Adduci and Shaw

9th Ward Alderman Alexander Adduci was defeated for re-election in 1979 by Robert Shaw in a racially changing, south side ward that included Roseland, West Pullman, Kensington, and the Altgeld Gardens CHA development.

Those who hailed the change soon realized that not much had really changed. Shaw, like Adduci, was a steadfast Machine follower. He generally voted with the Administration, was a vocal supporter of salary increases for Aldermen, and led an effort to scrap the city’s civil service system. He endorsed Jane Byrne for re-election in 1983.

He lost his seat that year, as mayoral candidate Harold Washington trounced Byrne in the ward and swept Shaw’s opponent to victory.

The 9th was one of several wards where the Machine candidate was beaten by somebody who may not have been much different than the person who was there before.

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