Switching positions

Switching positions, not political sides, was often more successful.

50th Ward Alderman Bernard Stone voted for every tax increase proposed by the city administration during his first ten years in the Chicago City Council. He supported the proposed Chicago Worlds’ Fair and in 1983 criticized his opponent (me) for talking about citywide issues.

But after the election of Mayor Harold Washington, he reversed his positions, vocally opposing tax increases and becoming an outspoken critic of a World’s Fair in Chicago.

He went out of his way to call attention to his opposition to the Mayor and his Council allies, at one point addressing diminutive Alderman Luis Gutierrez as, “you little pipsqueak.”

Stone simply read the results. Washington received only 6% of the primary election vote in the 50th ward (I won 43% of the Aldermanic vote on that same day) and 18% of the general election vote.

The Alderman was elected six more times before losing to the wife of the Democratic Ward Committeeman.