Are You For 'Cockroaches' Or Reformers In Chicago Mayoral Race?

Corruption allegations against Chicago’s most powerful ward boss, Ald. Ed Burke, have turned the race to replace Rahm Emanuel as mayor into a showdown between reform candidates and, well, the “cockroaches." At least that's what mayoral hopeful Lori Lightfoot called four clout-heavy ballot rivals who have been scurrying to distance themselves from their connection to Burke.

Lightfoot told City Hall press corps dean Bill Cameron that Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza, Bill Daley and Gery Chico are praying they’ll survive the “angel of death” – any cash, endorsement or deal tying them to the kind of politics that has Burke facing the possibility of prison — by promising future City Hall reforms.

“What we’re seeing is what happens when light is shined on a dozen cockroaches. Initially they’re silent. Then they try to say ‘not me, not me!’ Then when they get caught they finally stand up and do something. It’s a day late and a dollar short,” Lightfoot told Cameron on WLS-AM 890.

Everybody knew Chico, Mendoza and Daley had strong connections to Burke. What's shocking is that Preckwinkle, a self-proclaimed progressive, got outed as phony independent after the federal charges revealed she accepting a $10,000 contribution reportedly inspired by the alleged shakedown of a Burger King owner, and another $116,000 in campaign proceeds from a fundraiser thrown at Burke’s house.

She’s defended herself by pointing the finger at her rival cockroach candidates with jabs fitting of a Twitter tag — #ThemToo.

“I won’t have my name dragged through the mud over the alleged criminal conduct of Susana Mendoza’s mentor, Gery Chico’s best friend, and Bill Daley’s long-time political ally,” the Cook County Democratic Party boss said in a statement.

That would be a great line if it wasn't so arrogant, tone deaf and lacking self-awareness.

Mark Konkol: The Chicago Mayor's Race

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• Chicago's Clout Candidates For Mayor Tainted By Burke Indictment
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• Tax Returns Reveal Amara Enyia's Self-Imposed Poverty, Vision

When I covered the City Council for the Daily Southtown, Preckwinkle had a reputation for being an independent aldermanic voice on the City Council. But that was about 20 years ago. She’s not that politician anymore. Power changed her. She became everything that she fought against.

Now, Preckwinkle is the boss who doles out patronage jobs, most notably a six-figure gig to Burke’s namesake son, Ed Burke Jr., according to the Tribune.

She leverages her power and ties to labor unions to destroy political foes, including the only county commissioner who voted against her flawed “pop tax,” Richard Boykin.

These days, Preckwinkle has the kind of clout that brings $100,000 at a Democratic Machine house party.

Her #ThemToo campaign strategy only ties her closer to the Democrat powerbrokers she brags about battling, and Daley, Chico and Mendoza — the Lightfoot-labeled cockroach candidates who represent a continuation of the political status quo.

Like the household pest, clout-heavy cockroach candidates aren't easy to get rid of.

If reform candidates are gonna squash 'em, it's going to take a lot of fed-up Chicagoans to hit the polls — and vote with their feet.

Read More About Chicago's Mayoral Hopefuls

• Which Mayor Candidate Has Marshall Plan For South Side Revival?
• When Mayoral Candidates Control The News Everybody Loses
• FBI Raid Highlights Truth About Silent Status-Quo Mayor Hopefuls
• Do Chicago Mayor's Race News Reports Show 'Frontrunners' Bias?

Mark Konkol, recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting and Emmy-nominated producer, was a producer, writer and narrator for the Chicagoland series on CNN.

photo credit: Associated Press file photo