O’Shea party site upsets opponents

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Some opponents of Matt O’Shea in the aldermanic race in Chicago’s 19th Ward wonder why his Election Night party won’t be held in the city.

O’Shea’s bash starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park.

That’s not right, candidate Ray Coronado said.

“If you’re running for office in the city of Chicago, why not have your party in the city? You should have it so the tax money goes to the city,” he said.

Coronado will hold his party at his home in the 10000 block of Bell Avenue.

“We’ll buy food at Jewel and have food here all day. We’ll get beverages from Town Liquors. And we’ll get some pizzas later from Bella’s, that new place by the train station on 95th Street. He’s struggling a bit, and I want to help out the local guy,” Coronado said.

That sounds good to another candidate, Anne Schaible, whose party will be at her campaign office, 10319 Kedzie Ave.

“My platform has always been buy local, eat local, shop local, think local,” Schaible said.

“We will order boxed lunches from a local deli in the ward. If you don’t put your money where your mouth is, it’s meaningless. We want the tax dollars to be spent here.”

Candidate Phil Sherlock will have his party at his campaign office, 3752 W. 111th St.

“Grass roots, you know? Maybe a couple barrels of beer, some pizzas, stuff like that,” Sherlock said.

O’Shea, the 19th Ward Democratic committeeman and favorite in the race, was not available for comment Friday, but spokeswoman Maura Bruton called the complaints “pretty silly.

“With a few days left, we’d rather talk about the issues, not about where a party is.”

O’Shea opted for 115 Bourbon Street because it has the space he needs, Bruton said.

“We mailed invitations to more than 2,000 people who’ve helped this campaign,” she said. “One of Matt’s fundraisers had more than 1,200 people show up. We’re not sure how many will show up Tuesday night, but we want to be able to accommodate them.”

O’Shea has had events and fundraisers throughout the 19th Ward, she said, adding that his opponents’ complaints about the party location are “a desperate attempt to draw attention away from the issues.”

But she couldn’t resist noting that Schaible’s medical practice is not in the 19th Ward but in Evergreen Park.