Silverstein in tough primary fight following sexual harassment allegations
Fallout from the accusation led to his first primary election challenge in the 20 years he's comfortably held the Far
Silverstein has had to revive a dormant campaign operation and turn to party leaders for fundraising help after he was nearly kicked off the ballot in January for barely having enough nominating signatures.
The race also features
The winner of Tuesday's primary election is all but assured victory in November in a Democrat-dominated district that stretches from
Silverstein appeared to be easily headed toward a seventh term until late October, when victim rights advocate
But a freshly appointed legislative inspector general concluded that "even if Rotheimer was internally cringing at the messages Silverstein sent her and did not welcome them, she gave no outward sign of that at all, and no one -- including Silverstein -- would have had any way of knowing that she was not a fully willing participant in the discussions." Rotheimer blasted the investigation as "rigged."
While the watchdog found that Silverstein had behaved in a way "unbecoming of a legislator," it did not rise to the level of sexual harassment. The inspector general recommended that Silverstein seek ethics counseling, and he said he did so through a
Still, the allegation angered people in his district and created an opening for challengers.
"What I found is that in talking to women about it, they're mad that this could go on," McAteer-Fournier said. "And that is not the state senator I want representing my 8-year-old."
Silverstein acknowledged that he was facing an unusually competitive primary but said he wasn't encountering angry constituents as he walked precincts. "It's behind me," he said. "People are very receptive, very responsive."
The veteran lawmaker, who is married to 50th
Party leaders and allies have scrambled to come to his defense.
There's also been controversy surrounding a union that endorsed Silverstein. A political action committee with ties to the
McAteer-Fournier, of Sauganash, works in the career counseling department at
"I think what we're seeing is women want more women sitting around the table when bills are being made, when laws are being passed," McAteer-Fournier said. "And the only way to do that is to send more women to
She's also playing up her political outsider status, pointing to her lack of endorsements from party leaders and allied groups as proof that she'd be an independent voice.
The challenger who's racked up the most endorsements is Villivalam, a former lobbyist with the
He's got endorsements from
Villivalam, who lives in Mayfair, said he's been frustrated with Silverstein's approach.
"With his lack of leadership on issues, I ask people to point to a signature piece of legislation he's passed -- folks can't," Villivalam said. "But secondly, I think he's wrong on some issues."
The district was divided between
Despite his backing from prominent allies, Villivalam is trying to cast himself as an independent voice, criticizing Silverstein's campaign cash infusion from Cullerton.
"The party helps them out and then sure enough, the next legislative session, the party leaders come to them and says, 'Hey, I really need you to vote for this even though it's against your district,' and the incumbent feels an obligation," Villivalam said. "People don't want elected officials that are loyal to the party leadership, they want elected officials that are loyal to the district."
Also in the contest is Zulkey, a Sauganash lawyer who also is banking on voters' frustration with the status quo.
"I'm tired of people, of me and other people complaining about the way the government is and yet we have the same people running for office," said Zulkey, who hasn't reported much in the way of campaign contributions.
"My main issue is fiscal responsibility," he added. "That might seem odd from a Democrat, but right now it's something we're missing."
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