Oops! Wrong party

So, Harlib didn’t win and here’s what happened next.

GOP Committemen met to name a replacement for Sandquist, just as the law had intended, and the leading contender was Ronald Smith, who had been backed by Republicans when he won the district in the Con-Con election the previous year. He enjoyed the support of Alderman John Hoellen, the 47th Ward Republican Committeeman, who was a key party leader.

However, it was discovered that Smith had cast a Democratic primary ballot in 1968 (he wanted to vote for liberal candidate Eugene McCarthy for President). He was instantly cast aside by the Republicans, and Charles Fleck, 33rd Ward GOP Committeeman, was chosen, instead. Smith switched parties and ran for office three times as a Democrat.