State-Local (Chicago) Relations in Illinois: The Harold Washington Era, 1984

Since Harold Washington became mayor of Chicago in 1983, relations between the city and the state have changed significantly. For one, the mayor is no longer the power-broker in state politics. The perception that Richard J. Daley controlled state government may have been a myth, but today—after the mayoralties of Bilandic and Byrne, and with Washington now in office—even the myth no longer prevails. The continuing conflict in the city council, with Washington's forces being in the minority, has also contributed to the change in state-local relations. The city council divisions carry over to a divided legislative delegation in Springfield. Underlying the present situation are maneuvers by the various potential candidates for the 1987 mayoral election. Some clues as to the outcome can be seen in the election returns for U.S. Senator in the 1984 contest between incumbent Charles Percy and Congressman Paul Simon. Black voters deserted Charles Percy in 1984; in the past, they had strongly supported him.