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Richard Mell strikes a deal to push his daughter Deborah into the statehouse-and independent-leaning Iris Martinez out.
You'd think Richard Mell would have learned his lesson the last time he pushed a family member to the head of the line. That was back in the summer of 1991, when the 33rd Ward alderman let his fellow northwest-side power brokers know that his daughter Patti had a husband, Rod Blagojevich, who'd be running for state rep whether they liked it or not.
In the 1992 primary, Mell and his mighty organization of city, county, and state employees helped Blagojevich eke out a victory over Myron Kulas, a seven-term incumbent backed by rival chieftains Terry Gabinski and Dan Rostenkowski. But it was a knock-down, drag-out fight, and after that Mell took care to get all his ducks in a row. When Blagojevich ran for Congress in 1996, then for governor in 2002, Mell ensured that he had the backing of Rostenkowski and Gabinski as well as other powerful Democrats. And what thanks did he get? A long and very public feud with his son-in-law the governor. Plus Blagojevich has managed to make a royal mess out of pretty much of everything in Springfield, not to mention he's facing federal investigation into his fund-raising practices and political appointments.
But here comes the proud papa once again, this time pushing Patti's little sister, Deborah Mell, into office through one backroom deal after another.
It started last summer, when Deborah announced she was running for state rep in the 40th District, a seat held by Richard Bradley since 1997. As legislators go, Bradley hasn't been any great shakes. Basically, he does whatever house speaker Michael Madigan tells him to do. (Of course this could be said of just about every statehouse Democrat and quite a few Republicans.) Bradley got his start in the late 70s as a precinct captain in the political organization of none other than Richard Mell, and for his loyalty over the years he's been rewarded with not one but two relatively cushy, well-paid positions, which he holds simultaneously: state rep (which pays $60,000 a year) and assistant general...