Bob Fioretti is not happy.

Less than a year ago, he was elected to his second term as alderman of Chicago’s 2nd Ward, a sprawling city council district that stretched from the Near South Side all the way west to East Garfield Park, becoming the dominant alderman in the South Loop and Near West Side, as well as much of the West Loop.

But last Thursday, after months of backroom wheeling and dealing, Fioretti’s 2nd Ward was blown up and banished to the North Side by Chicago’s new ward remap, transformed into a twisting, turning contorted ward that stretches from the Gold Coast through Lincoln Park all the way to Ukrainian Village.

With his home drawn by a few feet into a ward that stretches all the way west to Austin, Fioretti’s a man at a crossroads. But he says he’ll represent the folks who elected him until the next aldermanic election in 2015, while simultaneously dipping his toes into the turf of his constituents-to-be up north.

“I’m taking a listening tour of the old 2nd Ward and the new 2nd Ward,” Fioretti said. “They’re going to be hearing from me shortly. Until the political boundary lines get worked out, I’m going to represent the 2nd Ward wherever that ward is.”

Beyond 2015, though, the future is murky. Fioretti said in an interview on Sunday with Fox Chicago News that he’s planning on running for reelection in the new 2nd Ward, but in an interview with Chicago Journal, he alluded to the fact that he might once again target a higher office.

“I’m not like some of those guys to be in there forever,” Fioretti said. “I want to make change.”

In the 2nd Ward’s wake, Ald. Pat Dowell’s 3rd Ward and Will Burns’ 4th Ward take over most of the South Loop, with Ald. Danny Solis taking a chunk as well.

In the West Loop and the Near West Side, Ald. Walter Burnett’s 27th Ward takes over most of the turf, with Solis taking a small piece.

Fioretti’s home on Jackson Boulevard just east of Ashland Avenue has been added to the new 28th Ward. That ward, which used to be mostly Austin and other Far West Side neighborhoods, now includes much of University Village.

Dowell, who’s picking up most of the South Loop south of Roosevelt, said she’s OK with the new map despite all the changes.

“I’m satisfied with the new 3rd Ward map,” she said. “I’ve represented my portion of the South Loop well. I think the votes I received in that community in the last election indicate that, and I anticipate that I’ll be providing the same or better services to my new constituents. I don’t think anyone likes this map, but it’s a map we had to deal with and make some changes because the population’s changed over the last 10 years.”

Burns said he’s looking forward to meeting and working with his new constituents.

“I feel very comfortable with representing folks in the South Loop,” said Burns, who recently took over the seat formerly held by Toni Preckwinkle. “I represented them as a member of the [Illinois] House of Representatives and was very active in the South Loop. … I would hope that folks in the South Loop remember my time in the house and stances I took, and recognize that in many respects there are similarities between me and Bob Fioretti. We’re both hard-working aldermen who care about their community and work hard to ensure that the city’s responsive to the demands of constituents.”

The 41 votes in favor of the map means no referendum will be held. However, it doesn’t mean a lawsuit can’t be filed against the city, which could nullify the map.

As for Fioretti, he’s worried about how the projects he’s started will play out.

“I’ve got plans that hopefully will be executed in the next three years,” he said. “I’m worried about Motor Row; I’m worried about the far west end of the ward. I hope that the alderman can come in with a new energy. We’ll see. I’m going to do my best to keep representing the people who elected me in the same way that I have been.”

---

By South Loop from South Loop
Posted: 02/29/2012 10:30 PM

To Ken I say: Emmanuel will be elected overwhelmingly. He has too much money & he's already consolidated his power. He will be Mayor-for-Life if he wants to! To Fioretti Supporter I say: Flip-Flop Bob is toast! He will loose badly in 2015. For a whole bunch of reasons, the new 2nd Ward is just not winnable by Flip-Flop Bob. To Boyee: I assure you the powers-that-be already have plans to take over the new 2nd Ward. To Jon: I agree! Fioretti sold out the South Loop & broke many promises!

---

By Ken from West Loop
Posted: 02/02/2012 8:17 PM

So many of you miss the point that this is all about Emmanuel the dictator knocking off anyone who does not toe the line. He like Obama completely fooled the media with his talk of change. He does not have any idea of a democratic system. He is an ex suburban entitled snob who whines if he doesn't get his way. He is an authoritarian despot. Fioretti is independent so he has got to go. He is so much worse than Daley and he will be defeated.

---

By Fioretti Supporter from South Loop
Posted: 01/27/2012 9:25 AM

I am a Fioretti supporter, but the Mayor can not keep everyone happy, he knew w/out changing the laws that this was going to be a mess and end up exactly where we ended up at, so he saved money. I think he has a respectable relationship with Fioretti, but he needed to move past this Remapping joke (trust me the Mayor does not see an issue with this as much as we do) as there are bigger "Chicago" plans at stake. With this said, I hope the Mayor can help us sustain our efforts w Fioretti.

---

By ben from west loop
Posted: 01/26/2012 11:00 PM

pt.2 -- I saw him at least twice jump out of his car and clean graffiti on Jackson with his bare hands. I knew it was him because of his hair. If he is willing to do that, then he earns my vote. I also agreed with many of his ideas when I saw him on TV or read the papers. Its a shame we have to lose him. Bob - if you read this blog, I hope you move to the new area and run for re-election up there to rub it in the face of Emanuel, Burke, Mell, and the others.

---

By ben from west loop
Posted: 01/26/2012 10:55 PM

I think its obvious what has transpired here, Fioretti is an independent Democrat who opposes many of the programs of Daley and Emanuel. He worked hard to improve the less fortunate parts of his ward and took time out to listen to city workers and unions like CTU, FOP, and SEIU - the people we depend on for our city to operate. The powers that be dont like that. They also wanted to hit Waguespack by moving the 2nd into his ward. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone. We need more people like Fioretti.

---

By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 01/26/2012 9:13 PM

While I like that the 43rd Ward goes further west now , I do not like that the 2nd Ward stole most of the 32nd Ward's Lincoln Park territory and that parts of the Old Town Triangle and Lincoln Central are now split between the 43rd Ward and the 2nd Ward. 3 wards is never as good as only 2.

---

By Matt Wos from South Loop
Posted: 01/26/2012 5:58 PM

Call it the "Fiorettimander" Fioretti signed on as a sponsor of the Hispanic Caucus proposal-which called for a ward that just so happened to center around his home and the precincts in which he got 60-70% of the vote. So, please don't be fooled by his "nonsmoke filled room" talk. With the exception of the new 2nd ward, the map that passed was the Mell-Black Caucus map. Don't let him fool you. If the Fiorettimander had passed he South Loop still would have been split-to Bob's liking.

---

By anon from somewhere in the middle
Posted: 01/26/2012 4:40 PM

Jon, your comment doesn't make a lot of sense. If the Hispanic remap would have passed, SL would have been better off. And now you think it is Fioretti's fault because the AA map past and the SL is worse off? Sad logic on putting blame where it shouldn't be. Fioretti was a dead duck in this fight because he wasn't a total machine sellout.

---

By Jon from South Loop
Posted: 01/26/2012 9:40 AM

I'd feel a lot more sorry for Fioretti if he hadn't completely sold out the South Loop in the ward redistricting fight. He backed the Hispanic map, which made the 2nd Ward a near west side/downtown ward but which completely divided up the South Loop. The council ends up passing the AA map, which is even worse for the South Loop and of course gives him a ward he does not even live in. He should have done a better job of representing his constituents.