Phelan sought to split black Dem politicians

With a cynical strategy, Cook County Board President Richard J.Phelan succeeded in his effort to split black Democratic leaders overthe retention of John H. Stroger Jr. as chairman of the FinanceCommittee.

Instead of nominating his white lakefront ally CharlesBernardini for the finance chairmanship, Phelan sought to avoid ablack-white fight by replacing Stroger with West Side black BobbieSteele. Phelan borrowed the strategy of the late Harold Washington'sfoes in supporting their black candidate over a black rival in theselection of an acting mayor. But Phelan is no Eddie Burke atcounting votes.

"It's a traditional game that was founded by Richard J. Daley,that …