The 5th is the second toughest machine-controlled Democratic congressional district in Chicago. It differs slightly from the conservative, Lipinski-locked 3rd CD by virtue of having a handful of sometimes independent and liberal lakefront precincts, which casts about 18 percent of the vote.

A special primary election will be held here March 3 to replace Rahm Emanuel, who has gone to White House heaven–a different place from his predecessors, Dan Rostenkowski and Rod Blagojevich.

The district’s power emanates from the most odiously connected elements of the Machine, lodged in the western wards and suburbs, where the line between crime and politics is often diffuse.

The big boss is State Sen. Jim DeLeo, indicted in the “Greylord” court bribery scandal, who got a hung jury in his trial then pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge to preserve his legislative post.

Then comes 36th Ward alderman/committeeman William J.P. Banks, whose opponents frequently accused him of ties to the old First Ward, when that term was a euphemism. He chairs the powerful City Council Zoning Committee.

William’s brother, Sam Banks, often represents mobsters as a defense lawyer. Sam’s name popped up in the recent “Family Secrets” trial as a go-between or bagman alleged to have made a payoff to crooked cops. Of course, no one ever saw any money change hands.

Sam’s son James is one of our town’s most successful zoning lawyers, whose triumphs may be due in part to practicing his craft before his Uncle Bill’s committee.

Another fortunate zoning lawyer is candidate John “All in the Family” Fritchey, Sam’s son-in-law, who just happens to have the support of most of the west-end committeemen-though he shudders at the thought of being known as the Machine Candidate. After all, in his other role, as state representative in the seat once held by Blagojevich, he often votes with the liberals.

“All in the Family” Fritchey, who also is 32nd Ward committeeman, is one of three leading candidates, along with State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz. A sliver of her legislative district is in the 5th CD. She is permitted to vote a liberal/feminist line in accord with her constituency, but otherwise requires surgical removal from House Speaker Mike Madigan-whose Chicago firm, surprise, practices zoning law.

Feigenholtz doled out lots of cash to Blagojevich before voting to impeach him–and manages to disappear when critical reform votes come up, such as the bill to permit recall of errant public officials. (“Reformer” Fritchey voted outright against the bill.) Feigenholtz, however, will gain a gender vote throughout the district-perhaps as much as 25 percent, which could win in this divided field.

The third leading candidate is County Commissioner Mike Quigley, known citywide as a genuine reformer on the County Board. His campaign seems to be based on the fact that he is more against County Board President Todd Stroger than anyone on the planet-or at least any of the 14 candidates running. (Petition challenges may soon narrow the field.)

He would be a very good choice except for two factors:

1) We really need to keep him on the County Board; and

2) There is a truly remarkable progressive running with a life-long record of writings and actual deeds that put him head and shoulders above all the rest-though he admittedly is fighting an uphill battle in this situation.

But first a word about the others: Two of them are legacy candidates, hoping to garner votes because their names are Capparelli–the same as 41st Ward Committeeman Ralph–and Annunzio–the same as the Mob-backed congressman who once represented part of this district. There is Pete Dagher, a former Clinton official who threatens to become a perennial, and a woman pilot named Jan Donatelli who may be there to split the Feigenholtz vote.

There are a couple of doctors: Victor Forys and Paul Bryer, a psychiatrist, Carlos Monteagudo, and realtor Paul Thompson, about whose records little is known, but all acquitted themselves honorably at a recent forum in Lincoln Park.

We know a lot about 40th Ward alderman/committeeman Pat O’Connor, who sought Richard M. Daley’s endorsement, which never happened. We know his wife is in the real estate business and he arranges zoning in the ward. Their two interests magically come together as one. He may be laughed off the ballot when the newspapers rerun his adventures.

There also is a smart and capable University of Chicago economist running with an armload of credentials in public policy and journalism. Charlie Wheelan calls himself a “centrist” Democrat whose writings preach the free-market gospel and globalism. Ooops!

Though we don’t “endorse” at the Observer, as a resident of the district, my vote will go to Tom Geoghegan, a labor lawyer and author of several important books. He gets things done while others hypothesize. (He is endorsed by The Nation magazine.) He is the law partner of former Alderman Leon M. Despres, a father of progressive reform in Chicago, which speaks volumes in itself.

Recently Geoghegan (pronounced gae-gun) won a huge class-action suit against Advocate Health Care that will, according to the Sun-Times, “result in free or reduced-price care for low income patients at Advocate hospitals.”

That was typical of Geoghegan’s successful fight for poor and working people–translating the smart ideas of his books into tangible action. His record and economic ideas might just resonate in the working-class western end of the district.

But then, he may be overqualified for Congress.