Forrest Claypool, a career politician, has probably been called many things in his life. But “not a Democrat” is unlikely one of the taunts tossed his way until now.
Shortly after he announced his bid for Cook County assessor as an independent, Joseph Berrios, one of Claypool’s opponents and current chairman of the county Democratic Party, did just that.
"I really thought he was a Democrat," Berrios told reporters at the County Building yesterday. “If he wants to run for assessor, he’s got the ability to do that, but he is not a Democrat.”
Later, in a statement, Berrios stayed on the offensive: “He seems pretty flip and destructive toward the Democratic Party. ...
"To leave the party now to run as an independent not only gives ammunition to Republicans and the Green Party, it undermines the serious efforts of Democrats to address several key issues in November.
"He is obviously willing to pull down the entire party for his own self interest.”
Claypool, in a press conference earlier Tuesday morning announcing his candidacy, predicted mud and smears to be thrown his way, and Berrios gladly obliged within hours of the announcement.
Claypool defended his decision to enter the race as an independent. He said he expected former Cook County Judge Judge Raymond Figueroa to win the primary, but the well-funded and connected Berrios eked out a win over his two opponents, earning 39 percent of the vote.
"Joe Berrios ... represents a clear threat to homeowners and senior citizens across Cook County," Claypool said. "Those of us who care about reform and tax fairness cannot sit by and allow him to take control of this office."
And standing beside Claypool were U.S. Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Mike Quigley. Both brushed aside a question on whether Claypool’s migration to an independent means warfare within the party.
“You don’t see a lot of prominent people running as an independent in any of these races, so clearly the easiest thing to do is stay out of it and duck. But it’s not the right thing to do,” Quigley said.
Jackson was more colorful in his response, and jabbed at other Democrats running for office.
“I’m not concerned about open warfare in the Democratic Party. We’re not a frat party. We’re not a sorority party. This is the Democratic Party, and now we’re looking at an independent party,” he said.
His biggest concern was that Democrats statewide were leaving struggling taxpayers behind.
“What I am concerned about in the Democratic Party is a fair tax message from our candidates at every level,” he said.
Democrats’ messages are “devoid of how average voters feel about the economy, about how they’re hurting, about the unfair distribution of resources they work hard for, in terms of delivery of services. (That) should be of concern to every Democratic official in the state.”
Open warfare? Maybe not. But it seems there is a growing guerilla campaign.