By Kristen McQueary, Daily Southtown
Staff writer Mark Konkol contributed to this report.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
A pastor whose church is the biggest employer in Chicago's Roseland community filed paperwork Monday to form a new political party and run against state Sen. William Shaw (D-Dolton).
The face-off between the Rev. James Meeks - pastor of Salem Baptist Church whose association with singer R. Kelly recently raised eyebrows - and Shaw, accused of election fraud, will test the strength of two political rivals and the capacity of third-party candidates to win elections in Illinois.
Republican Thornton Police Chief Phillip Arnold Jr. also is running in the 15th District, which includes parts of Chicago's 9th Ward, Riverdale, Calumet Park, Dolton, Harvey, South Holland, Hazel Crest and Oak Forest.
Meeks filed his candidacy as a member of the Honesty and Integrity Party, joining a handful of candidates who avoid primaries by filing paperwork under obscure party labels. Most get kicked off the ballot before the November election.
But Meeks, whose church boasts about 15,000 members, may have the armor to withstand third-party pitfalls. He hired an astute election attorney, collected three times more signatures than required and has the political muscle of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition behind him.
Jackson and his son, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., are part of Meeks' congregation. Jackson Jr. and Shaw have long been political rivals. Earlier this year, Jackson Jr. sued Shaw for election fraud.
In a statement, Meeks said his candidacy is not about retaliation.
"This campaign was not born out of a personal vendetta of my associates or mine," he said. "Our campaign will not divide people but unite people from numerous communities within the 15th District."
Shaw said he would not challenge Meeks' petitions.
"I'm not going to bother with signatures. I'm going to do what I've always done, and that is do my job," Shaw said. "I'll leave it up to the people."
Meeks founded Salem Baptist Church in 1985. It grew to be one of the largest Baptist churches in Chicago with weekly televised services. Several years ago, he helped close more than 50 liquor stores along a main Roseland corridor. He also accompanied the Rev. Jackson to Kosovo to negotiate the release of U.S. soldiers.
And recently, he took on the role of spiritual adviser to R. Kelly, an R&B artist accused of having sexual relations with minors. Some questioned the political fallout of such an association.
"I think the Rev. Meeks would not refuse to do something - something he thinks is right - for political reasons," said Cliff Kelley, talk show host on WVON 1450 AM, a Chicago radio station with a large African-American audience. "I think you may see some honest things done relative to what his thinks is best vs. what is politically expedient."
For Meeks to win, Democrats in the 15th District would have to stray from the party. The abolition of straight-party voting, which allowed voters to punch one hole for either party, could help Meeks. Voters now are more likely to read their ballots and choose independents, experts said.
"But you're behind the eight ball in terms of people traditionally voting for one of the major parties," said Richard Means, Chicago elections attorney.
Meeks also will be the third name on the ballot. Research has shown many voters check off the first name they see.
"It's not an easy thing for him to do, even as much as the Shaws may be getting bad press lately," Means said. "I wouldn't put any money on Meeks."
Meeks' candidacy is a thorn in the side of Minority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) who is friends with Shaw and wants Democrats to win a majority in the Senate. With Meeks in the race, Jones has to spend more money to elect Shaw.
"As leader, I support Democrats in office and I help all of them that need help," Jones said. "This is the wrong time to be (challenging Shaw). The picture is larger than Sen. Shaw or Meeks or any of that. Meeks is a friend of mine and I've told him that. This (feud) should not affect the big picture."
Charles Wheeler, director of the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said Meeks' success is uncomfortable for Democrats. By lack of party label alone, Meeks would be unpredictable on important votes, especially the first one taken each session to elect a Senate president.
"Republicans would be coming over, promising him all kinds of things," Wheeler said.
Shaw questioned Meeks' ties.
"If Meeks wanted to run, he had a chance to run in the primary," Shaw said. "Maybe he's a closet Republican."
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