It appears neither Democrat Rep. Deborah L. Mell nor Republican challenger Antoinette ‘Toni’ Puccio-Johnson is actively campaigning for the Nov. 6th election.
“We’re not endorsing anyone [in the 40th District] as no one is getting back to us,” said Rich Whitehead, political action chair for the Independent Voters of Illinois, a non-partisan group.
“The area is so strongly Democratic, I don’t think Mell is taking the campaign seriously,” he said.
Another civil group leader had laments about the lack of contact with candidates.
“In the past, we have had a hard time getting both candidates to agree to a forum. Incumbents – for whatever reason – choose not to participate,” said Jan Donor, president of the League of Women Voters of Illinois.
Mell, the daughter of one of the Chicago City Council’s most powerful alderman and the sister-in-law of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is running for a third term in the Illinois House.
Neither candidate could be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
Puccio-Johnson has a campaign website hosted by LinkedIn – a website that requires a paid subscription to fully access information.
When approached in Mell’s state legislative office last month, Mell’s secretary said she was working on an updated campaign web site that refers constituents to her state legislative website on Facebook.
Puccio-Johnson has not reported raising any money for her campaign. Mell has raised almost $31,000, far less compared to her last two campaigns when she raised nearly $155,000 in 2008 and nearly $92,000 in 2010.
Puccio-Johnson filed an objection against Mell’s nomination for the 2012 primary election. She argued that Mell did not have enough signatures to file for candidacy in the 2012 primary, but objection was denied.
“I didn’t even know Rep. Mell was running a contested race,” said Mark Thomas, executive director of the Kedzie-Elston Business Industrial Council.
One political scientist said it’s not surprising the incumbent has maintained a low profile.
“She [Mell] has protection to thumb her nose at the news media,” said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
“She will have no problem in the November election because of strong ward ties with her father, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) who shares a large portion of her district on the Northwest Side of Chicago,” Redfield said.
In the past, the ethnically diverse district, which includes parts of Irving Park, Avondale and Albany Park, has been strongly Democratic. And there’s no reason to believe this year will be different.
Some residents had a different take on the lack of active campaigning.
Rep. Mell has had recent health issues, said Perry Gunn, executive director of the North River Commission, a business organization in the 40th District. In the past, she has been responsive and accountable, he said.
The Windy City Times broke the news in June that Mell had been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. She was scheduled to have another surgery in mid-October when a reporter reached her briefly by phone at her district office in Irving Park. She stated she did not want to comment, but gave her email address.
Residents of the 40th District said both candidates have been involved in their communities.
Puccio-Johnson, a student at the Illinois Institute of Art, is well-known in her Irving Park neighborhood, one resident said.
“She’s on top of what’s happening and letting people know,” said Julie Helenius, who lives a half block down from Puccio-Johnson. “She’s personable and able to intelligently communicate in a strong but compassionate way.”
Others shared similar feelings about Mell.
“She is here for the people,” said Ted Stanek, a neighbor of Mell.
Stanek said she has always been available and goes door-to-door at election time to check in with her neighbors.
Some still wish the candidates had been out on the campaign trail discussing the issues.
City and state budget concerns are critically important, said Jesus Salazar, state chair of the Independent League of Voters of Illinois.
Illinois’ longstanding budget woes are a great concern for non-profits because of the state’s ability to fund in a timely manner, said Brenda Swartz, president and CEO of Concordia Place, a local non-profit that provides educational services. The state has been taking increasingly longer amounts of time to provide funding in recent years due to budget cuts, affecting groups like hers.
Swartz said Mell has always been helpful in assisting Concordia Place to connect with other community members and showing interest in the results of their programs. The organization does not endorse either candidate.
“The state budget and tax rate impact non-profits and our ability to serve all families,” Swartz said.
