Feb. 17--Chicago Ald. JoAnn Thompson was eulogized at her funeral Monday, a week after she died of heart failure while locked in a fight for re-election to represent her South Side ward.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who backed Thompson's re-election bid and featured her in one of his campaign TV ads, was among the speakers at her funeral at the Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ in Englewood.
Thompson, 58, died Feb. 9.
She was being challenged by Ald. Toni Foulkes, 15th, one of the mayor's City Council critics. After Foulkes' predominantly African-American ward was redrawn three years ago with a Latino majority, Foulkes chose to run in the adjacent 16th Ward.
Officials with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said electronic early voting machines would be reprogrammed in the 16th Ward to remove Thompson's name from the ballot. Thompson's name also will be removed from the paper ballots to be provided on Election Day.
Attorney James Nally, who said he represented Thompson staffers, family and backers, wrote a letter to the election board after her death questioning Thompson's removal from the ballot, saying no state law backs the move.
If Thompson were to remain on the ballot and win, the mayor would appoint a temporary replacement until a special election determined the new alderman, said Jim Allen, spokesman for the Election Board. He said the decision to remove her name was based on previous court cases. If Thompson remains off the ballot, voters will choose from Foulkes; Stephanie Coleman, the daughter of former Ald. Shirley Coleman; Jose Garcia; and Cynthia Lomax.
Thompson got support in her re-election bid from Chicago Forward, a super PAC set up to back the mayor and his council allies. The group spent money on behalf of Thompson, a loyal supporter of the mayor. And Emanuel's campaign cut a TV spot in which Thompson talked about Emanuel's economic development work in her ward.
Thompson was first elected alderman in 2007 with more than $500,000 in campaign funding from organized labor, which took on then-Mayor Richard M. Daley after he vetoed an ordinance that would have required big-box stores to pay higher wages. Thompson defeated then-Ald. Coleman, who was backed by Daley.
Thompson, a former Cook County Department of Corrections lieutenant, talked during that campaign about getting her life back on track with the help of the Chicago Christian Industrial League after becoming a homeless alcoholic following the death of her husband.
jebyrne@tribpub.com
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