The compelling, youthful winners of the two most talked about primary races are an encouraging omen for future political leadership. Hardworking and intrepid Jeff Smith, 32, decisively topped his four opponents to win an open seat in the 4th state Senate District and gain his first elective office, and 19th Ward Alderman Michael McMillan, 35, took a major step in his rising political career with an unopposed victory that installs him as the Democratic nominee and presumptive general election winner of the city-wide office of license collector.
Again, the South Side outvoted the North Side by a wide margin. Not surprisingly, Smith out-polled both state Representative Yaphett El-Amin and state Representative Amber Boykins, but their combined vote did top his 36 percent. The combined vote of El-Amin, Boykins and Kenny Jones, a third African-American candidate, was approximately the same as O.L. Shelton’s in his unsuccessful bid for the office that was won by incumbent Pat Dougherty. Now term-limited, Dougherty served honorably and well during his tenure.
Since the African-American political leadership in the 4th state senatorial district is neither stupid nor ignorant about the district’s recent voting patterns, they had to know the difficult odds of an African-American candidate winning with two major black candidates in the race. There is no convenient excuse for the continuing lack of cohesion among African-American political leadership. Yet again, there was no consensus candidate – and we are still convinced that there is a need for principled, effective African-American leaders in the state’s Legislature.
Nevertheless, it is time to acknowledge that Smith is now the senator for the 4th District. And fortunately, the 4th District will have a senator who, despite some political naivete, is unabashedly progressive on the core issues of poverty, unemployment, decent wages, strong schools, embryonic stem cell research, health care and the interests of the working class. We have no doubt Smith will stand up for his constituency. He is a quick study and should be able to provide effective representation for the district’s interests.
The McMillan victory positions this earnest, industrious young politician for a larger role in politics. He has carefully planned and executed a strategy to grow his already impressive support base, and he will continue to fulfill the promise of a deliberate ascent in his career as a public servant. His supporters do not expect for license collector to be his terminal, nor highest, city-wide elected office.