need his money. It’s not Rahm Emanuel’s fault. Rahm Emanuel has been very supportive. He will be a great mayor.”
Rice saved his anger for the city’s political reporters as well as Sposato.
Shortly before Daley appointed Rice to the council, the Chicago Tribune reported that Rice displayed a Fraternal Order of Police medallion and sticker on his car even though he is not a police officer, which is illegal. After being confronted about his use of the insignia, Rice quickly removed them from the car that he had used to shuttle Banks as his driver. The police union endorsed Sposato.
Rice also organized a retirement party for Banks in 2009 and asked invitees to write $200 checks to Banks. The party was called off after it became fodder for more negative press.
“You guys in the media want to control it, and now you guys have, so I hope you guys are happy, because this is because of stuff you write, the lies and innuendos you write, and the stuff they put on TV, and it’s misconstrued,” Rice said Wednesday. “You guys as little news reporters are very happy to control Chicago politics. Have a ball with it.”
During the runoff campaign, Rice filed a lawsuit against Sposato after the challenger called on federal authorities to investigate alleged ties between the ward organization and organized crime figures. Sam Banks, who was a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in the ward organization until he died a year ago, was a criminal defense lawyer with mob-linked clients.
“You have a gentleman who is elected because he lied to the people about mob stuff that has nothing to do with me,” Rice said of Sposato.
Rice began his political career when he was a boy, tagging along with his father as he made his rounds of the neighborhood as a 36th Ward Democratic precinct captain. He inherited the post when he turned 18 and steadily worked his way up the organization’s ranks, driving the alderman between City Hall and his office in a ward studded with Italian delis and cafes.
After the blizzard in February, Rice boasted that his clout at City Hall helped procure snow removal for the ward’s streets and alleys while less politically powerful aldermen waited for help. On Wednesday, he said Sposato would not be able to get city workers to do the same sorts of favors on behalf of the ward.
“He has no friends,” Rice said. “These are people I’ve worked with for 20 years. They’re friends of mine, and we have all worked together at some point throughout the city. He doesn’t have those relationships. What is he going to do? Call the fire department to wash the streets down?”
Having read this story, I can’t imagine why anyone in the 36th wouldn’t have voted for John Rice. He sounds like such a decent, charming guy!
Seriously, good riddance to the Machine guys who have bullied ordinary citizens for so many years. Thanks largely to them, we have massive debt and no parking-meter revenue due for another 73 years.
Here’s hoping that our new Council and new mayor act at least somewhat more responsibly than the last.
The last two paragraphs detail exactly what’s wrong with the old guard in this city. Taxes should get us all services but people like Rice, Stone, Mell & Burke only care about alliances and favors.
Meanwhile we’re short 2000 cops, no real recycling and just look at the Metra or river bridges.
Favors, relationships and clout HAVEN’T fixed those to date!
“They’re friends of mine!”
John Rice is a sore loser and obviously has no class. He was voted out because Banks insulted the intelligence of the voters by getting Rice appointed. Don’t worry, John, some how we’ll get by.
What a d-bag. No class and total arrogance. Now he has to find a real job. Should not be hard with all of his “connections.”
I think Mr. Rice needs to read his statements out loud to himself before he makes them publicly. Why should ward services depend on “favors” or “relationships?” Aren’t public servants SUPPOSED to provide services to the people who pay their salaries? This kind of situation is what makes services delivered through a grid system look so attractive. I’d much rather call 311 than stand in line to talk to my Alderman one night to get services. Now, all Mayor-elect Emanuel needs to do is make sure the 311 system actually gets things done. I have been waiting since last September to have a tree trimmed to prevent it from hitting my new Pella windows during a storm. Maybe those workers were out doing favors for someone!
This article only serves to reinforce the decision of the voters in the 36th Ward to vote out John Rice. Congratulations to all the candidates who opposed him and for their support to Sposato in the run-off. After the primary, they thought about the good of the ward, not just about themselves. Mr. Rice obviously cannot find the grace to congratulate the winner and wish him well. Now everyone can better understand why we have a new alderman.
I was just tired of the closed door politics in the 36th Ward. The is a very paternalistic attitude at the ward office and do not look for any citizen input or involvement unless it is their handpicked people at the GMCO or park advisory council. It was time for a change. The people in the ward are changing demographically and they aren’t interested in the way things used to work.
Dear “Galewood”,
I just happened to read your comments and was deeply offended by your suggestion that the Park Advisory Council was “Handpicked” by the ward office. As President of the Advisory Council for the last 14 years, we have (or have had) no political interest. We are made up of a group, that until recently, was all women, who are mothers in the neighborhood, and wished to improve conditions in the park. We have implemented a free yoga class every Saturday, new equipment in the Park House, and many other fundraisers and events to benefit the neighborhood. Yes, we did ask for money from the then current alderman and his successor, which was a huge factor in our new playground. And we are in the process of asking Nick Sposato for help in securing funds for a mural under the train pass. We are trying to improve the neighborhood by any means necessary. If you have any questions regarding any of this, please call me directly or email me. Cindy Jewell 773-622-6440
Thank you.
I lost my job! Waaahh! You’ll be sorry! WAAAAHH! Get over your sense of entitlement. This guy treated the people in the 36th ward with nothing but contempt. Good riddance to Jabba The Alderman.
Shade of Blago. Seems as Rice considers himself just to the right of God. First, a great letter, right to the point. If Sposato won’t be able to do anything for the Ward, due to inexperience, he’ got company!! I think the City may be in trouble as there are 17 other NEW alderman and a NEW Mayor. (How are we going to survive without Rice???)
From my prosprctive, we lost a few alderman that should have retire years ago. Hopefully, the NEW alderman will now do their job and not be lead by the nose to slaughter (Along with the rest of the City)!!
People need to realize that “appointed” is different than “elected”. It’s clear that John Rice was the “acting” alderman. Quoting the above, “Banks resigned as alderman in 2009, and Daley honored his request to appoint Rice – who was his driver – to complete his term.”
All I can say is, “thank you” acting alderman John Rice for keeping the seat warm while the people of the ward “elected” your replacement Nicholas Sposato.
I sincerely hope Mayor Emmanuel has read Mr. Rice’s statements. As Alderman, it was your job!!! to assist the 36th ward with snow-removal,and other (as needed) city services. Doing this was your job,not a favor. Mr Rices post election rant illuminates everything that is wrong with Chicago city government.
It is views such as yours John Rice that explain why you were fired.
I don’t live in the 36th Ward. However, I wish that ALL of the existing aldermen would read this and realize how much they mirror Mr Rice.
It’s amazing how quickly they become just like Mr Rice…it happens in a couple of months.