Former mayoral candidates Bill McCarty and Mike Farmer will endorse Mike Houston for mayor in the April general election, they announced Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Jason Piscia/SJ-R.com
Former mayoral candidates Mike Farmer and Bill McCarty both endorsed Mike Houston for the city’s top job Wednesday, and Houston said that, in “Team of Rivals” fashion, he would have both of his former competitors in his cabinet.
“Both gentlemen are eminently qualified to serve, and both have demonstrated their commitment to this city by being in the race for mayor,” Houston said at a news conference at the Municipal Center West. I he wins, Houston said he will retain Farmer as Springfield’s economic development director, and McCarty would move from his state job to become the city’s budget director.
Houston likened his idea to Abraham Lincoln’s naming of other presidential aspirants to his cabinet after winning election, as outlined in the Doris Kearns Goodwin book, “Team of Rivals.” But some of Houston’s remaining opponents decried the move as old-time politics.
“It’s completely outrageous,” said Sheila Stocks-Smith, who came in second to Houston in the Feb. 22 primary. “This is vote-trading, pure and simple.
“This is exactly what Springfield needs to reject if we are to move forward,” she said. “It’s insider deal-making. Just because it’s out in the open doesn’t make it any less outrageous.”
Ward 3 Ald. Frank Kunz, who finished fourth in the primary, said he had talked to McCarty and Farmer, and “I told them if they wanted to have fun they should endorse me.”
But, Kunz also said, “I think Mike Houston’s playing politics as usual in Springfield – passing out jobs for votes.”
Mike Coffey Jr. is the fourth mayoral candidate in the April 5 election.
“Their endorsements were not based on the fact that they’re getting a job,” Houston said later. “The endorsements were first. The jobs were discussed after.”
Seven people were on the ballot in the primary, with the top four moving on to the April 5 election. Farmer and McCarty placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Told of Houston’s announcement, David Morrison, deputy director of the Chicago-based Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, didn’t condemn the move.
“It’s not binding, so it doesn’t strike me as being so egregious,” Morrison said. If Houston loses on April 5, Morrison added, “the winners could still put those people in.”
Farmer was appointed director of planning and economic development in 2003 by the late Mayor Tim Davlin. McCarty is chief financial officer for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services’ bureau of property management. He also served a term as village president of Williamsville.
McCarty and Farmer said they have met with all four candidates.
Houston and Farmer said they’ve known each other for more than 25 years and worked together on economic development at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, where Farmer was on staff and Houston was on the board.
“He brings a certain maturity and strength to the city that’s much needed,” Farmer said of Houston. “His appeal reaches across party lines.”
Farmer said he is paid about $101,000 annually in his city job.
“Certainly my employment future is top of mind, let’s be honest,” Farmer said. “But no promises were made by any candidate, and obviously, Mike still has to win the election.”
McCarty said that in a “light conversation” with a different candidate, it was mentioned that he “might be a good fit” for the city budget job. But he said a lot of his supporters in the primary “told me they would gravitate towards Mr. Houston anyway.”
“I just feel like our ideologies are very similar,” McCarty said. “To me it was a natural fit.”
McCarty said his state job pays about $80,000.
“I spoke with my supervisors today and they are all very excited at the opportunity,” McCarty said about his possible move to the city payroll. “They would hate to lose me, but they are fully in support.”
McCarty and one of Houston’s children, Elizabeth, were both in the 1993 graduating class of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
Staff Writer Deana Poole contributed to this report. Bernard Schoenburg can be reached at 788-1540.
Copyright 2011 The State Journal-Register. Some rights reserved
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