BRIDGEPORT — All that matters now are the votes.
Fresh and familiar politicos are squaring off in three aldermanic races that will determine who represents a big chunk of Chicago's South Side at City Hall.
If no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will square off in a runoff on April 7.
Here's a rundown on three key South Side ward races in play Tuesday.
11th Ward
Three candidates are running to replace Ald. James Balcer (11th), who is retiring.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Patrick Daley Thompson, nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley; law student John Kozlar; and community activist Maureen Sullivan are all vying for Balcer's City Council seat.
A poll earlier this month showed Thompson had the lead in the race at 37.3 percent, but nearly 30 percent of poll respondents were undecided.
Later tonight, Sullivan will host supporters from 7 to 9 p.m. at her campaign office, 3440 S. Morgan St. Kozlar is throwing a watch party beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Fabulous Freddie's Italian Eatery, 701 W. 31st St.
Thompson is not hosting a watch party.
The 11th Ward includes Bridgeport, Canaryville, East Pilsen and University Village.
So far, just one reported incident on Election Day: The Chicago Board of Elections said Tuesday night that an 11th Ward election judge, Jerri S. Winters, was removed from a precinct for actions including "confronting an individual in the polling place with what appeared to be pepper spray."
Winters also was accused of destroying campaign materials, leaving the polling place without other judges' consent, and other "inappropriate behavior."
Only 145 out of 877, or less than 17 percent, of registered voters had cast ballots by 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Club, 2724 S. Union Ave. The figure does not include an estimated 200 ballots cast before Election Day.
Kozlar coincidentally appeared at the precinct at the same time as a DNAinfo reporter, saying his campaign felt "really confident" heading into the homestretch of the 11th Ward race.
Still, he was hoping a turn in the weather Tuesday afternoon would yield more voters before polls close.
"Good thing the sun came out," Kozlar said. "Hopefully we'll get a last-minute push."
Alex Colston, 23, has been living in Bridgeport ever since he moved to Chicago six years ago and was sipping coffee Tuesday afternoon at Jackalope Coffee & Tea House, 755 W. 32nd St.
Colston works part-time at Jackalope, but also directs programming for Benton House, a century-old neighborhood social service agency at 3052 S. Gratten Ave.
Because of his job, Colston said he sees both sides of a developing Bridgeport. He agrees with each 11th Ward candidate's platform to bring more retailers to South Halsted Street and build up the community, but not at the cost of Bridgeport's "historical integrity" or driving out existing residents.
"It's an uncomfortable trade-off," Colston said. "Regardless of who wins, (he/she) shoud put substance behind the rhetoric of adding businesses and carefully invest in the neighborhood."
Colston said he voted for Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) for mayor to force incumbent Rahm Emanuel into a run-off election. He declined to disclose who received his aldermanic vote.
Also at Jackalope was Melissa Hynds, a married woman who has spent the last 15 years living in Bridgeport then Canaryville, respectively. She pushed for a new neighborhood school, but also advocated for more Halsted retail, saying too often she is forced to shop in the South Loop or the city's North Side.
"When we first moved here we thought it would pop, and it took 10 years and it's still not all the way there," she said.
Hynds said she voted for Kozlar because of his work with the Canaryville Little League.
"He's not a Daley, not an insider," she said. "He's a fresh face and a decent human being."
3rd Ward
Incumbent Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), who was first elected in 2007, is up against former MWRD Commissioner Patricia Horton in the 3rd Ward race.
Dowell will be watching results from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave.
The 3rd Ward includes portions of the South Loop, Bronzeville and Fuller Park.
4th Ward
In the 4th Ward, Ald. Will Burns (4th) championed projects he’s brought to the ward like a new Mariano’s grocery store in Oakland and an arts and recreation center for Ellis Park, while pushing for a higher minimum wage in City Council.
Businessman Norman Bolden has criticized Burns for allegedly striking these deals behind closed doors and has promised he could deliver the same while giving voters more say in the decisions being made.
Tracey Bey, a mortgage broker, has said that if elected alderman she would shift more taxpayer support to safety and education, and away from new business development in Hyde Park.
Burns will be partying from 7 to 10 p.m. at Hyatt Place Chicago, 5225 S. Harper Ave.
The 4th Ward includes Kenwood and parts of the South Loop and Bronzeville.
Sam Cholke contributed to this report.
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