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Rahm Emanuel
Quick Hit
by Micah Maidenberg
12:33pm
Thu Jan 6, 2011

Hearing From The Mayoral Contenders This Month

At least three mayoral forums scheduled for January are meant to tease out positions from the candidates about a range of specific topics.

On January 11, the Central Advisory Council, which represents Chicago Housing Authority tenants, is asking the candidates to spell out their views about the future of Chicago's public housing system at the city's Cultural Center. The event begins at 5 p.m., and you can find more details about it here. On January 19, the topics for the candidates include environmental and downtown-related concerns. And the candidates are expected to discuss business-related issues at an event on the Northwest Side on January 20. 

Attendance at these events certainly is not mandatory. But most of the major candidates for mayor -- all but Rahm Emanuel -- participated in at least one of three forums in December focusing on community issues and education policy. And don't forget that on January 27, Emanuel, Gery Chico, Miguel del Valle, and Carol Moseley Braun are scheduled to debate.

Quick Hit
by Progress Illinois
2:02pm
Wed Jan 5, 2011

Big-Spending Rahm Up With Third Ad, Watkins Debuts First Ad

Days after news surfaced that Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel has raised $10 million already in the campaign, the former White House chief of staff released his third ad (that's three more than any other candidate), which began airing Tuesday. And the Chicago News Cooperative's Early and Often site reports that the buy has some serious muscle. According to their sources, Emanuel's campaign has put $700,000 behind its most recent effort, and spent $1.7 million so far on ads. The huge purchases coupled with the roll-out of polls showing Emanuel in the lead are clearly meant to cement him as the front-runner.

In the ad, Emanuel combines his crime and education initiatives, sounding the populist themes he hopes will blunt (or possibly augment?) his tough guy image. He touts his work in the Clinton administration on a major crime bill, his proposal to add 250 cops to Chicago's streets using TIF funds, and his plan to increase after-school programs for public school students. You can watch the ad here:

Emanuel isn't the only candidate hitting the airwaves. Longshot Patricia Watkins is also up with an ad, which criticizes "career politicians" for their failure to tackle crime and education, and instead focusing on privatization deals, like leasing the city's parking meters. That ad is here: 

Quick Hit
by Micah Maidenberg
4:13pm
Tue Jan 4, 2011
1 comment

Ballot Access, Ads, Jobs, And Backers

A few tidbits from Chicago's mayoral race that emerged today:

Rahm Emanuel should be listed on next month's municipal election ballot in Chicago, Cook County Judge Mark Ballard ruled this afternoon. The decision upholds a 3-0 vote confirming Emanuel's place on the ballot by the members of the Chicago Board of Elections last month. Unquestionably a win for Emanuel, Ballard's ruling sets the stage for further legal wrangling. Burt Odelson, the lead attorney representing those arguing Emanuel disqualified himself from running for mayor of Chicago by moving to Washington to serve as President Obama's chief of staff, is already promising to appeal the ruling to the state appellate court. The Supreme Court of Illinois may have the last say on this issue.

Emanuel himself spent this morning rolling out a $95 million proposal to create a "system-wide afterschool program" to keep Chicago Public Schools students safe and out of trouble when the school day lets out. The Emanuel campaign said most of the funds needed for the program already exist. They're proposing to raise an additional $25 million for the program by allowing companies to advertise on city garbage trucks, at farmer's markets, and at other city controlled venues.

Gery Chico unveiled his jobs platform today, a plan that lambastes the "brick wall of bureaucracy" at City Hall. Among the topline proposals in the plan: Chico says he'd immediately eliminate the "head tax" to spur job creation, appoint a deputy mayor responsible for business development and job creation, and aggressively pursue bringing new small, medium, and large employers to the city through outreach and various incentives. The entirety of Chico's proposal can be read and downloaded here.

Two prominent Latino aldermen, meanwhile, endorsed Miguel del Valle's mayoral campaign this morning: Alds. Rick Munoz (22nd) and Rey Colon (35th). While there's been a lot of discussion about the black community finding a single "consensus candidate" for mayor, Munoz and Colon's backing of del Valle demonstrates no such dynamic exists among the city's Latino leaders. Just take a look at our mayoral endorsement list. United Neighborhood Organization head Juan Rangel is with Emanuel, Ald. Joe Moreno (1st Ward) and Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Manny Flores are backing Gery Chico, as is Rick Garcia, who formerly headed Equality Illinois. Munoz, of course, is one City Council's most prominent progressive members.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
12:57pm
Thu Dec 30, 2010

The CPS Board: To Elect Or Not Elect?

Hoping to capitalize on the upcoming change in leadership at City Hall, a coalition of Chicago teachers, community organizations, and parents are calling on the next mayor to cede control of the Chicago Public Schools.

At a news conference in Chicago yesterday, education advocates who argue that CPS is not improving quickly enough demanded a "fundamental change in school governance." Under their plan, which would require a change in state law, Chicago School Board members would not be appointed by the mayor's office. Rather, the board would be elected by voters. Of the 13 proposed seats, seven would be reserved for parents and community members (three from the South Side, two from the North Side, and two from the West Side) while six would be filled by education professionals. The current board, which Daley has controlled since 1995, consists of seven officials drawn from influential financial and consulting firms, none of whom have a background in education. This proposal comes on the heels of a push by the increasingly-assertive Chicago Teachers Union and its allies to ensure that the next appointed CPS CEO has experience in schools.

Three mayoral candidates -- Rahm Emanuel, Carol Moseley Braun, and Gery Chico -- expressed skepticism about the plan. Chico, who once served as Chicago Board of Education President under Mayor Richard Daley, said in a release that the change would "create 13 new politicians." Miguel Del Valle offered qualified support for the idea, so long as the city implements public financing of political campaigns to open up the election process. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis backs school board elections but is wary of mandating "what kind of people will be on a board." Expect this proposal to be a heavy topic of conversation in 2011.