The IL-05 Special election to replace Rahm Emanuel is detail in this web article. It still seems that "The Chicago Machine" has NOT picked a candidate". This is good for the district and the democratic process generally. The link also leads readers to some candidate's websites.
I have it from a second fairly reliable source that the IL-05 Democratic Primary race may actually be left to the voters to decide with little direct input from City Hall - partly because there are several well-connected folks already in the race. The list of folks still interested grows longer and more interesting by the day.
Current and likely candidates include:
* State Rep. John Fritchey
* Activist Matt Reichel
* Green Party environmentalist Mark Arnold Fredrickson
* Cook County commissioner Mike Quigley
* State Representative Sara Feigenholtz
* Transportation and security consultant Justin Oberman
* Economist Charles Wheelan
* Labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan
* Dr. Alexander Victor Forys
* Alderman Pat O'Connor
* Club owner Joey Vartanian
* Israel Vasquez
* Entrepreneur Cary Capparelli, son of former State Representative
* State Representative-elect Debra Mell, daughter of Alderman Dick Mell
* Jan Donatelli
* Alderman Gene Schulter
* Real Estate agent Tom Hanson
* Alderman Thomas Allen
* Former Rep. Nancy Kaszak
I think it's particularly interesting that at least 5 names on this list above a virtual household brand names to democrat party regulars in the district.