'Easy to bash' the incumbent

Mayoral rivals rake, defend record in pitch for primary

WAUKEGAN -- The Democratic race for mayor picked up steam Sunday during a debate that featured no shortage of pointed exchanges between 1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham, Jose L. Guzman and incumbent Richard Hyde.

"In the last six years, what I've been seeing in Waukegan (is) the city is falling apart," said Guzman, a Libertyville Park District employee who is making his first bid for municipal office. "We need change. We need better schools, we need more jobs."

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Samuel Cunningham (center) speaks during the Democratic debate with Mayor Richard Hyde (left) and Jose Guzman.
(Joe Shuman/Special to the News-Sun)

Guzman, at times pounding his fist and waving his arms above his head, frequently criticized the Hyde administration for alleged police misconduct and policies that he said affect Latinos. "If we win, nobody's going to be violating their rights. We need new government in Waukegan -- especially the mayor," he said.

Hyde defended his record since succeeding the late Dan Drew in February 2002, and, while not addressing either opponent by name, focused on a lack of administrative experience with statements like "what you want to do is elect something with experience -- there's no substitute."

"Talk is cheap. If you've never been in this position, (it's) easy to bash the living daylights out of the incumbent," Hyde also said, adding later that "what I'm hearing is a complete lack of experience, and not for the better. They've got their own agenda -- themselves."

The forum, attended by a crowd of several hundred in the Waukegan High School auditorium, was hosted by the Waukegan Leadership Council, which organizers said was founded in response to the city's application for federal deportation powers in 2007.

Several of the questions posed by the council through moderator Hal Coxon centered on issues that have spurred controversy in the Latino community, including building inspections, deportation efforts and the city's towing ordinance.

Guzman said he would eliminate the tow-and-impoundment policy completely, while Cunningham repeated his past call to reduce the fine for first-time offenders. Hyde maintained that the measure was enacted for public safety, adding that "it was voted on by the council, not by me. That's up to the council to tweak that, it's not up to the mayor."

Cunningham picked up on that point, "Mayor, with all due respects, it is the mayor's job to bring ideas to the aldermen. Typically, the mayors I've known have done that ... Partnering is what it's all about," Cunningham said.

Hyde responded by criticizing Cunningham for what he described as a lack of regular involvement in city matters. "For 10 years, he hasn't been downtown 10 times," Hyde said.

Also igniting sparks was a discussion of how to address accusations of police misconduct. Cunningham said it is a "topic that is near and dear to me," calling for complaints to be filed through the mayor's office and not just the police department's chain of command.

Cunningham also said more officers should be working in the community in positive ways, such as at social events, because "99 percent of them are doing a fantastic job. The perception is what we need to work on."

Guzman, saying "first of all, I never trust the police of this administration," said he would take accused officers to court and "I would fire the guy" if found guilty of abuse.

Following Guzman's remarks, Hyde responded that the city has fired three officers in recent years "for racial profiling or excessive abuse." He added that Artis Yancey -- who has been tabbed to succeed retiring Police Chief William Biang -- is "reorganizing the whole police department," and is "more sensitive to people" when dealing with complaints.

In their closing statements, each candidate talked about changing the perception of the city, with Hyde saying "we have moved forward. If you can't see that, you're blind." He touted Fountain Square of Waukegan as a retail success that is challenging Gurnee Mills in sales tax revenue.

"This is a great city, but we've got to learn to work together," Guzman said. "We need change in Waukegan, and the only way we're going to do (that) is we need new thinking."

Cunningham talked about a need to "move the city forward without prejudice" so that his two daughters "don't have to grow up in a city where there's two or three parts -- they can say, 'I grew up in Waukegan.'"

The three Democrats will go before the voters on Feb. 24, with the winner to square off in the April 7 general election against a field scheduled to include County Board member Robert Sabonjian and state Rep. Eddie Washington.

The two independent office-seekers were among many local officials and candidates in attendance Sunday.