If you can't beat 'em...

The Machine backed State Representative Woody Bowman for re-election to one of two legislative spots in 1978 because it knew it couldn’t beat him.  He had defeated one of its candidates in the previous election and it wanted his name to appear on its sample ballot.

To punish him for maintaining his Independent organization, though, it threw William Cargerman into the race. The former leader of the Jewish War Veterans had no chance to win but 48th Ward Democratic Committeeman Martin Tuchow supported him anyway in his small part of the district.

Most precinct captains in the other wards campaigned only for State Representative Michael Brady. But they pitched both slated candidates – Brady and Bowman – in Bowman’s strongest areas.