What happens when two different delegate slates get filed for the same candidate in the same district? That`s the situation in the 7th Congressional District, where it appears that campaign honchos for Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson decided to get even with Ald. Bill Henry, the 24th Ward Democratic committeeman. Henry, who crossed Jackson by supporting Gene Sawyer`s election as mayor, reportedly was told to recruit other Dem committeemen in the district for the Jackson slate, and did. But while he was laid up in the hospital having heart surgery, Jackson campaign manager Gerald Austin put together his own slate, which includes but one committeeman from the predominantly black 7th district: the 29th Ward`s Danny Davis. Some political wags say the two slates are another example of disorganization and confusion in the Jackson camp, but it sounds more like simple revenge to INC. MOM, APPLE PIE . . .
. . . and lower utility bills? We`re all for democracy, but is there any way anyone would answer ”No” to this question? An advisory referendum that will appear on the March 15 ballot in the 47th Ward reads: ”Should the City of Chicago actively pursue all options which would give residents and business cheaper electric rates, including the possibility of ending the Commonwealth Edison monopoly?” The loaded question is the work of the Coalition for Lower Electric Rates, and it includes the backing of Josh Hoyt, the district`s representative of the Citizens Utility Board, Edison`s chief antagonist.
CITY HALL LOWDOWN . . .
– Robert Threatte, who was fired from his Department of Aviation commissioner job the day Mayor Harold Washington died, is now a deputy commissioner in the newly created General Services Department.
– Mayor Sawyer has let Tim Wright, formerly of intergovernmental affairs and now a special counsel to the mayor, know that he can stay on at City Hall- perhaps as a department head-if he gets knocked off the ballot for state representative. Wright`s petitions are being challenged on the basis of residency.
DO AS I SAY . . .
. . . not as I do? Cook County Democratic Chairman George Dunne is threatening his committeemen with banishment if they dare to support candidates other than those endorsed by the party in the March primary. But in 1984, Dunne supported Paul Simon`s primary bid for the U.S. Senate over that of the party`s endorsed candidate, Senate President Phil Rock of Oak Park. Dunne told INC. that maverick play was different because he didn`t play a roll in that slatemaking. Oh.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL DIRT . . .
The Democratic presidential candidates-including Gary Hart-will face off together Friday for the Des Moines Register debate, moderated by Gov. Jim Thompson. And political insiders are putting their money on former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt as the guy who will come out swinging at Hart. Why?
Babbitt`s got the most to gain from the publicity of taking on Hart. The only guy doing worse in the Iowa polls is Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee who folded his Iowa operation some time ago. Hart`s Illinois campaign expects to raise enough money to pay for office space. They`ll open a headquarters next week at 222 W. Adams St.
GOPERS ON PARADE . . .
Word is that if Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens wants the late Elmer Conti`s seat as Leyden Township Republican committeeman, County GOP Chairman Don Totten would be nuts to not give it to him. Stephens is known for his money-raising ability, and Totten`s always crying about being broke.
– After Al Jourdan was elected Republican state party chief Friday, he huddled with Gov. Thompson`s patronage chief, Gene Reineke, and Downstate Republican boss Bill Cellini to try to figure out how to retire the party`s $220,000 debt that accumulated under old party boss Doc Adams.
A FAMILY AFFAIR . . .
Television and film stars promoting a project often are accompanied by a group of ”hangers-on”: publicists, agents and managers. And Brother Rice High School alum John York, the star of Fox-TV`s ”Werewolf” series, was no exception when he was back in town for the holidays. But his group was his family-or at least part of it: his wife, his mom and dad (who have taken pictures of themselves with all of the ”Werewolf” billboards around town), his sister and a handful of nieces. It`s those people who help him keep his balance and his focus, especially since he`s the star of a series. For instance, his dad and brothers decided to give York a hard time about his
”hunk” poster, autographed with ”Where you go, I`ll be there.” So they put York`s dad in the same outfit and the same sitting pose-but behind a bathroom door. Then they had it blown up to poster size and signed it, ”Where you go, I`ve been there.”
AIR WAVES . . .
WBBM-AM`s Herb Howard, the afternoon traffic man for 10 years, was canned Friday. . . . Joliet`s WJTW-FM`s morning man, Bob Dunsworth, was having quiche delivered to the Washington Redskins as soon as they arrived in town for Sunday`s Bears game. . . . Former ”Good Morning, America” news correspondent Steve Bell recalled during an interview with Geraldo Rivera that will air Tuesday on ”Geraldo” the circumstances surrounding the day he did the first live satellite report ever from Vietnam to the United States. ”I was the only one who did not know a huge rat had wandered across the balcony and stood up on its hind legs to sniff my legs and then wandered off,” Bell said.
”Afterward, Ted Koppel said he couldn`t make up his mind to risk the show by warning me or risk the wrath of my wife by not warning me. He chose the show.”
INC.LINGS . . .
David E. Manning is leaving his post as legislative liaison for State Comptroller Roland Burris to become director of government relations for the Illinois Community Bankers Association. . . . Sunday birthdays: Rod Stewart, 43; Pat Benatar, 35; Gisele MacKenzie, 61; Richard Dotson, 29. . . . ”T.J. Hooker” star William Shatner has been signed for two days, Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, to appear at the Miller High Life World of Wheels Motor Sports Expo at McCormick Place.
