 A special election was called for May 16 , 1978 in the 46th Ward when Alderman Chris Cohen , first elected in 1971 , was re @-@ elected in 1975 but retired in mid @-@ term to head the Chicago regional office of the United States Department of Health , Education , and Welfare . On March 6 , 1978 Ralph Axelrod , chief administrative assistant to Cook County Sheriff Richard Elrod , and ward committeeman since 1973 , slated himself for alderman . 
