Dirty politics in 19th Ward? Mailing stirs controversy

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Charges of dirty politics surfaced in Chicago’s 19th Ward after campaign literature recently mailed to voters attacked an aldermanic candidate’s voting record.

The literature was not signed but was marked as “Paid for by the 19th Ward Democratic Organization.” Matt O’Shea is the Democratic committeeman in the ward, and he also is running for alderman.

The mailing criticized candidate Anne Schaible, indicating that she did not support Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and voted as a Republican in the 2008 primary election.

In the heavily Democratic 19th Ward, such accusations can be damaging, and Schaible and other aldermanic candidates believe the mailing was designed to discourage black voters from supporting her.

In an e-mailed statement, Schaible said she was “deeply troubled” over the literature’s message.

“When campaigns turn to negative and misleading tactics — especially those designed to incite racial tensions — we are taking steps backward, not forward. I am running a campaign focused on the issues. Mr. O’Shea clearly seems threatened by my candidacy,” Schaible said.

Candidate George Newell said he was “highly offended” by the mailing, questioning whether it was targeted to black neighborhoods in the 19th Ward.

“We (blacks) are far more intelligent and savvy to even fall for anything like that. This is basically telling African-American voters that if she didn’t vote for Obama, then don’t vote for her,” Newell said.

O’Shea spokeswoman Maura Bruton said it was “simply untrue” that the literature targeted black voters, adding it was sent to Schaible’s precinct and neighboring precincts. Bruton said voting records show Schaible took a Republican ballot in the 2008 primary.

“Anne Schaible is the Republican candidate in this election, and this piece would have gone out regardless of whether Matt O’Shea was running for alderman,” Bruton said. “This (criticism of the piece) is deflecting away from the issues.”

Aldermanic candidate Phil Sherlock questioned O’Shea’s campaign tactics.

“I think this comes down to a question of character,” Sherlock said. “Why didn’t Matt put his name on this? What message is he trying to deliver? I’m confused over what his message is, and wonder if he is trying to inject race into the campaign.”