When it comes to Chicago politics, it's hard to find someone more knowledgable than Russ Stewart. It's even harder to outguess his predictions.
Below we include Mr. Stewart's predications, along with Jay Stone's and AlderTrack's:
2nd Ward
Russ Stewart: "In a turnout of 7,200, Fioretti will win with 60 percent"
Jay Stone: "Fioretti got more votes in the first round--he's going to win"
AlderTrack: "Haithcock by a nose"
3rd Ward
Russ Stewart: "In a turnout of 7,000, Dowell will win 55 percent"
Jay Stone: "Tillman only beat Dowell by about 400 votes in the first round. Dowell's going to win"
AlderTrack: "With the help of the Bolsheviks SEIU, Dowell will cruise to an easy victory"
15th Ward
Russ Stewart: N/A
Jay Stone: "There's no incumbent. So go with whoever got the most votes in the first round. Foulkes got 2,037, Simmons-Stovall 1,603--it's Foulkes"
AlderTrack: "This ward is too hard to crack, even after the general election reduced the number of candidates from twelve to two. Jay Stone's logic is sound: Score another ward for the SEIU"
16th Ward
Russ Stewart: "She [Coleman] will lose the runoff"
Jay Stone: "Thompson got more votes, Thompson will win"
AlderTrack: "With apologies to Sheb Wooley, 'It was an S-E-I-U giant purple incumbent eater'"
18th Ward
Russ Stewart: N/A
Jay Stone: "Lane won by almost 3,000 votes. No way Stewart's going to win"
AlderTrack: "Wednesday, March 28th is the last day for aldermanic candidates to withdraw from the race. Expect Paul Stewart to do so."
**UPDATE** Chicago Tribune reports here that Paul Stewart has dropped out of the 18th Ward aldermanic race (03-25-07)
21st Ward
Russ Stewart: "Brookins will win with 54 percent"
Jay Stone: "Brookins had a 1,600 vote margin. I go with Brookins"
AlderTrack: "Brookins will get more than 60%"
24th Ward
Russ Stewart: "Dixon is backed by [Jesse] Jackson and, more importantly, by State Senator James Meeks (D-15), pastor of the state's largest church. Dixon will win"
Jay Stone: "It was a 1,345 margin for Chandler--I go with Chandler"
AlderTrack: "I predict the Chicago Police Department will have a heavy presence to prevent another assault. It's too early to tell which way this ward will go. Check back later and, hey -- let's be careful out there"
32nd Ward
Russ Stewart: "Unless Daley invades the ward with his workers, Waguespack will win -- and will be an anti-Daley alderman"
Jay Stone: "Ted beat Scott by 608. That's close to being in the challenger-can-win category. I take Scott"
AlderTrack: "Like Alderman Elect Brendan Reilly's campaign team, Waguespack's team is focused, energetic, and hard-working. Alderman Matlak's organization is solid, well-funded, and he'll receive a lot of outside help leading up to election day. This one might be the closest race of all, and it's Waguespack by a nose"
35th Ward
Russ Stewart: "Alderman Rey Colon faces former Alderman Vilma Colom. The HDO will come to his rescue."
Jay Stone: "Rey had 3,041 votes, Vilma 2,220. That's 820 different--I think Rey's going to hold on."
AlderTrack: "A lot of 35th Ward voters like Vilma Colom. More don't. Colon wins handily."
43rd Ward
Russ Stewart: "The mayor cannot let her [Vi Daley] lose."
Jay Stone: "I gotta go with Vi Daley; she run the first round by over 1,300 votes."
AlderTrack: "Vi Daley wins, but not by a lot."
49th Ward
Russ Stewart: "The mayor will try to beat him [Ald. Joe Moore]."
Jay Stone: "Joe will win, since he won the first round by 1,500 or so."
AlderTrack: (see below)
50th Ward
Russ Stewart: "Daley cannot let him [Ald. Berny Stone] lose."
Jay Stone: "My dad won by over 2,000 votes. They're not going to beat my dad. You can book it."
AlderTrack: "It's too early to call either the 49th or 50th. Both incumbents may be in trouble here, Ald. Stone more so than Ald. Moore. Check back the week before election day."
