2017 Election: Jeff Smith Endorses Mark Tendam For Evanston Mayor

EVANSTON, IL — Jeff Smith endorsed Mark Tendam for mayor Thursday. He became the second contender in last month mayoral primary to endorse Ald. Mark Tendam over businessman Steve Hagerty ahead of the April 4 runoff.

Early voting began this week in the runoff election between Hagerty and Tendam to replace the retiring Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl.

Tendam's campaign is "not relying on record- breaking spending to purchase community recognition," Smith said announcing his endorsement.

"The role of money in politics is the unacknowledged elephant in the room in this race, and any veteran of the Ab Mikva days has to help show that elephant the door."

Smith finished fourth in the primary. Fifth place finisher Gary Gaspard tweeted his endorsement of Tendam on Sunday. Smith received 1,259 votes in the primary, Gaspard 343. Hagerty received 4,369 votes in the primary for nearly 45 percent of the vote and raised the most money of any of the five candidates.

"[Tendam] is the only candidate I can recall seeing five or ten years ago at City Council or ward meetings," Smith said, arguing Tendam has demonstrated experience and leadership in with Evanston's municipal government to make tough decisions. "Any mayor will face temptations of expediency and pressures of politics; Mark Tendam will not face those as a rookie would."

The other mayoral candidate, third place finisher Ald. Brian Miller, did not immediate respond to an inquiry regarding his endorsement in the race.

Top photo: Mark Tendam (left), Steve Hagerty