Daley Wins Chicago Mayor’s Race Easily
Mayor Richard M. Daley swept to reelection Tuesday amid record-low voter turnout, winning his first full term in the office his father held longer than any other mayor.
In an unofficial count of 991 of the city’s 2,912 precincts, Daley had 151,401 votes to 46,337 for Harold Washington Party candidate R. Eugene Pincham and 8,185 for Republican George Gottlieb.
The easy victory is expected to pave the way for Daley to take a more vocal leadership role in the city’s Administration. As he served the last two years of the term of Harold Washington, the city’s first black mayor, he spent much of his time in coalition-building.
Elections officials said Tuesday’s turnout was only about 46% of total registration--a record low.
“The good news is that complaints are down,” said State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley. “The bad news is . . . the turnout is also down.”
Pincham, who unsuccessfully tried to blame Daley during the campaign for rising homicide rates and alleged police brutality, Tuesday blamed the news media for not exciting more voter interest.
“It’s amazing how the people in the media will just buy into what other people say,” Pincham said after voting.
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