— Chicago Sun-Times Newspaper | Sneed, M. —
Check the coat, please.
It’s a stunner.
It’s no secret (Sneed scoop Nov. 14) Kathy Byrne, the daughter of Chicago’s only female mayor — Jane Byrne — is the chairperson of mayoral candidate Susana Mendoza’s campaign.
But if you look real close — you might spot more of a Byrne connection on Mendoza’s lapel.
Sneed has learned Mendoza — Kathy says she’s as “gutsy” as her mother — is now wearing the pin Jane wore the day she was elected mayor of Chicago back in 1979. (Mayor Byrne served from 1979-1983.)
“I will look at this pin every morning as I start my day to get inspired by a woman who dared to challenge the status quo and opened the door for a little girl from Little Village to someday run for mayor of this great city.”
Reached by phone, Kathy — who is “thrilled to work for the second woman who may become mayor of Chicago” — told Sneed the pin was an unexpected gift to Mendoza, thought of at the last minute.
“It’s a pin my grandfather, Bill Burke, who died in 1986, gave my mother the day she won the primary in 1979,” said Kathy.
“He was so proud of my mom, so he had a jeweler make a pin of the Chicago skyline in a gold circle with jewel highlights placed in the windows of the building.
“Mom was proud of that pin and I believe she wore it on the day she was sworn in,” she added. “It was her good luck charm and after mom died, it became my good luck charm whenever I had big motions in court,” added Kathy, an attorney.
“It’s a historic piece of jewelry, so when Susana asked me to go with her when she filed her petitions recently, she noticed the pin and asked me about it.
“I told her it was my mom’s and just-like-that decided on the spot Susana could use it now — should wear it for now. It symbolizes the city. I told her, “‘It’ll bring you luck like it did Mom. Like it did me.”
The caveat: “She had to give it back to me as soon as she won the election!”
Kathy claims Mendoza was “astonished and thrilled and her eyes filled up with tears.”
Then she added: “Like I said before. I’ve been impressed with Susana for a long time. She has got some strength [to stand up] against all the bully boys.”
The post Put a pin in it: Mendoza is sporting a bit of Byrne on her lapel appeared first on Susana Mendoza for Chicago Mayor.
