BRIDGEPORT — A political mystery is unfolding on the streets of Bridgeport.
Fliers depicting 11th Ward aldermanic Patrick D. Thompson and his high-profile relatives — former Mayor Richard M. Daley and Richard J. Daley — have been attached to light posts on Morgan Street.
The fliers contain the slogan "Community of the Future" followed by a large question mark, suggesting the neighborhood's legacy as the epicenter of Daley politics — a flashpoint in the upcoming aldermanic election — isn't quite over yet.
The signs were first spotted early Wednesday. So far, no one has taken credit for posting them and Thompson's campaign rivals deny they're involved.
Casey Cora says the signs may be an attack on Thompson, but it could go both ways:
The slogan is a reference to the nickname given the neighborhood by Ed Marszewski, co-founder of Maria's Community Bar and owner of Marz Community Brewing. Marszewski, publisher of several independent art and culture magazines, said the phrase is "a not-so-tongue-in-cheek reference to the burgeoning art and music scenes in Bridgeport."
Marszewski, a Thompson supporter, said he had "no idea" who posted the signs and wasn't at all angry someone co-opted the adage for political purposes.
Thompson, a lobbyist and attorney elected in 2012 as commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, threw his hat into the ring in August after longtime alderman Jim Balcer's sudden announcement that he wouldn't seek re-election.
To political observers, Thompson's candidacy has been viewed as the next logical chapter in the Daley family's storied political legacy.
He lives in his grandfather Richard J. Daley's old bungalow at 35th Street and Lowe Avenue, shares office space in the 11th Ward Democratic headquarters with both Balcer and his uncle, Cook County Commissioner John Daley.
On his website and campaign literature, Thompson has dropped the "Daley" middle name, instead opting for an initial.
Still, those family ties have also been at the heart of the campaign for Maureen Sullivan, a progressive candidate who's blasted the Daleys' "old-boy leadership" in her stump speeches and called for a drastic overhaul of ward politics.
Rob Warmowski, a spokesman for Sullivan, said the Sullivan campaign wasn't responsible for the fliers but they "do remember when Patrick Daley Thompson's political ally and office-mate Alderman Jim Balcer made national news by having Gabriel Villa's mural sandblasted off of a private wall in 2009.
That controversy stemmed over Balcer’s decision to have the city’s Streets and Sanitation Department blast away a mural depicting Chicago police cameras, skulls and a crucifix. Balcer called the imagery “threatening.” The mural was commissioned as part of Version Fest, the annual weeklong art festival spearheaded by Marszewski.
"We think people are right to wonder about our ward's old-boy leadership and its commitment to free expression and to a better community," he said in a statement.
John Kozlar, another candidate for the 11th ward seat, distanced himself further from the fliers. He said he hadn't seen them and couldn't comment, except to say "I'm not into this negative campaigning."
A spokesman for the Thompson campaign said they were made aware of the signs after being contacted by DNAinfo Chicago.
"This is going to be a campaign about ideas and the future of the ward, not about name calling and mudslinging," said Dave Bayless.
The trio has been invited to speak at a pair of upcoming candidate forums, including a Jan. 21 event in Canaryville and a Jan. 25 event at First Lutheran Church of the Trinity in Bridgeport.
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