Flip-flopping

It happens all the time in politics. But this one was a little bit odd.

Bernard Stone, the Machine candidate in the 50th Ward Aldermanic election in 1973, supported construction of a bridge over the North Shore Channel at Pratt Ave.

Ted Berland, his Independent challenger (endorsed by IVI) supported it, too.

Ray Cohen, another Independent (endorsed by IPO), announced opposition to the bridge. Berland then changed positions and opposed it, too.

Cohen, finding that most ward residents who did not live near Pratt Ave. favored the bridge, changed his position and came out in favor of it. Berland switched again.

Now, all three major candidates were in favor of the bridge.

The flipping, not the bridge construction, became the issue. Stone criticized Berland for his flips. He didn’t say anything about Cohen because he felt Berland was the more potent challenger.