POLITICAL BRIEFING

GLEANINGS Politics and the White Sox: When the new White Sox stadium opensThursday, remember it's a monument to political hanky-panky as wellas to sports. The taxpayer-financed arena got built only because theIllinois General Assembly bent the rules late one night in 1988. Under the rules, the Sox package needed only a majority, or 60 votesin the House, if it passed before midnight June 30; 71 votes,impossible to get, were needed after that. After a little armtwisting, Rep. James R. Stange (R-Oak Brook) provided the 60th voteand prevented the Sox from going to Florida. The official roll callsaid 12:03 a.m., but House Majority Leader James McPike (D-Alton), incharge of recording the vote, declared it passed at 11:59 p.m. Stange: Stange never got slated by the GOP for secretary of state inreturn for his vote, as he had hoped. But he will be in the parkThursday. Said Stange, "I was the 60th vote. I was the person whomade it happen. I made sure the White Sox did not move from Chicago.. . . I know it was passed after midnight. But I believe it wasgood for the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois." Sox political VIP list: The entire Illinois General Assembly and theCity Council got freebie tickets for Thursday's opener. TheLegislature is in session that day but probably will end theirworkday early. And the members of the Illinois Sports FacilitiesAuthority, with the help of guests, plan to fill the freebie skyboxthey get for themselves. By the way, there are still skyboxes for sale, at $55,000 each. Those old Sox seats: The old Comiskey's seats, being sold by theWhite Sox for $250 each, are the main funding, so far, for ChicagoWhite Sox Charities. The charity, controlled by White Sox executives, was formed lastJuly with no assets, according to financial disclosure forms filedwith the Illinois attorney general. Its purpose is to give to othercharitable organizations and help the poor and needy. The taxpayer-funded stadium authority spent about $6 million toacquire and demolish old Comiskey, but the deal the team negotiatedcalled for the White Sox to keep the seats and other memorabilia. County freebie golf: Did you know that each Cook County Board membergets free use of all Forest Preserve golf courses and driving ranges?Their "special privilege card" is good for themselves and a guest. Also, they can book coveted tee times to play at Forest PreserveNational just by calling Forest Preserve District headquarters.Regular citizens can't; they have to go to the course early and waitin line. But at least the board members can't play for free atForest Preserve National before 11 a.m. Axelrod roster: David Axelrod, Daley's media consultant, scored aneasy win in last week's election. The Chicago-based consultant nowturns his attention out of state. He's a consultant for lieutenant governor races in Kentucky andMississippi; a Democratic city council slate in Columbus, Ohio, andmayoral races in Indianapolis; Evansville, Ind.; Nashville, and SaltLake City. Suburban turnout: Suburban turnout hit a new low last week for aconsolidated election. Just 23.7 percent of suburbia's 1.2 millionvoters went to the polls, down from 26.1 percent in 1987 and 27.4percent in 1983, according to Jeanne P. Quinn, elections director forthe Cook County clerk. Gleanings correction: Last week's Gleanings misstated how much ofthe state Senate will be elected in 1992. All Senate seats will beup for election then because of new districts to be drawn to reflectthe 1990 census. COMINGS AND GOINGS The week ahead: The Chicago City Council meets today. The last word: City Treasurer Miriam Santos, asked if she isinterested in running for Cook County state's attorney: "I wouldn'trule it out."