"Did you spend any money?"

It was my third volunteer political gig and I carried my precinct. The candidate was 50th Ward Alderman Jack Sperling, who was elected to a fifth term.

When I arrived at headquarters after the polls closed, I was called to the front of the room and sat down at a table facing Herb Muehl, the campaign manager, who later became Ward Committeeman.

When I turned in my election materials, he asked, “Did you spend any money?”

On what, I wondered. Apparently, he was going to reimburse me for my expenses, but I didn’t have any.

“No,” I answered.

He just looked at the vote totals, told me that Sperling had lost the precinct in all four of his previous elections, and thanked me for my efforts.  I was never asked about money again. Independents rarely spent money on Election Day activities, and if they did, they didn’t expect to be reimbursed.