Chicago Lawyer Ousts Former Ald. Dick Mell In Committeeman Contest
(CBS) – Has a longtime fixture in Chicago politics tasted the agony of defeat?
For 40 years, legendary Chicago pol Richard "Dick" Mell has served as ward committeeman for the north side's 33rd Ward.
Now, it appears attorney Aaron Goldstein unseated Mell in last week's Democratic primary, by the razor thin margin in 60 votes.
"I was a poll watcher in the last election in 2015 -- the municipal election -- and I saw all the shenanigans that went on," Goldstein says.
The committeemen are volunteers from both parties are responsible for appointing election judges, for slating judicial candidates and generally running the polling places.
Goldstein has a bizarre connection to his opponent, Mell, who for years was a Chicago alderman.
The lawyer was one of the defense attorneys who defended Mell's son-in-law, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in his federal corruption trial. Earlier, Mell and Blagojevich had feuded bitterly and saw their family torn apart.
Goldstein says he did not run as a way to swat at Mell.
"First of all, it's been a desire of mine always to be involved in policy, in government, in politics. I want to make a change for the people," he says.
Goldstein says he has not heard from Mell since the election.
Maybe, he says, the former alderman is waiting for the results to be certified in about a week.
CBS 2 was unable to reach the former alderman for comment.
