Politics By ROBERT KIECKHEFER

Chicago's new mayor needs to refocus city politics

IN A SENSE, Harold Washington's narrow victory over Republican Bernard Epton marks the dropping of the other shoe. The first shoe, of course, fell when Washington knocked off Mayor Jane M. Byrne and State's Attorney Richard M. Daley in the Democratic party primary February 22. The primary results left a power vacuum which could be filled only with the election of a new mayor.

If either Byrne or Daley had won the Democratic nomination, they would have been certain of election and could have started right away cutting deals with Gov. James R. Thompson and the legislature. Since Washington's election was never certain because of his race — and because his own organization was so disorganized — he was not able to think much about governing the city, much less dealing with Springfield.

That will change, of course. Thompson realized that immediately and started negotiations with Washington the day after the election.

Revenue is the most important area for both Thompson and Washington. Thompson runs the risk of becoming a laughing stock if he can't push some version of his tax increase package through the legislature, a fact made clear by his recent agreement to make the increase temporary. Although he has never before directly signed onto a proposed tax increase, he is so closely identified with this one that its total failure would indicate his political impotence. And yet, through the first three months of the year, the plan appeared headed for total failure.

Washington also needs state tax increases, simply because the city of Chicago, its schools and its transportation system all are in desperate need of money.

If the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) does not get a state subsidy during the current session, it will have to raise fares substantially this summer. That would not please Washington's constituency which relies heavily on public transportation.

If the schools don't get money — and Thompson is talking about missing school aid payments if his tax plan dies — they may not be able to open in September. And that also would place a heavy burden on Chicago's black community.

And the city's own budget this year is patched together with millions of dollars in one-time revenue. If a replacement isn't found for next year, services will have to be cut.

If CTA fares go up, the schools don't open and city services are trimmed in his first year in office, Washington's chances for a successful term won't be very good.

So both Thompson and Washington have a big stake in passing some sort of substantial increase in taxes. The question then is what they can do about it.

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Obviously, the mere fact of Washington's election will be some help, simply because it will start to refocus the political power of Chicago which has had no focus at all since February 22 and little enough focus since December 1976. As Washington seizes the reins of power he can add some direction to the Democratic party's forces in the legislature.

Washington has a history of effective work as a legislator who is able to pass legislation and to reach compromises. He is an effective negotiator with the kind of warm, friendly personality that encourages the cooperation of others.

But he won't have an easy time of it. To some extent, the racial bitterness that haunted his election will dog his footsteps as he turns to Springfield. For example, the most powerful Democrat in the Capitol and a natural ally for the mayor of Chicago is Michael Madigan — a fair man and an astute politician who nevertheless will have a rough task convincing his constituents he should be working hand in hand with Washington.

Washington's election might also have a negative impact on some down-staters. Many lawmakers have said for years that their constituents despise the idea of sending their tax dollars to Chicago. In some cases, there has been a racial element to that feeling. And, to the extent it was already present, the racial element can only be reinforced by the election of a black mayor.

In larger terms, the impact of Washington's election on state politics will be determined by the kind of organization he puts together. If he can forge a strong, effective organization to replace the old Daley machine, he can keep the city an important factor in the the slow political dance involving Chicago, the suburbs and downstate.

But Washington is talking about forsaking the very glue he needs to hold the machine together — patronage. If he is serious about doing away with patronage, he will find it difficult, indeed, to pull together the coalition he needs to become the powerful and effective leader of the city. And without that kind of spokesman, times will be tough for a city that is losing population and needs ever more help from the state.□

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