The candidates who put themselves and their names on the line in Tuesday’s primary by now have proffered speeches of triumph or endured the agonies of defeat. Now it’s time to open the envelopes and recognize some key players whose names were not on the ballot but who, for better or for worse, performed crucial roles in shaping the results:
The Richard Daley Political Boss Award
Winner: Cathy Murillo. Desperate to elect an acolyte, or at least an ally, to the remainder of her council term in District 3, Mayor Cathy pushed, pulled, tugged, heaved, and dragged Oscar Gutierrez into the winner’s circle. She paved the way for his Democratic endorsement, filled up his campaign treasury, and even walked the Westside door-to-door alone when Big O was otherwise occupied, and it all paid off with a big win for her handpicked novice — although channeling her inner Ward Heeler also meant our 28 percent alcaldesa squandered political capital that might better have been spent on building up her cred as leader of the entire city instead of just playing to her political base.