Meet James Meeks- potentially, Chicago's socially conservative, African-American mayor

Here's an article by the Trib's John Kass on the Rev. (and State Representative) James Meeks, a Baptist preacher and Democratic legislator who brings a virtually unheard-of dynamic to the upcoming race to succeed Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Rev. Meeks, you see, is a prominent member of Chicago's African-American community- and a social conservative.

The potential Meeks candidacy has set off all sort of alarms in Chicago's gay and lesbian community due to his outspoken opposition to gay "marriage," civil unions, "hate crimes" legislation, and benefits for the same-sex partners of city employees.

Meeks says that he would expect as mayor to have his hands full enough, at least initially, that advancing his conservative social agenda would not be a priority for him. Chicago's gay and lesbian community, however, is not mollified.