Ald. Larry Palm, of the north side, told reporters after the event that he had supported Soglin in 2011 because he thought former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz did not communicate well with alders, but he is now supporting Resnick because he thinks Soglin is even worse than his predecessor.

“You know, I didn’t support Cieslewicz, but at least with him I would have breakfast or lunch with him twice a year,” he recalled. “With Paul it’s like there’s a 20-minute window when you can come see him. I think as an elected official I should be able to be a little more long-winded.”

East side Ald. David Ahrens, who said he’d been a “lukewarm” supporter of Cieslewicz in 2011, said Soglin hasn’t done enough in the past three years to justify another term.

“I was stumped when I was asked, ‘What has Soglin done in the last three-and-a-half years?’" Ahrens said. "I keep trying to search my memory for it and I can’t come up with anything."

While Resnick surrogates criticized Soglin’s approach and effectiveness, there was very little criticism of the incumbent’s policies. Resnick declined to specify any major issue on which he disagreed with the mayor.