Chester politics heats up

Since I had Chester Mayor John Linder as a guest on our 'Live From the Newsroom' show last night, I could not resist asking him one final questions at the end of the show - not related to our primary topic of the new surveillance cameras the city will be rolling out to fight crime.

This one involves another fight the mayor is smack in the middle of - that would be the fight for his political life. If you have not noticed, there has been some political thunderbolts in the city.

First, longtime state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159., announced last weekend that he would challenge Linder in the Democratic primary. Not only that, but he has the backing of the Chester Democratic Party.

The next day things got even a little more challenging for Linder when county Democratic Party boss David Landau said the party would support the choice of the city committee - that would be Kirkland. Usually party bosses try to stay out of it when a primary battle is shaping up, waiting for a victor to emerge and then assuring the party would united behind the winner. Not so this time. Landau left little doubt they believe Kirkland is their man.

Then yesterday another very familiar name popped up in the race. Whoever wins the Linder vs. Kirkland battle royal will then get to square off against former Mayor Wendell Butler in the general election in the fall. He emerged from a very short retirement to become the Republican candidate in the city mayor's race yesterday.

I asked Linder if he was surprised by the challenge from Kirkland. Hardly.

Linder also downplayed the move by the city party to bail on him - the incumbent mayor - in favor of Kirkland. He said that he did not necessarily run as a Democrat or Republican, but rather as an independent who represents everyone in the city.

Buckle your seat belt. This one is going to be a barn burner.

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