The race is on — for the November election FOR AN election that was supposed to dull, the 1978 primary certainly held its share of excitement — and even a few suprises.
People said the Daley organization was on its way to extinction, with Daley dead the Democratic State Central Committee in disarray. Even with Mayor Richard J. Daley at the helm, they argued, the 1976 elections were a Democratic disaster. But this time around, the politicians forgot to read the (boring) script and the organization swept everything before it — from the state level to Cook County township committeeman races. For anyone watching the Chicago machine, it was anything but a dull election. The vote counting didn't exactly rival Sominex for Republicans, either. Gov. James R. Thompson had no opposition and stayed out of contests where he might have found himself aligned against any of the other state GOP powers — except in one case. Thomson put his prestige — and some money and personal appearances — on the line for John Castle in his race against W. Robert Blair(the former Illinois House speaker). Since the turnout was so low statewide — not even 20 per cent in some jurisdictions— it's not fair to conclude that Castle's narrow victory means Thompson has no "coattails." With Thompson unable to prove his value at the top of the ticket — and perrennial vote-getting juggernaut Atty. Gen. William J. Scott looking more and more like damaged goods because of the federal probe into his finances, the GOP "Big Three" is reduced to one — Sen. Charles H. Percy. The other major person in the Illinois GOP-former Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie -also took it on the chin March 21. Ogilvie's candidate for Cook County sheriff, his long-time aide and political wheelhorse Louis Kasper, suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of an assistant attorney general, Donald Mulack. Mulack campaigned, of all things, on an antipatronage platform— which means something for someone who is running for an office with about 3,000 jobs. The GOP also had a couple of fascinating Congressional contests, including the Anderson-Lyon race in the 16th District and the mad scramble to mount the 22nd District throne. The Republican right wing lost one of its major battles of the year in the 16th as incumbent John B. Anderson handily turned aside Lyon despite some outside intervention. But in the 22nd, Daniel B. Crane of Danville — brother of archconservative Philip M. Crane of Mount Prospect, won nomination. Incidentally, a lot of Eagle Forum and John Birch conservatives are still gnashing their teeth about the race that was never run — ERA opponent Phyllis Schlafly against Percy. Many would have preferred that race to the relatively obscure Anderson-Lyon fray. Indeed, an interesting day for the GOP, too — all things considered. So what does the primary portend for the general election? In broad strokes, there should be a light turnout which could again give the Chicago machine an undue amount of power (more than half the primary votes for comptroller were cast in Cook County); an interesting, television-oriented gubernatorial race, with Thompson facing the first real tough competition of his young political career; tight races at the bottom of the state ticket amid the usual apathy; and some tough legislative battles as the parties begin jockeying for the upper hand as another redistricting looms not too far down the line. Some specifics: Governor. Thompson starts as the obvious heavy favorite, enjoying not only the usual trappings of incumbency but the unusual bonus of a baby due only months before election day. But Comptroller Michael J. Bakalis, who handily swept up the Democratic nomination over eternal optimist Dakin Williams, already has two underdog victories to his credit. And if anyone on the state scene can outdo Thompson at projecting sincerity on the tube — it is Bakalis. Besides, even if Thompson wins by a normally reasonable margin, he will look bad by comparison with 1976, when he wiped out Michael J. Hewlett by some 1.4 million votes. U.S. Senate. It's hard to believe Percy could have much trouble winning a third term against Alex Seith, who produced a surprisingly strong showing against Anthony R. Martin-Trigona in the Democratic primary. On the other hand, pundits keep waiting for Percy's relatively moderate record to hurt him among the conservative element of the Illinois GOP, and the Panama Canal treaties might be the trigger that sets off that response. And, if machine voters go to the polls and downstaters stay home again . . . But get good odds if you bet against Chuck Percy. Attorney General. If Scott succeeds in convincing the grand jury now thumbing through his old checkbook stubs that he really has run his finances on the up-and-up, Democratic challenger Richard J. Troy will look pretty darn silly. Even though both ran unopposed in the primary, Troy shelled out some substantial money for television ads attacking Scott on the topic. If he's not indicted, Scott can turn the issue around and accuse Troy of jumping the gun on a federal probe — not a nice thing for a prospective attorney general to do. If he is indicted, don't look for Scott to give up his ballot slot willingly. Secretary of State. Alan Dixon always runs scared because he's a first-rate politician. This time he faces the only woman on the statewide ballot — Republican Sharon Sharp. He shouldn't have much trouble winning another term. Comptroller. Roland Burris, Dan Walker's general services director, takes on John Castle, who was Thompson's local government affairs director. The comptroller's independence from the governor's office will be the only issue — and it truly is an important one. As it has in the past two comptroller's races, the public will yawn. Burris would be the first black elected to statewide office. Treasurer. Democrat Jerome Cosentino against Republican James Skelton. No matter who wins this one, the same guy will continue to run the office — Don Smith. He's been doing the job for years without much public notice. He's also the incumbent, thanks to Dixon's resignation to take the secretary of state's job and Thompson's appointment power. The job shouldn't be an elected one in the first place. May 1978/ Illinois Issues /33
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