Name Change

new title beginning immediately, the "19th Ward Committeepeople"

Is name change for ward bosses a breath of fresh air for Chicago’s smoke-filled rooms?
Thanks to a 2018 change in Illinois law, county parties now use gender-neutral language. The March primary will mark the first time voters choose Democratic and Republican ward and township committeepeople. 

 
By Rachel Hinton Nov 25, 2019, 6:00pm CST

Ald. Mathias “Paddy” Bauler, center, celebrating his 66th birthday in 1956. File photo. Joe Kordick/Sun-Times


Saloonkeeper and Democratic Machine stalwart Mathias “Paddy” Bauler once famously declared, “Chicago ain’t ready for reform.”

More than six decades later, it’s at least ready for a name change for its ward bosses.

Gone are the days of “committeemen.” Now, those elected for county party business are “committeepeople.”

”If you’re going to be relevant you have to keep up with the times, and the times are changing,” said Delmarie Cobb, a spokeswoman for the party. “So, I think the party as well as individual politicians have got to reflect the times we’re in and reflect the people they represent, and I think the change is part of that.”

Thanks to a 2018 change in Illinois law, county parties statewide now use gender-neutral language. The March primary will mark the first time the updated language will appear on the ballot when voters choose Democratic and Republican ward and township committeepeople.

Jacob Kaplan, executive director for the Cook County Democratic Party, welcomed the change, saying “I think it’s a good thing anywhere it happens.”

Paul Rosenfeld, the 47th Ward Democratic Committeeperson, said he thinks the change is “more appropriate for all of us when we’re trying to get along professionally or politically.”

”The days of committeemen having patronage and being power brokers are gone,” Rosenfeld said. “So if the public is going to start to view us more for who we are today, which is really a collective group of people who believe in the values of the Democratic party, then I think that’s great.”

Still, the “people” holding the Democratic Party posts are still mostly male — 30 men represent the 50 city wards, and 24 of 30 townships are represented by men, according to the county party’s site. And only four of the ten members of the party’s executive committee are women.

But at the helm is Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who became the first woman, and the first African American, elected Cook County Democratic chair last year.Cook County Democratic Chair Toni Preckwinkle, left; Former Democratic Chairman Richard J.. Daley, right. File Photos. Sun-Times archives.

And party officials argue the old image of cigar-smoking ward heelers is one for the history books.

Robert Martwick, 38th ward committeeperson, said the name change was “overdue” and would help change the notion that “the entire Cook County Democratic Party is made of people who look like [14th Ward Ald.] Ed Burke.”Ald. Ed Burke during a City Council meeting in 2015. File Photo. Brian Jackson/ For the Chicago Sun-Times

”Not too long ago that was the case, but the party has been so transformed by the people it serves,” said Martwick, a state senator. “When you look at diversity, not just the committeeperson who serves, but the candidates put forth and the voters who come out, we’re a very different party than we were 20 years ago.”