WICKER PARK — A race for the 1st Ward committeeman seat has gotten ugly for Ald. Joe Moreno (1st), who is being dubbed a bully by his opponent for allegedly calling a former staffer a "stupid b----" in a text message.
Moreno denied ever sending the text message, which was the subject of an Our Urban Times story in 2014.
"I have never seen that text message sent or received from me," Moreno told DNAinfo. "The first time I saw it was in the Our Urban Times article."
An oversized postcard in English on one side and Spanish on the other features a photo of the Wicker Park alderman pointing a finger, with a headline of "No More Bullying." The direct mail piece, paid for by Friends of Teresa Maria Gonzalez, was sent to 4,150 households in the 1st Ward, which spans parts of Wicker Park, Humboldt Park and Logan Square, a Gonzalez spokeswoman said.
Moreno won the committeeman seat for his ward in 2012 after facing incumbent Jesse Ruben Juarez and Anne Shaw. Committeemen — one each for the Democratic and Republican parties — slate candidates, oversee voter registration, work to boost voter turnout and ensure elections run smoothly. In many wards, the alderman — or his or her close ally — serves as the committeeman to consolidate power and operations.
The unpaid position has a four-year term.
In her mailer slamming Moreno, Gonzalez claims Moreno "has had a history of displaying confrontational behavior" with neighborhood groups and cites a DNAinfo story where Moreno called members of East Village Association "NIMBYs" to illustrate her claim.
Gonzalez also cited the Our Urban Times story highlighting the text message allegedly sent to former 1st ward staffer Ronda Locke. Locke's complaint surfaced in 2014 when she was one of three candidates running against Moreno for alderman in the 1st Ward.
The Gonzalez spokeswoman said the text message was included in the mailer "because it is indisputable documentation of Proco Joe Moreno’s longstanding disrespect and contempt for women."
The spokeswoman said the message "is a fact which the public has a right to know as it evaluates his fitness to serve as 1st Ward Democratic Committeeman. The offensive words he uses to describe women is appalling."
Moreno fired back, stating "I don't even give it any credibility," stating "I have no idea where that text came from."
Moreno said he denied sending the text to Our Urban Times in 2014 and denies it now, and instead claims it was a dirty trick from a powerful Chicago politician.
Moreno blamed Cook County chairman Joseph Berrios and the Democratic "machine."
Gonzalez is sharing an office with State Senate primary candidate Omar Aquino, who is being supported by Berrios, according to Aldertrack. Gonzalez told Aldertrack that she has received support from Berrios "through Omar."
"It's par for the course for Berrios and the machine," Moreno said of the mailer in question.
Moreno has supported candidates who have faced off with Berrios-backed candidates in the past.
"He's been beaten so many times and I've been a part of all of those," Moreno said. "He can't face reality."
Jacob Kaplan, Executive Director at Cook County Democratic Party, responded that "Chairman Berrios supports Democrats who support true Democrats. Maria Teresa Gonzalez is such a Democrat."
"Take a look at Proco Joe Moreno’s endorsements," Kaplan said. "As Democratic committeeman, he has endorsed a charter school-backed State Senate candidate [Angelica Alfaro] who is receiving large amounts of support from Republican Governor Bruce Rauner’s donors and allies, including IllinoisGO, the Political Action Committee also supporting Rauner’s friend Ken Dunkin."
Moreno, 43, was elected to his first full term as alderman in February 2011 after having been appointed to the spot by former Mayor Richard M. Daley the previous year.
Gonzalez, a 28-year-old Assistant Public Defender in Cook County and a former president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, lives in Logan Square.
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