By Ben Joravsky
Twenty years ago it would have been unthinkable for Schulter or any other regular Democrat to challenge Kelly for control of the 47th, a northwest-side ward that includes most of Ravenswood and North Center. Back then, Kelly was among the most powerful politicians in the Cook County Democratic organization. Mayor Richard J. Daley had handpicked him to run the Park District and also asked him to take over the 47th. “The ward was run by Republicans in those days and Mayor Daley asked me to build a local Democratic Party,” says Kelly. “I wasn’t going to do it, but he asked me so I did. I loved that man–I loved him to the day he died.”
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Kelly hammered together a machine stocked with dozens of disciplined patronage workers who brought out the vote. By and large he’s been a benevolent boss, sponsoring dances and parties for senior citizens and youth basketball and baseball leagues in Welles Park. Almost every Democratic officeholder on the north side, not just the 47th Ward, owes him a debt. Schulter is no exception. “I remember Gene coming in for a job–he wanted to be a precinct captain,” says Kelly. “That was sometime in the early 70s, I guess. I put him to work at Welles Park as a janitor. Then I put him over in the assessor’s office.”
By then much had changed in politics and his ward. A series of antipatronage court rulings had loosened his hold over city workers; demographically, his ward was becoming more like a north lakefront district. The new home owners–a wealthier, more highly educated bunch–either had never heard of Kelly or held him in contempt for his role in Council Wars.
In November Schulter decided it was time to take over. “He called me up and said he had to meet with me,” says Kelly. “We met at the Zephyr restaurant over on Wilson and he asked me why wouldn’t I turn over the baton to him. That’s the word he used, baton. I told him Bob Dole was 75 when he wanted to run for president. ‘What makes you think 75 is too old to be committeeman? My health is excellent. I’m at the ward office every day.’”
It’s not certain what voters will make of this showdown, which one politician calls “Shakespearean, the son turning on his father.” Many new residents will probably vote for Schulter because he’s got a familiar name. Still, Kelly’s hoping to make inroads with voters disgruntled over rampant development. (“I support the Davis [movie theater] 100 percent,” says Kelly. “I won’t let it become residential.”) He also has a strong base among seniors, as indicated by the big turnout for last week’s Christmas party.
