Rosty rules out '89 mayoral bid

Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) said he will not become acandidate for mayor in the 1989 special election for the second halfof the late Mayor Washington's unexpired term.

"That horse left the barn a long time ago," Rostenkowski said."I'm not going to be a candidate for mayor."

Rostenkowski, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee,and the major architect of the 1986 tax reform law, said he isreluctant to give up his national leadership role to seek localpolitical office.

For more than a decade, Rostenkowski has been touted byDemocratic leaders as a potential mayoral candidate. Ald. Edward M.Burke (14th), Loop lawyer William Daley, state Senate PresidentPhilip J. Rock of Oak Park, Chicago Board of Trade President ThomasDonovan and Illinois Attorney General Neil F. Hartigan have beenamong Rostenkowski's boosters.

With Rostenkowski removing himself from consideration,Democratic politicians suggested that U.S. Rep. William O. Lipinskiand Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan now have theopportunity to emerge as contenders for 1989.

Mayor Sawyer has not disclosed whether he will seek the post inthe 1989 special election. Lipinski declined comment when askedwhether he was pondering a mayoral bid. Madigan also has declined tospeculate about his political future.

Ald. Timothy C. Evans (4th), who was Washington's City Councilfloor leader, has indicated that he will probably seek thenomination. Former Mayor Jane M. Byrne, now running for CircuitCourt clerk, is expected to be a candidate for mayor if she wins theDemocratic nomination in March and defeats new Republican Edward R.Vrdolyak in the general election.

Cook County State's Attorney Richard M. Daley, heavily favoredto win a third term in 1988, also is seen as a likely candidate forthe mayor's office, which was held by his father for more than 21years.

After a meeting with Sawyer last week, Rostenkowski voiced hissupport for the new administration. Rostenkowski's longtime protege,Ald. Terry M. Gabinski (32nd), was a major player in Sawyer'selection, and the Northwest Side congressman has indicated that hemight support Sawyer's candidacy for the remainder of Washington'sterm.

"I'd like to see Mayor Sawyer afforded a chance to govern," saidRostenkowski. "I'll help him in any way I can."

Rostenkowski has had strained relations with Sawyer's twopredecessors, Washington and Byrne. He endorsed opponents of bothmayors when they sought re-election.

In recent years, Rostenkowski has scaled down his involvement inlocal politics. He recently decided to step down in 1988 asDemocratic committeeman of the 32nd Ward, ending a half centuryfamily tradition. His father, the late Joseph Rostenkowski, servedas committeeman from 1936 until 1960 when he was succeeded by hisson.