Michele Smith looks to be the new alderman of the 43rd Ward, as she holds a short but secure lead after Tuesday’s run-off election for retiring Ald. Vi Daley’s seat in city council.

“Now we have a terrific opportunity to lead … not only in our ward, but we have the chance to lead our city,” Smith said before a group of about 80 supporters at her campaign party in Lincoln Park on Tuesday night.

With all but one of the ward’s precincts counted this morning, Smith, who currently serves as the North Side ward’s Democratic Committeeman, was winning the race with a total of 4,803 votes — just 220 more than her competitor, Tim Egan. The highest turnout so far was in the 31st precinct, where 178 votes were tallied.

Egan did not immediately return calls for this story as of Wednesday morning.

In her bid to replace the outgoing Ald. Daley, Smith campaigned on promises of transparency in city government and responsible development processes within the ward, with a focus on the upcoming redevelopment projects in the works at Children’s Memorial and Lincoln Park Hospital campuses, the latter of which has become a hotly-contested project in the upscale area.

“I think a lot of us were ready to move out of the neighborhood if she didn’t win,” said Smith supporter and resident Susan Nelson.

The victory is a long time coming for Smith, who had faced off against both Egan and Daley for the aldermanic seat in 2007.

This time around, Smith managed to win the 43rd Ward seat without getting her hands too dirty, as the task of muddying Egan’s image was taken up late in the game by Crain’s Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz.

In a piece published last week, Hinz called foul on Egan for making what appeared to be a number of conflicting statements while bidding for endorsements from groups like the Service Employees International Union, the Chicago Teachers Union and the political committee For A Better Chicago.

Hinz noted that, in questionnaires sent out by For A Better Chicago, Egan answered in favor of using tax increment finance funds to treat “economically challenged” areas, though he had previously told the teacher’s union that the same TIF money should be diverted back to the schools.

When asked to shed some light on the disparities in his stated views, Egan chalked it up to a learning experience, telling Hinz that he had since done “due diligence” regarding some of his statements.

On April 1, the Cook County College Teachers Union rescinded its endorsement of the hospital executive in light of Egan’s shifting views on pension reform, another area of Egan’s campaign scrutinized in the Crain’s article.

Later that day, Egan attempted to turn the tides with a statement knocking Smith for her record of violating the state’s campaign disclosure laws.

In a case brought before the Illinois State Board of Election last year, Smith admitted to one of three instances in which her campaign committee pulled the names and addresses of potential donors from disclosure forms submitted by Daley. Egan’s release also referenced an illegal alcohol-for-votes violation that saw Smith paying fines during her 2007 campaign.

“Voters have had enough of politicians who we can’t trust, who will say one thing and do another,” Egan said in the release.

With nearly all votes in, Smith gave credit to Egan for a close race.

“I congratulate my opponent on running a good campaign,” she said.

When Smith takes up her new post in less than a month, the first order of business, she said, was working with Ald. Daley — and Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel — on a smooth transition.

“I think I have a lot of offer … on helping to resolve tough issues in a fair way,” she said.

Results from the 18th Precinct, the last polling place to be counted, were expected to be announced after Skyline’s print deadline Wednesday afternoon.

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By Sanity from Lincoln Park
Posted: 04/13/2011 12:15 PM

I wonder how much property values will decrease around the abandoned hospital after, say, Ald. Elect Smith's 4 year term??

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By jerry pritikin aka The Bleacher Preacher from Gold Coast.
Posted: 04/08/2011 11:16 AM

Michele Smith is not only a new face in the City Council, but is truly Independent. She did it without Rahm Emanuel, and dis not sell herself out to developers who openly donated to Egan's campaign. She represents seniors, students, renters,property owners and small business. She listen and represented every area of the 43rd Ward.