I think the loss also had to do with the fact that Betty Loren-Maltese had lost sway by then. Her successor as Town President, Ramiro Gonzalez, could do little to keep the Republicans entrenched, and the critical mass to go to non-partisan races finally became the reality in 2005. I know nothing about the current “N-P” leader of Cicero, Larry Dominick (in my research of even ostensibly non-partisan Mayors, many do tend to have an affiliation even if not allowed to “declare” it). I’m forgetting at the moment if Chicago’s is technically non-partisan (however a joke that would be). Nashville’s is “non-partisan”, but no Republican has occupied the office since Grover Cleveland was President in 1888.
Dominick was Police Chief of Cicero including under Loren-Maltese.
He was endorsed by Republican County Board member Tony Peraica (no RINO) and Dan Proft a conservative who has written for Human Events was involved in his campaign.
So I’d guess he’s a Republican.
I’d venture nearly every NP Mayor has a party, they must have political opinions after all. I guess some could be fruitcakes like Jesse Ventura.
In my grandma’s town, Hazel Crest also with NP elections, the local politicos (all black dems) are divided into 2 local slates that run against each other with dumb names like “New Vision” (first time I saw a sign I thought it was for eye care). Grandma claims she and her church friends were the deciding votes in the last (or next to last) election as they wanted to oust the incumbent Village Board President. The slates may be Jesse Jackson organization versus Bill Shaw (nemesis of Jesse, former State Senator lost to “independent” James Meeks) and twin brother Bob’s organization. I believe that dynamic is present in several of the south suburbs. Grannie hates the Shaw brothers worse than Jackson. Lovely local politics huh.