The Hopefuls' Home Bases // Daley's 11th: home of mayors

To look at Richard M. Daley is to look at Bridgeport and the11th Ward.

Chunky and solid as a brick, Daley embodies most of the 11thWard's fabled attributes: toughness, bluntness, loyalty. InBridgeport, you dance with the one who brung you.

In Bridgeport, you also produce mayors.

From 1933 until 1979, the 11th Ward was home for Mayors EdwardJ. Kelly, Martin Kennelly, Richard J. Daley and Michael Bilandic.

Now, the neighborhood of trim lawns is close to producinganother, and the fever is high.

Along Lowe Avenue, where the Richard J. Daley's widow lives,practically every squat bungalow displays a Daley sign.

And at Schaller's Pump, bartenders are handing out Daleyposters and buttons.

"We're giving out whatever we can with Richie's name on it,"said bar owner Jay Schaller. "Everybody is excited, everyone isfeeling pretty confident right now."

Nestled near the geographic center of Chicago, the ward has longhad a reputation as suspicious of newcomers, especially blacks.

Census data, however, show that minorities are making inroads.Asian and Hispanic accents are heard in grocery stores along with theIrish brogue.

St. David Catholic Church, 3200 S. Emerald, has offered aSpanish mass every Sunday for at least 15 years, said the Rev. JamesHoder.

"There have been Spanish people here since the '60s," Hodersaid. "Since they're Catholics, there's acceptance from the peoplewho came before."

While it might be true that blacks are not welcomed inBridgeport itelf, blacks elsewhere in the ward make up about 12percent of the 11th's 58,000 residents.

Still, the 11th Ward will always be known as the gemstone of theDaley dynasty.

When Mayor Daley died, Schaller's Pump solemnly took down hispicture from the wall. But Schaller said, "I wouldn't be toosurprised if you see (another Daley's photo) on the wall in the nearfuture."