Let’s discuss the upcoming Chicago Mayoral Election.
I hope that Rahm Emanuel is reelected as Mayor of Chicago. I certainly intend to vote for him. There really is only one acceptable challenger: Bob Fioretti. Fioretti is a decent alderman (not mine), but I’m not sure we’d see anything like the current booming Chicago under his leadership.
Emanuel has been a great mayor, it’s really only on the issue of red light cameras that I disagree with him.I didn’t like the CTA monthly pass increase, but prices remain unchanged this year. I strongly support his plan to raise the minimum wage to $13 an hour. Admittedly, I’m north side biased, but the changes I’ve seen in Chicago since I’ve moved here are quite positive. The stupid media fixation with the murder capitol of the world nonsense is easily disproved with the falling crime rates. My neighborhood of Lakeview is doing well, and I give credit to Emanuel and not Tom Tunney.
I work in the loop, craft beer is everywhere and the bars and restaurants are booming. Food trucks fill the streets during lunchtime. Motorola has moved into the Merchandise Mart. I work in financial services and among all my coworkers and friends at other firms, let’s just say 2014 was a very good year.
Emanuel has been the Bill Clinton of Chicago politics, except that he’s right on social issues such as marriage equality. Booming economy, moderate politics.
Those who don’t work in “financial services” probably did not have as good a year as you did. ‘Chuy’ Garcia would get my vote. What passes for a democracy in Chicago is really a kleptocracy. Same in Springfield. And yeah, I was born on the North Side long before it became fashionable to say so.
Somewhat disappointing as Rahm didn’t get 50% so he’s headed to a runoff. Looks like the voting was along racial lines , but Garcia drew most of the support of the “Not Rahm” voters as well.
I would think so, but I think the runoff may actually energize some voters now that they see Rahm is vulnerable. Same with the pro-Rahm crowd who stayed home figuring it was a done deal. That said, I still expect around a 15-20 point margin of victory, but stranger things have happened.
Anecdotal but still, many people I know that voted for Chuy only did so as a protest vote and to get us to a run-off, and they all say they plan to vote for Rahm in the end. I think this was a pretty widespread sentiment.
I’m in the 46th ward and I’m taking a second look at the alderman race. But I’ll be voting for Rahm the second the ballots are available. The more I learn about Garcia, the less I like.
I’ll second that. No way will I ever again vote for Mayor 1%.
You got a cite for that? I’m a white guy, early 50’s, northside “Lakefront Liberal” and everyone I know voted for Chuy, regardless of their own race.
Oh I hope that is the attitude Rahm’s campaign takes! It may be a low turnout run off among some groups but not for those who despise this fucker like I do.
It is still Rahm’s race to lose but his aura of invincibility is gone gone gone.
I voted for Miguel del Valle for mayor in 2011 because I expected Rahm Emanuel to be a kleptocrat, and I’m sad to say that I don’t think I was wrong. I voted for Bob Fioretti this year, and plan to vote for Chuy Garcia in the runoff. I do expect, however, that Emanuel will be re-elected.
Honestly, that’s not the impression I got. I thought the money was on Rahm getting by with over 50% of the vote, and that’s where I would’ve put my money myself. And listening to the media today, there seemed to be a good bit of surprise. The polls I saw leading up to the election had Rahm at 45% with around 15-20% undecided. I thought for sure the undecideds would give him the extra 5% he needed.
It’s not that uncommon for municipal elections to be held in April, perhaps in conjunction with a primary choosing candidates for November. Until 1999, Chicago’s were, too, but then they were made nonpartisan, and had to be set up to allow a runoff. The story.
I can’t stand Rahm. The problem is, I liked all his challengers even less. But still, I think he’s too big for his britches, and voted for the self-made millionaire who came in third. We could use a guy who knows how to actually make money.
I haven’t decided who I’ll vote for in the run-off, but will be watching them both closely to see if there is a difference I can base my choice on. I did like what Chuy said to DNA Info, where he claimed he has a better mustache than Harold Washington had:
The article proved to me that Garcia is a puppet for Karen Lewis. Lewis may be the most reprehensible person in a position of power in the entire city…
The DNAinfo article also brings up the scandal involving Garcia’s son and the free use of lawyers who received work from the county.
Garcia has no specifics, his life story has many touching attributes, but I see nothing in him that will help bring jobs to Chicago.