Mayoral election less than 11 months away. Anybody want to take on Morrissey?
40 comments May 13th, 2008
Alright, it’s less than 11 months until Rockford’s mayoral election, but when I ask around about who might challenge independent Larry Morissey for mayor (I’m assuming he’s running for a second term) I don’t get much but shrugs for answers.
Let’s get the ball rolling. Here are some people who I think would make good candidates, although I have no idea whether they’d actually run:
Ald. Doug Mark, R-3rd; Ald. Nancy Johnson, D-8th, Ald. Carl Wasco, D-4th, Ald. Joe Sosnowski, R-1st.
You’d also have to put state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, on the list, although I’m not sure why he’d want to take on a “buck stops here” type of job.
According to people who do polling for both parties, Morrissey’s favorability ratings remain high, riverwalk or no riverwalk. But if we have a third “100 year flood,” or the potholes next spring are as bad as this year’s, all bets are off.
Will Doug Scott abandon the Blago ship and come home to run for mayor? Stranger things have happened, but I doubt it. It might make more sense for Scott, who was an effective state rep, run for state Senate in 2010. The 34th district, which Syverson represents, is equally balanced between Dems and Repubs; in fact Dems argue it leans their way.
Airport board chairman Mike Dunn would also be a good candidate, but under which banner would he run? A lifelong Republican and friend of former Gov. James R. “Big Jim” Thompson, , political switch-hitter Dunn is Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s biggest fan in Rockford, because Durbin, assisted by U.S. Rep. Don Manzulo, R-Egan, has been remarkably successful in bringing federal tax dollars back to Rockford. If Dunn ran as a Democrat, he’d likely have Durbin’s support. But Dunn tells me he’s not running.
I don’t see how an overt Republican spouting rhetoric from the Heritage Foundation has any chance of becoming Rockford mayor. The GOP had its last, best shot in 2001 when businessman/humanitarian Dennis Johnson nearly beat Doug Scott in a four-way race.
There’s talk from time to time that former police chief Jeff Nielsen might run for mayor, I suppose as a Democrat. But he always looks as if he’s about to blow a gasket.
Frankly, I don’ think there are enough Republicans in Rockford to elect a mayor who ran as a partisan GOP candidate. But a Republican who ran an inclusive campaign, someone like Mark, for instance, could have a chance to win.
Who are some people you’d like to see as mayoral candidates?
