An honest loss?

Grassroots political activist Patrick Murphy bypassed the 1974 Democratic primary election and ran for state representative as an “Independent” in the November general election.

Three state reps were elected from each district back then and the major parties only nominated two each, thus guaranteeing both of them at least one legislator in every district in the state.

Murphy knew he had no chance of winning the primary, but there were so few Republicans in his district that he thought an Independent might be able to outpoll a GOP candidate for the third seat.

Alderman Vito Marzullo, the 25th Ward Democratic Committeeman, bragged that he often threw a few votes “over there” (to the Republican candidate) to ensure the victory of someone who would vote his way on matters he considered important.

Still, he assured Murphy, “I won’t do anything to hurt you.”

He didn’t have to. Machine Democrats held a huge majority in the district, and Murphy lost. It wasn’t even close.