Mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois (February 26, 2019 general election)

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Election dates
Filing deadline: November 26, 2018
General election: February 26, 2019
Runoff election: April 2, 2019
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor, City Council, City Clerk, & City Treasurer
Total seats up: 53 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Chicago mayoral election
Runoff election overview
General election overview
Major issues
Candidates' key messages
Timeline of events
History of the office
Other Chicago elections
Chicago City Council
Chicago City Clerk & Treasurer
City elections in Chicago
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2019

On February 26, 2019, Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle advanced to an April 2 runoff election, as neither received more than 50 percent of the vote. They were the top two vote-getters among 14 candidates. This page covered the Feb. 26 general election. Click here for coverage of the April 2, 2019, runoff election.

On September 4, 2018, incumbent Rahm Emanuel, first elected in 2011, announced he would not run for a third term as mayor of Chicago, Illinois, the nation's third-largest city.

The 2019 race was Chicago's fourth open mayoral race in 100 years.[1] A total of 21 candidates filed to run for mayor, and 14 candidates made the ballot. This was the largest candidate field in the city's history.[2] Twenty candidates filed to run in 2011's open mayoral race; the field narrowed to six candidates by the time of the general election.[3]

A number of issues shaped the mayoral race, including the city's pension system shortfalls, crime rates, policies around K-12 school performance and under-enrollment, economic and racial divisions, policing, affordable housing, and government ethics.

On this page, you will find:

In addition to voting for mayor, residents of the city voted for a city clerk, city treasurer, and all 50 seats on the city council on February 26, 2019. Click here for more information on those races.

Click here to see if candidates in this race responded to Ballotpedia's Chicago 2019 survey.

Chicago voter? Dates you need to know.
Candidate Filing DeadlineNovember 26, 2018
Runoff Registration DeadlineApril 2, 2019
Absentee Application DeadlineMarch 28, 2019, at 5 p.m.
Early Voting DeadlineApril 1, 2019
General ElectionFebruary 26, 2019
Runoff ElectionApril 2, 2019
Voting information
Polling place hours6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.


Candidates and election results

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of Chicago

Lori Lightfoot defeated Toni Preckwinkle in the general runoff election for Mayor of Chicago on April 2, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan)
 
73.7
 
386,039
Image of Toni Preckwinkle
Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan)
 
26.3
 
137,765

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 523,804
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for Mayor of Chicago

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Chicago on February 26, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan)
 
17.5
 
97,667
✔
Image of Toni Preckwinkle
Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan)
 
16.0
 
89,343
Image of Bill Daley
Bill Daley (Nonpartisan)
 
14.8
 
82,294
Image of Willie Wilson
Willie Wilson (Nonpartisan)
 
10.6
 
59,072
Image of Susana Mendoza
Susana Mendoza (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
50,373
Image of Amara Enyia
Amara Enyia (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
8.0
 
44,589
Image of Jerry Joyce
Jerry Joyce (Nonpartisan)
 
7.2
 
40,099
Image of Gery Chico
Gery Chico (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
6.2
 
34,521
Image of Paul Vallas
Paul Vallas (Nonpartisan)
 
5.4
 
30,236
Image of Garry McCarthy
Garry McCarthy (Nonpartisan)
 
2.7
 
14,784
Image of La Shawn Ford
La Shawn Ford (Nonpartisan)
 
1.0
 
5,606
Image of Bob Fioretti
Bob Fioretti (Nonpartisan)
 
0.8
 
4,302
Image of John Kozlar
John Kozlar (Nonpartisan)
 
0.4
 
2,349
Image of Neal Sáles-Griffin
Neal Sáles-Griffin (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
1,523
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
86

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 556,844
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate backgrounds

The following table provides information on the political or professional backgrounds of the 14 mayoral candidates. The list of professions and offices held is not exhaustive; it contains one of the more prominent positions held by each person. We included elected and appointed offices for all candidates who had held those.

Campaign finance

  • As of January 15, before her removal from the race, Dorothy Brown had reported raising $263,952.
  • At the time of his withdrawal from the race on December 31, 2018, Ja'Mal Green had raised $43,721.
  • Prior to exiting the race, Rahm Emanuel raised $9,244,140 and had $7,560,291 cash on hand as of June 30, 2018.

Noteworthy contributions

  • As of Feb. 19, 2019, CEO of Citadel Investments Ken Griffin donated $2 million to Bill Daley's campaign.[4]
  • Through February 15, Jerry Joyce had received $1.5 million in the form of loans from his wife, Jannine Joyce.[5] He reported $2.5 million in total funds as of Feb. 19.
  • As of Feb. 11, 2019, Willie Wilson had loaned his campaign $1.5 million. He had $1.6 million as of Feb. 19.[6]
  • On January 19, 2019, Bob Fioretti received a $500,000 donation from blues guitarist Buddy Guy, bringing his total to $683,000.[7]
  • On January 15, 2019, Amara Enyia received a $400,000 contribution from Chance the Rapper (Chancelor Bennett), bringing her total raised to $632,000.[8]
  • On December 7, 2018, Preckwinkle received $1 million from the SEIU Illinois Council PAC Fund.[9] This brought her total to $1.7 million and placed her as the second-highest fundraiser. Bill Daley had raised $2.7 million.
    • The PAC donated an additional $500,000 on January 8, 2019, bringing its total contributions to Preckwinkle to $1.5 million.[10]

Satellite spending

  • The PAC Fight Back for a Better Tomorrow spent $714,000 on February 12, 2019, on a TV ad released Feb. 15 criticizing Daley's former career in the banking industry. The group spent an additional $500,000 on a second TV ad, released Feb. 20, criticizing Daley for serving on former Gov. Bruce Rauner's transition team and for receiving donations from Ken Griffin, who it said donated to Rauner.[11][12]

The PAC shares an address with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Politico reported.[13]

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls


Note: The following poll was conducted before the filing deadline for this race. Not all candidates who announced intentions to run were included, and some individuals included had not announced intentions to run.

Endorsements

If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Bill Daley

Amara Enyia

Jerry Joyce

  • Ald. Matthew O'Shea (19th Ward)
  • Former Cook County Sheriff Mike Sheahan
  • Rasheda & Jamillah Ali, daughters of Muhammad Ali[22]

Lori Lightfoot

Garry McCarthy

Susana Mendoza

  • Co-founder of National Farm Workers Association Dolores Huerta[36]
  • Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) Chicago[37]
  • Illinois Nurses Association[18]
  • United Automobile Workers Region 4[38]
  • Chicago Cubs co-owner/LGBT activist Laura Ricketts[39]
  • Latino Victory Fund[40]
  • The Columbia Chronicle[41]

Toni Preckwinkle

Paul Vallas

  • Chicago Republican Party (Vallas is a Democrat)[50]
  • Former Chicago Teachers Union President Deborah Lynch[51]

Willie Wilson

  • U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.)[22]
  • Cook County Republican Party Chairman Sean Morrison (Wilson is a Democrat)[52]
  • The Spanish Coalition[22]
  • The Coalition of Ministers for Change[22]
  • The following groups recommended Wilson for mayor:
    • Chicago Young Republicans[53]
    • Northwest Side GOP Club[54]


Debates and forums

February 14-19, 2019

WTTW hosted televised candidate forums. All 14 candidates participated across three forums.

First forum: Bob Fioretti, Jerry Joyce, John Kozlar, Neal Sáles-Griffin. View video here.
Second forum: Bill Daley, Susana Mendoza, Toni Preckwinkle, Paul Vallas, Willie Wilson. View video here.
Third forum: Gery Chico, Amara Enyia, La Shawn Ford, Lori Lightfoot, Garry McCarthy. View video here.

February 9, 2019

Amara Enyia, Bob Fioretti, La Shawn Ford, John Kolzar, Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle, Paul Vallas, and Willie Wilson participated in a forum hosted by the Chicago West Side NAACP. Candidates discussed topics including education, public safety, ethics reform, and investment in the West Side.

For coverage of the forum, click here.

February 8, 2019

FOX32 hosted a forum featuring Bill Daley, Amara Enyia, La Shawn Ford, Lori Lightfoot, and Garry McCarthy. Topics discussed included crime, ethics reform, CPS under-enrollment, and property taxes.

View a video here.


For a full list of debates and forums, see our Timeline of events in Chicago's 2019 mayoral election page.

Campaign themes and surveys

Campaign websites

See candidates' websites for full campaign themes, priorities, and plans.

Key messages

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

As part of our coverage of Chicago's 2019 mayoral election, Ballotpedia identified key messages of the 14 mayoral candidates. Key messages are a candidate's answer to the question, "Why should you vote for me?" We studied campaign websites, candidate forum opening and closing statements, campaign ads, and interviews to curate the messages that candidates repeated about themselves, their candidacies, and their takes on the 2019 mayoral race.

See our Chicago 2019 mayoral candidates' key messages page.

Candidate surveys

Issues

See also: Major issues in Chicago's 2019 mayoral election

Ballotpedia identified the following as major issues in the race based on candidate forums and statements, media reports, and events surrounding the election.

Pensions

The city of Chicago contributes to four public employee pension funds: the Firemen’s, Laborers’, Municipal Employees’, and Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Funds.[55] The pension system is funded by a combination of employee contributions, employer (city) contributions, and returns on investments of those contributions.[56]

In 2017, the city's unfunded pension liability—the amount needed to cover pension benefits minus the amount in the pension fund—was $28 billion. The four pension funds combined were 27 percent funded. Of 96 city- and county-sponsored pension systems analyzed by the investment management firm Wilshire Associates in 2017, 3 percent of those systems were below 30 percent funded.[57]

Until 2015, the city's required annual contributions to the funds were set as a multiple of employee contributions and were not adjusted to match projected costs of pension benefits.[55] Between 2010 and 2017, state laws changed how the city's contributions to the pension funds were calculated.[58][59] Contributions were set to gradually increase between 2015 and 2021, at which point the city's contributions had to equal the amount necessary for a 90 percent funded system by 2058.[56]

Based on the legislative changes described above, the city's annual contribution was projected to double between 2018 and 2023, increasing by $1.1 billion.[55]

In July 2018, the bond rating agency Moody's gave the city of Chicago a rating of Ba1, indicating high risk for bondholders.[60] Moody's changed its outlook from "negative" to "stable," citing "the expectation that Chicago will not face significant budgetary obstacles in the next two to three years given recently enacted tax increases to finance rapidly growing pension contribution requirements."[61] In February 2018, Standard & Poor's rated Chicago BBB+—a medium-risk rating—and changed its outlook from "negative" to "stable."[62]

Most of Chicago's payments to the four pension funds come from property tax revenue. Between 2014 and 2017, property tax levies in Chicago increased from $861 million to $1.4 billion. In 2017, 62 percent of property tax revenue ($839 million) went toward pensions.[55]

Mayor Rahm Emanuel sought to make changes to the Laborers' and Municipal Employees' pension funds. The state legislature passed a bill in 2014, supported by Emanuel and a group of labor unions, that made two major changes: 1) increased employee contributions to the system from 8.5 percent to 11 percent; and 2) ended 3 percent annual increases to benefit payments (known as compounded cost-of-living adjustments), which were established in 1999.[63][64][65]

The legislation was challenged by a group of labor unions, workers, and retirees. In 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down the law, saying it violated a 1970 state constitution clause asserting that pension benefits "shall not be diminished or impaired."[63][64]

On December 12, 2018, Rahm Emanuel advanced proposals for addressing the city's pension shortfall, including a constitutional amendment to end the annual 3 percent benefit increases and borrowing $10 billion in pension obligation bonds.[66] (A pension obligation bond, or POB, is money borrowed by a government and invested with other pension contributions to pay pension benefits. A government's goal with POBs is to earn more from investments than it owes in debt and interest to bondholders.)

Education

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was the third-largest school district in the nation as of 2018.

School closings

In 2013, the Chicago Board of Education voted to close 50 schools—around 7 percent of the city's total number of schools.[67] Mayor Emanuel supported the action. He and the board cited under-enrollment and poor academic performance as reasons for school closures.[68] The Chicago Teachers Union opposed the closings, with then-President Karen Lewis stating that the move would destabilize neighborhoods in which the closures took place and put students sent to other neighborhoods' schools at risk of gang violence.[69]

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett instituted a five-year moratorium on district-run school closings in the city that began in the fall of 2013 and ended in the fall of 2018.[70]

In December 2018, local news outlet WBEZ released a report containing the following figures, covering from 2002 to the report's release:[71]

  • 169 schools were closed
  • 34 schools had complete staff turnarounds
  • 193 new schools were opened (including 105 charter schools)
  • 36 newly opened schools were closed
  • 88 percent of the 70,160 students who experienced a closing or staff turnaround were black
  • Total district enrollment declined from 437,618 in 2002 to 361,314 in 2017

A 2018 Chicago Public Schools report deemed 229 of the city's schools underutilized, meaning they had less than 70 percent of the target number of enrolled students.[72] CPS also released a School Quality Rating Policy report in 2018 saying that about 20 percent of schools were low performers; factors considered included test scores, attendance, and graduation rates.[73]

School board selection method

In 1872, the state legislature gave the mayor the power to appoint members of the Chicago Board of Education. In 1988, the state legislature established a 23-member school board nominating commission, which generated a list of proposed members from which the mayor chose. In 1995, direct appointment power was restored to the mayor.[74][75] The mayor was also given authority to select the board's president and the CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

The Chicago Board of Education "is responsible for the governance, organizational and financial oversight of Chicago Public Schools (CPS)," according to its website.[76] CPS' proposed budget for 2019 was $7.6 billion.[77] As of 2018, there were seven seats on the board.

The Chicago Teachers Union supported an elected school board, saying an elected board would allow for greater transparency, accountability, community input, and representation of Chicago residents.[78][79]

Former board of education vice president Jesse Ruiz argued against an effort to establish a 21-member elected school board in 2017, saying that it would disperse accountability among 21 politicians as opposed to having one person—the mayor—accountable.[80] While running for re-election in 2015, Rahm Emanuel said that residents have local-level elected school boards in the form of Local School Councils, which have input on budgets, school improvement plans, and the hiring of principals.[81][82]

Crime

Reported murders in Chicago increased 60 percent between 2015 and 2016. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 765 murders in 2016 compared to 478 in 2015. The 2016 total represented the city's highest number of reported murders since 789 were reported in 1996. From 1985 to 2016, Chicago's annual murder totals peaked at 939 in 1992 and hit a low of 415 in 2014.[83]

In 2017, there were 653 murders. A Pew Research Center report stated that Chicago had the 14th highest murder rate, at 24.1 murders per 100,000 people, among cities with more than 100,000 residents in 2017.[84]

The following table shows the city's murder totals as reported by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics database from 1985 to 2017.[83]

Incidents of murder and other violent crimes were more prevalent in the city's West and South sides. Chicago Police Department data showed that, from mid-December 2017 to mid-December 2018, 50 percent of reported violent crimes took place in 12 of the city's 50 wards.[85]

Police consent decree

Several significant events around policing occurred ahead of and alongside the 2019 election.

Laquan McDonald, a black teenager, was shot 16 times and killed by white police officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery in October 2018. He was sentenced in January 2019 to six years and nine months in prison.[86] Also in January 2019, three other officers were acquitted of conspiracy, misconduct, and obstruction of justice charges that alleged the officers attempted to falsify reports related to the shooting.[87]

In December 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice under President Barack Obama (D) began an investigation into the Chicago Police Department. The department released a report in January 2017 concluding that "CPD officers engage in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, that is unreasonable," attributing this partly to a lack of adequate training and lack of accountability measures for officers who commit misconduct. The report recommended that the city enter a consent decree—a court-ordered plan to reform the police department's policies that would be enacted by a federal judge, who would appoint an independent monitor to oversee the plan's implementation.[88]

In 2017, after President Donald Trump's (R) election, then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) opposed entering a consent decree with the city of Chicago, saying police department reforms should be a local and state effort. Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he would continue to pursue police reforms without federal involvement. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) sued the city of Chicago to continue negotiating a consent decree with federal oversight in August 2017 and Emanuel agreed to do so.[89][90]

The local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) union had attempted to get the lawsuit between the state attorney general and the city dismissed. The FOP questioned the methodology used by the Department of Justice in its investigation leading to the proposed decree and called its findings biased against police. The FOP said the consent decree would have a "devastating impact on the ability of our members to protect the public."[91]

The city of Chicago and the state attorney general office drafted a consent decree that "requires changes in the areas of community policing; impartial policing; crisis intervention; use of force; recruitment, hiring, and promotions; training; supervision; officer wellness and support; accountability and transparency; and data collection, analysis, and management."[92]

Federal judge Robert Dow Jr. approved the drafted consent decree on January 31, 2019. The decree went into effect on March 1, 2019, when Dow appointed former Illinois executive inspector general Maggie Hickey as the independent monitor.[93][94][95]

Tax increment financing (TIF)

The information below was current through the 2019 election.

The purpose of TIF programs is to fund development with increases in property tax revenue that arise from an increase in property values due to the development itself. The Chicago Department of Planning and Development explains TIF in the following way:[96]

“

When an area is declared a TIF district, the amount of property tax the area generates is set as a base... As property values increase, all property tax growth above that amount can be used to fund redevelopment projects within the district. The increase, or increment, can be used to pay back bonds issued to pay upfront costs, or can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis for individual projects.[97]

”

Most TIF districts retain that designation for 23 years, during which various tax-funded bodies (such as Chicago Public Schools) receive their proportion of property tax revenue from the base amount set at the time of designation, while property tax revenues above that amount go into the TIF fund. Once TIF district designation has expired, all property tax revenues are distributed among the various tax-funded bodies as they were before the area was designated a TIF district.[96]

TIF districts, according to state law, must qualify as blighted areas or as being at risk of becoming blighted (conservation areas). A number of factors are considered when determining whether an area counts as blighted or at risk, including: obsolescence, excessive vacancies, code violations, inadequate utilities, and lack of physical maintenance.[96]

State law also says that TIF districts are to be established only in areas where development is not expected to occur without the implementation of the program.[98]

Chicago first began using tax increment financing in 1984. In 2017, Chicago had 143 TIF districts, and 31 percent ($660 million) of total property taxes collected by the city went to the TIF program. Most TIF districts that generated the highest revenue and saw the most TIF spending were in the city's downtown area (the central business district); TIFs on the West and South sides generated less revenue, according to a July 2018 report from then-Cook County Clerk David Orr.[99]

What is the debate surrounding TIF?

As of 2018, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development stated that the TIF program had created jobs in Chicago; that TIF assistance incentivizes private developers to invest in the city's development; that funds are distributed around the city, including to small businesses and housing projects, and not just concentrated in the downtown area; and that TIF does not take funding away from other property tax-funded bodies such as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), since 1) those bodies continue to receive their portion of revenue from the base amount that was assessed when the district received its TIF designation, and 2) some TIF funds go toward projects undertaken by those bodies, such as transit improvement and school building repairs.[100]

Critics of how the TIF program had been implemented, including several 2019 mayoral candidates, argued that the definitions of blighted area and conservation area are too broad and that TIF funds often go toward projects in affluent areas as opposed to truly blighted neighborhoods; that TIF funds are often used to subsidize private development projects that may have been carried out without public financing; that any growth in property tax revenues not attributed to TIF development is unfairly kept from tax-funded bodies; and that the program lacks transparency and accountability.[101][102][103]

How is the money spent?

TIF funds may be used by the city for public works projects, issued in the form of reimbursements to private developers for certain project-related costs, or paid to developers as projects take place, among other possible uses.[104]

The following chart shows TIF fund commitments from 2009 to 2017 by purpose of expenditure, as categorized by the city of Chicago.

The city categorizes TIF spending in a number of ways. Some TIF funds are used toward projects undertaken by sister agencies—the CTA, CPS, and the Chicago Park District—such as repairing schools, improving public transit systems, and building parks. Some funds go toward economic development, such as the renovation or construction of buildings for businesses. Infrastructure concerns the building and repair of roads, sewers, bridges, and more. The SBIF/NIP/TIF Works category includes small business improvement, neighborhood improvement, and job training projects.[105]

Click here to see a map of TIF districts, projects, and approved funding amounts for each project.

Who decides where and how TIF funds are spent?

A number of city government bodies are involved in the designation of TIF districts and in deciding what projects will receive TIF funding. Among them are the city council, the department of planning and development, and the community development commission. All three must approve the designation of new TIF districts.[98]

All three groups must also approve funding for private TIF projects. Funding for other types of projects are decided on differently; for example, public infrastructure project funding is determined by a group of city department leaders.[98]

The mayor appoints the commissioner of the department of planning and development as well as the 15 members of the community development commission.[98]

Affordable housing requirements for developers

According to the 2003 Affordable Requirements Ordinance and subsequent amendments to it, developers with residential projects in the city meeting certain criteria (such as those receiving public funding) must:

  • Include a specified percentage of their units as affordable housing units (meaning they are deemed affordable to low- and middle-income families based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calculations);
  • build the required units offsite;
  • pay an in-lieu fee to the city's Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund instead of building the units; or
  • do some combination of these options.

The required percentage of units (at least 10 percent), regulations around offsite construction, and amount of in-lieu fees vary by area.[106]

In 2017, the city council approved pilot programs in two areas of the city (Milwaukee Corridor and Near North/Near West) increasing the required percentage of affordable housing units for residential projects within these areas and removing the in-lieu fee option.[106] In December 2018, the city council approved another pilot program increasing in-lieu fees and the percentage of required affordable units for developers with projects in Pilsen and Little Village.[107][108]

Proponents of increasing affordable housing requirements for developers argued that it is necessary both to meet affordable housing needs and to have some of those units located in neighborhoods that are economically thriving rather than concentrated in poorer neighborhoods.[109] The mayor and aldermen who proposed the Pilsen/Little Village pilot program described above cited concerns around gentrification in two of the city's predominantly Latino neighborhoods as a reason to increase affordable housing requirements.[107]

Developers argued that increasing affordable housing requirements would increase the cost of their projects.[110] The Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago stated that increasing in-lieu fees or requiring onsite unit construction would result in less affordable housing in the city by inhibiting investors from financing projects and causing developers to choose other cities.[111]

Ethics reforms

On February 11, 2019, the University of Illinois at Chicago released a report finding that between 1976 and 2017, 1,731 individuals in the Northern District of Illinois (the northern third of Illinois including Chicago, the nation's third-largest city) were convicted of public corruption—the most of any metropolitan area in the country.[112]

The Central District of California (including Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city), was second with 1,534 individual convictions for public corruption.

Ethics reforms, especially those related to the city council, became a prominent theme in the mayoral race after Ald. Edward Burke was charged with attempted extortion on Jan. 2, 2019, of which he said he was not guilty. See more about that story below.

Candidate positions on major issues

Ballotpedia compiled positions and proposals, if available, from each candidate on major issues in the race.

We also grouped candidate positions by issue on our Major issues in Chicago's 2019 mayoral election page, making it easier to compare different candidates' positions on each issue.

Overview

Click a candidate's tab to see his or her positions on the above major issues.

Gery Chico

Gery Chico

Pensions

Amending the state constitution, borrowing bonds

  • "We can find the resources in this city to live up to our obligations, and as we go forward, we can figure out how to do other things better."[113]
  • Regarding the bond proposal, Chico said, "I’ve now come to the position that if it’s done as a greater number of parts of the solution, it’s a good thing to do."[114]

Additional statements

“

As mayor, Gery will explore a range of options to secure our pension funds including, growing our tax base, cutting the cost of government, seeking a greater share of revenue from the State of Illinois, and asset revenue transfers.

He will consider other revenue generating sources to stabilize pensions and pay for city government like optimizing collections for city fees for services, utilizing surplus TIF funds, selling city-owned vacant land, and advertising for revenue before asking taxpayers to foot the bill.

Our hard working firefighters, police officers, teachers, and public servants earn their pensions. Gery believes that as a city, we have to honor our commitment to them, just as they commit themselves to making our city a better home for all of us.[115][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

Regarding question 2, I will seriously review the need to consolidate or close severely under-enrolled schools, but only with community input. The decision to close a school would be made on a school-by-school basis. We cannot let arbitrary metrics dictate which schools to close.

Extended statement: The decision to close a school is a painful one because schools serve more than just their students: they are anchors of entire communities. As Mayor, I would listen to what the students, parents, and community members think the best solution is, and work with them to make sure we exhaust all options before we close a school. This process would be transparent, with a clear timeline for consideration, and if the decision is to close a school, there would be an agreed-upon transition plan for students, teachers, and administrators.

There are some schools in Chicago with so few students that it is not in their best interests academically or socially to stay there when they could be getting a better education at a sufficiently enrolled school with more resources. The same is true for schools that are chronically underperforming. We cannot let students languish in schools that will not prepare them for success.

I will always look to build schools or add buildings in communities that have been under-resourced. A great example is the “super school” plan for a new high school in Englewood that will bring top quality facilities to a neighborhood whose current schools are too old and too small for their students.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "Gery sees the importance of community members having a direct voice in the decisions made and the direction taken by CPS. That’s why he supports a hybrid elected-appointed school board, with the majority of members being appointed by the mayor, so that the mayor is held accountable for the educational outcomes of the district throughout the city."[117]

Crime

“

Addressing public safety, violence prevention, and criminal justice reform requires a holistic approach that gives everyone a seat at the table. Gery was part of the original team of people who first implemented community policing in Chicago, and it’s this kind of proactive, socially-conscious approach that he will bring back to city government as mayor.

The Chicago Police Department will undergo reforms ordered under the federal court consent decree. These reforms are crucial. It is equally critical that we have the best trained police force in the country and that the police receive the respect they deserve for the work they do to keep us safe. The relationship between the community and the police is polarized and lacks trust. Our city cannot go on like this, and Gery pledges to make this relationship stronger and better.

We also must recognize that public safety is not only a question of the police. It’s a question of educational opportunity, job opportunities, and equity. Crime is a symptom brought on by years of prejudice and disinvestment. We cannot conquer this challenge if we continue to address it in silos, which is why Gery called for the creation of the the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction and Prevention to direct and coordinate violence reduction strategies moving forward.

We will be safer when we work together. That means working strategically and dynamically across city agencies, with researchers, nonprofits, and corporate partners. It means working with the Chicago Public Schools to make sure that at-risk youth are attending high-quality schools and getting the attention they need. It means working with the Department of Family and Support Services to provide targeted early childhood development supports to parents and children.

Gery Chico is committed to bringing the city together to address public safety holistically.[118][97]

”

Police reform consent decree

  • "The consent decree is a good first step, and as mayor I will codified into law to protect Chicago from the neglect and malice of the Trump Justice Department. New steps should be taken to establish trust with the community and to help our police officers protect our city, as most of them work to do every day."[119]

Tax increment financing

“

TIFs can be an essential tool in breathing new life into a neighborhood. The long-standing problem with TIFs is that many elected officials have used them as a slush fund for pet projects. That must — and will — come to an end when I become mayor. We will be more strategic and scrupulous in using TIF dollars by ensuring they are directed to long ignored neighborhoods in our city, and when combined with opportunity zone capital. TIFs will be an essential tool in rebuilding communities. This means we can build new train stations, libraries, schools, shopping and offices where they’re lacking. Surplus TIF funds must be returned to CPS and the other taxing bodies for their needs.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

  • "No. I prefer to retain flexibility with regards to affordable housing; in some cases taxes and fees to supports community developments in underserved communities may be preferable."[120]

Ethics reforms

Chico released a plan called Sunshine Chicago 2019. It read:

“

In 2011, Gery Chico introduced and fought for the Sunshine Chicago platform to promote transparency and more ethical behavior in city government. While the city has done a better job in this area – it has miles to go before it will be able to give Chicagoans the government it deserves.

Eight years later, Gery is expanding on his Sunshine Chicago platform by drawing very clear lines for elected officials to abide by and also be strengthening the authorities responsible for enforcing the rules.

1) End aldermanic prerogative: As mayor, I will end the outdated and problematic system of “aldermanic prerogative,” where local aldermen have near-total control over zoning, permits and licenses in their wards. Chicago already has several boards and departments, such as the Chicago Plan Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Department of Planning, the Department of Buildings and others. These entities work hard to incorporate community feedback into city planning and development. We should get out of their way and let them do their work.

2) Ban on all outside income. The position of alderman has not been a part-time position for decades. City council members are paid like full time public servants and it is time they be treated like it. As mayor, I will enact an ordinance following federal guidelines, banning almost all outside income. Aldermen are free to write as many books as they please, but they will no longer be able to be hired and paid by private special interests while they are serving in the city council as elected representatives.

3) Chicago’s Inspector General and Board of Ethics shall oversee all ethics-related matters. As I said in 2011, for far too long, city “ethics” rules have been a hodgepodge of overlapping departments – often with no clear enforcement mechanism. As mayor, I will consolidate all ethics regulation and enforcement under the Inspector General. I will also be supporting legislation to have the Inspector General have oversight responsibility over the city council. The Inspectors General who have served the city have done so with integrity. The office is ideal for enforcing a consolidated code of ethics for the entire city government; legislative and executive branches.

4) Term limits for city elected officials. Term limits are essential. Some wards with long-serving incumbents have changed over time, and their new voters should be afforded a chance for new representation. Additionally, it is a sad reality that far too often we have seen long-serving aldermen abuse their position to profit themselves. As mayor, I will introduce and support an ordinance to limit Chicago aldermen to three terms. While city should have continuity of service, 12 years is a reasonable limit that allows for the building and transition of institutional knowledge.[121][97]

”

Bill Daley

Bill Daley

Pensions

Amending the state constitution

  • "[E]verything must be on the table, including amending the state constitution. ... One thing that cannot be on the table is more property taxes."[113]

Additional statements

  • "There are two ways to approach our pension problem: find more money year after year by raising taxes and cutting services or fix the system so that funding and benefits are secure, predictable and adequate without squeezing taxpayers or breaking our promise to retirees. To address the pension issue, Bill will look at all options for more state revenue. Bill will also convene all stakeholders to consider pension reforms, revisit the annual cost of living increases and explore benefits changes for future employees. Finally, Bill will only consider a temporary borrowing plan if it’s accompanied by an iron-clad commitment to reforms. More local taxes are the last resort."[122]

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. This is not a yes or no question. There are legitimate reasons to close schools: extreme under-enrollment, poor physical condition and chronically low performance despite efforts to help schools improve. If I am elected, I will establish a community-driven process to open and close schools. We will hold all schools, including neighborhood and charter schools, to the same standards. We need to honor parent choices.

2. Again, this is not a yes or no question. Closings depend on performance, enrollment and school condition. We will go neighborhood-by-neighborhood and ask the community what kind of schools they want. Our goal is to give every family more quality school options close to home while maintaining the right of parents to apply to schools across the system.

3. I have no plans to open any new schools in the short term. New schools will be driven by neighborhood need and community input.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "Chicago needs more community involvement in the school board, but the mayor must also be held accountable. I support a hybrid board — with the mayor appointing four seats, including the board president, and the local school councils feeding up recommendations for the other three seats. The process to recommend community board members must include all Chicagoans including permanent residents, and undocumented individuals. An election administered by a board of elections would leave important voices out of the process."[123]

Crime

Daley released a three-part crime plan. The following are excerpts. Read the full plan here.

“

1. Enforcing and Strengthening Gun Laws
Plan: Bill will call for action from federal, state, and county governments, and take immediate steps in Chicago to stop the flow of guns into our communities. He will push for stronger sentencing for those convicted of gun crimes. He will focus on putting away the most dangerous criminals and cutting off their supply of firearms. ...

2. Investing in Police and Developing a Coordinated Gang Strategy
Plan: Invest heavily in training and demand a results-driven culture within the Police Department that rewards good leadership. The Chicago Police Departments gang investigation units must be better supported by consistent, experienced officers whose job is focused exclusively on tackling gangs. ...

3. Violence Reduction
Plan: Chicago police will join with prevention and intervention experts to reach individuals who are the most likely to commit a violent crime and provide counseling, job training and placement. Bill will take the work to scale and encourage a culture change within districts. He will work with outreach groups and ensure front-line officers have an effective line of communication that connects the street-knowledge to gang investigation officers and intelligence.[97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

The consent decree is an important step that can go a long way toward rebuilding trust. I support increased training for Chicago police, greater emphasis on community policing, and better transparency as outlined in the consent decree, because we can’t continue with the status quo. Too many Chicagoans don’t trust the police, the clearance rate for shootings and murders is unacceptable, and officers aren’t getting adequate mental health support. My goal is a more professional force that has the trust of communities they protect. The consent decree is a useful tool to build that trust.

Chicago will succeed in implementing the consent decree by investing in our police. My crime plan emphasizes professional development for police, and I call for immediately requiring 40 hours of annual training. The consent decree only calls for 16. Some district commanders in Chicago are innovative leaders who have built relationships in the communities they police. In line with the focus on community policing in the consent decree, I will emphasize better information sharing across districts, and continue to create a results-oriented culture in the Police Department.

I support the consent decree, but it will be expensive to implement. Improving any organizational culture is difficult and it takes time. Meeting the requirements of the decree could take a decade, and I think the city’s cost estimates are too low. For the consent decree to be successful, every part of the police force, city leadership, and monitor must be on the same page. The next Mayor and Police Superintendent must commit and gain buy-in from the commanders and cops.[123][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

TIFs are a tool, and as Mayor, I will employ them as part of a coordinated strategy to drive economic development in the South and West sides. We must sync our public spending on things like infrastructure, parks, and new TIFs, with private investments through New Market Tax Credits, and Economic Opportunity Zones.

TIFs are part of this strategy, but they must be used transparently. I will improve reports to account for TIF spending across the city and focus on areas of the city that need help. Coordinated and bold investments are key to growing Chicago to 3 million people. We are also looking at additional reforms.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

  • "I am committed to building and maintaining affordable neighborhoods across Chicago. We need to grow to solve our most pressing problems and to maintain our quality of life. My focus for affordable housing is to simplify access to the 20+ different housing programs, better preserve the housing stock we have, and build new units in every ward in the city."[120]

Ethics reforms

“

One of the first things I did in this campaign was release an ethics plan that included term limits for mayor. I’ve continued to talk about ethics and proposed a bold plan to shrink our city council to 15 from 50 aldermen, make the position full time, and impose a three-term limit. Public servants must serve Chicagoans, not themselves.

Being Chicago’s mayor is not a stepping stone for me. I’ve been fortunate in my career to serve as Secretary of Commerce and White House Chief of Staff, and to lead Corporate Social Responsibility for JP Morgan Chase. I will serve two terms as mayor and no more.[97]

”
“

I have proposed a bold plan to shrink city council to 15 aldermen from 50. We need a smaller council that works for the whole city, not as mini-mayors, and not to benefit themselves personally. Aldermanic privilege would be much different or eliminated in this new council organization.[124][97]

”

Amara Enyia

Amara Enyia

Pensions

Amending the state constitution

  • "There are options on the table for generating revenue, re-amortizing our debt, that we can actually look at, expanding the tax on services, which other states do, before we start to cut pension benefits, which I think is just fundamentally wrong."[113]

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

These questions have loaded language (i.e. "chronically underperforming", "under enrolled") without addressing the reasons why schools 'underperform' or why CPS' has "under enrolled" schools (Chicago's overall population loss).

That said:

1. No. New schools mean nothing if we do not invest in the students. Investments in the resources that students need (SEL, licensed social workers, etc) will improve student outcomes. Also, investing in teachers and support staff they need to be able to do their jobs. Moreover, these same investments need to happen in the neighborhoods that are the home for these schools.

2. No. Research showed that students who were displaced from 'underutilized' schools actually did worse in their receiving schools (in addition to the fact that CPS didn't honor its promise of sending kids to higher performing schools). We need to completely reimagine education and what it looks like even in a landscape where student population is less than school capacity. And CPS need(ed) to be proactive with understanding demographic trends instead of using reactionary tactics like school closings that were poorly planned and executed.

3. No. Not if the analysis of where these buildings are built and which communities are served is not done with an equity lens. (i.e. CPS closing four Englewood high schools and having to be forced to allow existing students in Englewood to attend the new school). Transparency about where these capital expenditures are happening and who is being served, is key. Moreover, we definitely do not need to be expanding charter schools as part of this process (which is what CPS did in the past).[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "A significant number of citizens have expressed support for a fully elected school board. Trusting that people know what they need should lead our decision-making. Simply being elected is not a panacea. But what people are looking for is accountability. And as it stands, with an appointed school board, there is minimal evidence of accountability to children who attend Chicago Public Schools. An elected school board is also about responsiveness and residents wanting to have input in what is happening in the schools where they are sending their children. So I definitely support an elected school board."[125]

Crime

“
  • Empower Communities to Self-Monitor – Dedicate percentage of CPD budget for Community Empowered For Safety program with the Chicago Police Department to replace the now defunct CAPS program.
  • Restorative Justice as Violence Prevention – Expand implementation of restorative justice models in communities and schools as a violence prevention and community building strategy.
  • Strong Blocks [equal] Safe Blocks – Allocate larger percentage of overall police budget to building sustainable, strong block clubs across the city that serve as eyes and ears for local police districts, as well as safe spaces for community building.
  • Prevent Violence at the Root – Invest in abating public health hazards like lead and manganese exposure, restore mental health and behavioral health services and institutions, address food deserts, support entrepreneurship and small businesses.[126][97]
 ”

Police reform consent decree

  • "I was part of several efforts citywide connected to the DOJ’s report, where they sought community input on what should happen and an understanding of the conditions related to police reforms. The consent decree is vitally necessary as we have proven time and time again, and evidenced by the $1.7B penalties related to police misconduct cases that we cannot rely on the police department, on its own, to implement the reforms that communities have been demanding for decades. So it is necessary to have another layer of accountability to oversee police department conduct and an enhanced model of police training that continues to modernize and take into account type, consistency, and frequency. It’s also why it’s important that we continue to push back when the president and the attorney general deem the consent decree unnecessary."[125]

Tax increment financing

“

The City of Chicago has stretched its use of TIFs far beyond the stated purpose of spurring economic development in ‘blighted’ communities. TIFs, when used properly could actually be an effective tool to spur economic investment and growth. But the program lacks three major components: transparency, consistency and equity in its use, and accountability for how tax dollars are used.

Transparency: For a long time, I participated in the TIF Illumination project, an initiative that sought to educate residents in all 50 wards on how their TIF dollars are being spent (note: Tom Tresser, founder of CivicLab, launched the TIF Illumination project). That process involved teams of researchers reviewing hundreds of pages of TIF documents online to decipher the full details of each TIF district. Transparency is more than just dumping PDFs online. It also includes making information easily accessible and digestible.

The public should know both the individuals that make up the committee determining TIF allocation decisions, mandated public meetings in advance of any decisions to allocate TIF dollars, and data on how TIFs are used by ward — which projects/recipients, the terms of the agreement, and how closely the agreement to receive TIF dollars is adhered to.

There must be full City Council review of TIF funds during the budget approval process, and even aldermen should be properly educated on how TIFs are used in their wards. Public education is not just for the public, it should also be for public servants. Aldermen should be briefed on the ins and outs of TIFs if they are to be effective stewards of any TIF processes in their wards.

Consistency and equity in use: Last year, Chicago reported $146 million in TIF surplus. An equitable economy development plan would determine how to best allocate those funds to the neighborhoods in most need – communities that struggle to attract private investment.

Porting: This creative tactic is used by the city to steer TIF dollars to favored projects (i.e. the $55 million that was steered to Navy Pier for improvements). Unfortunately, porting rarely seems to go from TIFs flush with cash to those in blighted areas. Porting decisions should be approved by aldermen and if the city is committed to equity, TIF dollars should be steered to the community areas that are in dire need of economic investment.

Accountability: Follow through is a must for any entities receiving TIF dollars. Most recently, we had a big box retailer that closed stores on the South Side of the city while opening up stores on the North side, all while requesting public dollars. Public dollars must be tied to public benefit – meaning the number of jobs created, quality wages and working conditions for companies receiving public dollars, etc. And if those sorts of criteria are not met, the city should have a clawback provision to recoup public dollars that have been spent.

From my standpoint as an economic development professional, TIFs can be an effective tool for economic development but it requires us to actually steer the public dollars to the communities that need it most. The program must be transparent and subject to oversight that fosters accountability for how those dollars are used. That is the only way to have an economic development process with integrity and that equitably allocates our city financial resources.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. I would do so by increasing the affordable housing percentage mandate for developers; Increasing affordable housing for family size units; Eliminating the developer 'opt out for a fee' provision; Increasing and expanding the real estate transfer tax to include economic development uses; Lifting the rent control ban; and instituting a collaborative holistic model that tethers homelessness mitigation, substance abuse counselling, mental health services and veterans services to housing."[120]

Ethics reforms

Enyia released a seven-point Good Government Platform that includes: removing executive functions from aldermen; increasing the city inspector general's power to investigate city government; developing an inspector general-led commission; ending outside employment for aldermen; increasing accessibility of community hearings; increasing examination of no-contract bid awards; and considering the creation of an Office of Public Advocate. Read the full plan here.

Additional statements:

“

To the extent robust suffrage participation is present and the needs of a particular constituency are not met, elections currently serve as an effective process to limit the terms of elected officials. At the same time, we must be sensitive to citizen frustration and distrust, with the ineffectiveness and disregard of local government leadership, that demands term limits.[97]

”
“

There is a sense of responsibility about what we can imagine this city looks like where equity is a matter of policy, where integrity is not a figment of our imagination, and where we can actually trust the leadership that is responsive and amplifies the voices of the people of this city. This requires eliminating aldermanic prerogative. Community decisions should be made via a “bottoms up” approach of civic engagement where the citizenry engages in a democratic process that determines neighborhood outcomes rather than a “top down” approach where the alderman makes a unilateral one.[124][97]

”

Bob Fioretti

Bob Fioretti

Pensions

“

Chicago is on the hook for $42 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, which works out to $35,000 for every household. Those pensions, in the language of the Illinois Constitution, “shall not be diminished or impaired.”

I am not for reducing pension benefits for current city employees or retirees, either by Constitutional Amendment or by any other means. As the Supreme Court has ruled many times, these promises must be honored. I agree with those rulings. There already have been some reductions in pension benefits for new employees and I would pursue that avenue working with the unions to ensure that the pension funds always remain solvent.[127][97]

”

Education

School board selection

  • "I am for a hybrid school board, with some members elected, and some appointed. Chicago is the only school district in Illinois where the voters have no say on who sits on the school board. At the same time, the Mayor needs to retain some accountability to counterbalance what would likely be a school board dominated by special interests."[128]

Crime

  • "It is a complex problem, not just limited to illegal guns. The solutions are also complex. The most important thing is to invest in our neighborhoods, ensuring excellent schools and good jobs are not limited to the downtown area. Next, is re-opening the mental health clinics that were closed in a short-sighted effort to save a relatively small amount of money. I was a sharp and vocal critic of those closings. We also cannot continue to have a shortage of law enforcement personnel. The current Mayor promised to hire 1,000 new police officers when he first ran. Eight years later, we still have not done that. I voted “No” on six of eight budgets while I was in the City Council largely because they did not provide enough resources for law enforcement. Finally, as Mayor, I would seek to open a new crime lab to reduce the unacceptable backlog of unsolved cases. One reason for the low clearance rate of violent crimes is that law enforcement is forced to wait months for evidence to come back from the state crime lab. Other large cities have their own crime labs. In partnership with other law enforcement agencies in the Chicago area, so should we."[127]

Police reform consent decree

  • "Federal consent decrees seem to follow Garry McCarthy around like the plague. The decree will cost the city $25 million in the first year. We can call that the 'McCarthy tax.' It is clear some reforms were needed, especially as regards to training and use of force guidelines. Strong leadership from City Hall, which has been sorely absent, working with all stakeholders could have formulated these changes without the need of monitoring by the federal government. Another concern I have is that this was driven by politics and not policy. What was the rush to get this done before a new Mayor takes office? The Mayor seems more concerned with a “legacy” than with getting it right."[128]

Tax increment financing

“

Chicago is overrun by TIFs which drain property taxes from essential services such as schools, parks and social services, often with the money subsidizing private developers. TIFs were originally designed to improve blighted areas by attracting construction and jobs, but they have turned into a slush fund for the Mayor.

TIFs exploded in the 1990s and 2000s to claim more than $6 billion from city property taxes. In 2017, Chicago had at least 143 TIFs covering one-third of the city that devour $660 million each year that should pay to educate our children and for the care of our most fragile citizens.

Our central business district is hardly blighted. Yet, the Loop, Near North Side, Near South Side and Near West Side have taken nearly $1.28 billion of the $2.25 billion in TIF dollars spent from to Only $4.8 million was spent collectively in Pullman, Riverdale, Roseland and West Pullman, far South Side communities where blight is prevalent and economic development scarce. In addition, according to reports, tens of

The TIF process is fundamentally broken, which is why I will call for an immediate moratorium on any new TIFs. If we freeze the TIF program, it will allow us time to conduct a complete audit to find out exactly where our money has gone and what the benefits are. This audit should be done by a completely independent body and be made public, giving independent experts, media and the people of Chicago the ability to weigh in on the best uses of this money.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised his administration would be “more accountable, open, and transparent” than any other administration. The TIF Data Portal on the City’s website, while a beginning, falls far short of anything most people would call transparency. Independent research has shown millions in unaccounted for money, and the Department of Planning has not answered demands to account for these dollars. I will call for a complete overhaul of the system to ensure true transparency.

Meanwhile, estimates say the City may currently have $1.4 to $1.7 billion in unused TIF funds. I will declare a TIF surplus with the vast sum that is not committed to any specific projects or debt. That money could then be used to reopen our mental health clinics, shore up some of our school budgets, make a payment into our beleaguered pension fund, turn some of the closed schools into community centers that drive economic development and begin meaningful neighborhood economic development programs.

I would support the use of TIF funds with local support to assist in creating development and jobs in our communities. Thoughtful development can put vacant properties and parcels back on the property tax rolls, simultaneously generating tax revenue, creating jobs and fostering safe streets and strong neighborhoods. The first step in addressing our city’s financial crisis is to use TIF money for its original purpose: lifting our least-developed neighborhoods out of blight and poverty to create opportunities across all of our communities.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. Expanding affordable housing options is very important to keep working class families as the staple of our neighborhoods."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • "I proposed no more than two terms for every elected official in Chicago ten years ago. Of the top ten metropolitan cities in the country, only Chicago and Philadelphia do not have term limits."
  • "I have long argued for the end of Aldermanic privilege. Aldermanic politics should play no role in which permits are allowed, which zoning changes are passed, or which businesses may open. The aldermen should have a voice, but not final veto power. To establish a new governance for the city, we need structural change, not cosmetic change. Council members should be prohibited from exercising functions that disperse discretionary funding (i.e. menu money) within their ward. City council should have a professional staff for all of its standing and special committees."
  • "Ending Aldermanic privilege will go a long way toward ending the culture of corruption. I am also for reducing the size of the City Council by half. Los Angeles, a city twice our size, gets by with 15 councilmen. I think we would not only survive but thrive with 25 aldermen instead of 50. The authority of the inspector general should be increased with access to all records and personnel. There should be restrictions on lobbying and employment and in my administration I would impose a 2-year ban on working or lobbying any organization wanting to do business with the city, including sub-contractors."[124]

La Shawn Ford

La Shawn Ford

Pensions

“

[A]s an Illinois legislator I am certain the state Constitution should not be amended, even if our pension responsibilities represent an unfathomable amount of debt. We should be responsible, most of all, to those who have been promised their retirement and security and who have planned their lives based on these promises. Then, there are those currently under contract. This is the time to be honest with them and halt the past trend of false promises. Lastly, those hired in the future also need not false promises, but adequate retirement security. The key here is simultaneously honoring our past commitments while providing transparency in how we move forward to provide a responsible retirement plan. Ultimately, false promises have to end.

That said, the question appropriately is about those who are under contract, those currently employed, and those talents we want to join our workforce. We need to do everything we can to abide by our agreements made to city employees, ensure current adequate retirement security, and creatively construct existing and new employee packages with blended tools to ensure we provide comprehensive security that the city can afford now and in the future.

For example, as part of my health platform, my goal as mayor will be to make Chicago the most insured city in the nation. Sufficient health care coverage for existing city workers and retirees will be ensured utilizing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to the fullest extent while making sure that retirees who are in financial hardship have access to additional subsidies.[129][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

Chronically low-performing schools are often synonymous with chronically underfunded schools. I believe it is a moral imperative to keep all of our schools open. I will work hard to ensure that no more school closings occur under my watch. School closings put students at risk, disrupting their education, making transportation and therefore attendance difficult, and escalating their exposure to violence.

Charter schools and in some ways selective enrollment schools, have created an environment where neighborhood schools are sometimes seen as a selection of last resort. This does not have to be the case. I believe strongly in re-modeling existing CPS neighborhood schools. Chronically low-performing schools do not need closing they need scientific evaluation, holistic practices, and caring attention. Some schools need repurposing, such as additional room for mental health services and other programs, and innovative ideas the students, parents, and the teachers desire, and still other neighborhoods require new schools such as the new comprehensive high school in Austin that I have worked hard on as state representative.

But most of all I believe that if we work on a justified sense of safety, affordable housing, and revitalization (without gentrification) many Black and Brown families who were displaced to the South and West Side suburbs will return to this city and schools that are more vibrant and alive than ever.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "I support a democratically-elected School Board overseeing CPS. I am fully in favor of putting the board in the hands of publicly elected community members who represent respective regions of the city – South Side, West Side, North Side, etc. CPS is a monolith, that this is a core part of their challenges, and I believe continued, but careful, decentralization is key. Many of the most effective interventions in CPS history have involved decentralized CPS."[129]

Crime

“
  • Establish an Office of Violence Prevention to reduce systemic inequities, measure impact, and coordinate community efforts
  • Expand mental health services and fund holistic health programs
  • Increase investment in Chicago Park Districts, community centers, youth employment and entrepreneurship programs
  • Explore alternative models for community safety and expand restorative justice initiatives
  • Enhance police training protocols and renegotiate commitments between community members and police to restore healthy, respectful relationships.[130][97]
 ”

Police reform consent decree

“

I am in strong support of the consent decree. There are ways it might be stronger, and it alone will not completely resolve all issues of police brutality and accountability, but it can begin to address disproportionate policing and repair the broken relationship between police and many residents throughout our communities.

My position may be different from other candidates. I believe this cannot solely be a top down process. There will truly need to be a broad, community-based effort.

All stakeholders need to be part of the conversation, and in restorative ways, including the Fraternal Order of the Police and those community members who have committed crimes or otherwise who are likely to get caught up in the criminal justice system.

There must be some consensus across stakeholders, and a recognition that the current path is bad for both the Chicago police and the communities in which they serve. I believe I have a realistic optimism that these groups can get together and have some hard and serious conversations and negotiations.

In addition, we need to work on economic equity and opportunity for all of our families. We need to make sure every child from birth will have a high quality education. We must make sure that students are successful in their interested career areas. CPS, City Colleges and the vocational schools must work together to bring broader prosperity. Employment, including youth employment, is key to reducing violence. We have been working intensely with the top tech companies to help build greater tech and computer literacy in our communities.

In other words, we have long been faced with some severe tensions. We need the police to act more like partners, like real community members, and yet there needs to be new forms of accountability for those police officers who have gotten caught up on the wrong side of brutal and ineffective culture.[129][97]

”

Tax increment financing

"As mayor, I would start with a moratorium on TIFs. The statute must be amended in Springfield with public hearings to improve the current law. We must add protections against the current abuses that continue gentrification in parts of the city while ignoring development and job opportunities in the hardest hit communities. We must ensure that there is equity in the utilization of TIF dollars by local small businesses in the tax districts."[96]

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

  • "No. Any questions that ask if I will 'force' Chicagoans to do anything is not a helpful starting place. It is not a helpful starting place for any of our city's work, particularly around our attempts to revitalize neighborhoods while avoiding gentrifying and displacing city residents. We need diverse mechanisms for affordable housing. This is an area where our country could benefit by looking at Canada where they have successful, best-practice models."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • Regarding term limits: "Yes. Two terms for mayor, four terms for aldermen/women."
  • "We need better vigilance. We need a stronger investigative Inspector General’s Office. We need term limits. It is time for the city to stop thinking corruption is acceptable. Aldermanic privilege is unfortunate in certain circumstances, with certain decisions, but ultimately they need to be the ultimate arbiters of what happens their wards as democratically-elected representatives of their own areas. The Burke case unfortunately respects our history, but it is unusual, and we have to be careful about dramatically altering policies based on somewhat rare, single instances."[124]

Jerry Joyce

Jerry Joyce

Pensions

“

Chicago needs new ways of thinking and new sources of revenue to fund our priorities of public safety and good education and to tackle our unfunded pension obligations. These should include efforts to:

  • Dedicate any portion of revenue generated by the City of Chicago from the tax on legalized recreational marijuana to paying down unfunded pension liabilities. The Governor-elect and the State Legislature have made it clear recreational marijuana will be legalized.
  • Conduct an analysis of the effects of a commuter tax to determine the impact on Chicago’s business community.
  • Introduce video gaming, including machines at O’Hare Airport. We must recognize neighboring casinos would oppose this effort and it would need federal rules and legislative approval.
  • Permit sports betting, with revenues dedicated to pension obligations.
  • Charge a passenger facility fee at Chicago airports that would sunset after a time certain. Dedicate these revenues to pension obligation pay-down.
  • Consider the proposed south suburban airport and explore ways that Chicago could directly benefit from its opening.
  • Inventory all city-owned assets and analyze the possible non-permanent transfer any of those assets into the pension funds or entities established for the benefit of the pension funds.

Pension Governance

  • Chicago must require more accountability from the pension funds. This includes the possibility of clawbacks for managers who underperform the S&P Index.
  • Political contributions from anyone who derives a benefit from pension fund management or investments should be banned.[131][97]
 ”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. No. It’s a moral imperative that every child in Chicago has access to a quality public education. We should focus on ensuring that every school in Chicago is safe, clean and high-performing. Some schools may require closing, but these decisions cannot be made in a vacuum and the fact that a school is low-performing should only be one factor.

2. No. Closing a school should not be the first response to under-enrollment. We should focus on what is driving the loss of students and this analysis should figure prominently into the overall strategy. We have to take a broader look at the demographics of the surrounding area and engage in vigorous conversations with parents and community members. An elected, representative school board, I believe, would promote accountability in these neighborhood-driven conversations.

3. Yes, BUT given the extreme financial challenges facing our city, any decision on new construction needs to take into account all available options including refurbishing existing buildings. We need to be mindful that under-enrollment in one school doesNot mean there can’t be overcrowding in others. So decisions on whether to build, refurbish or even close must be made on a case-by-case basis. We have seen the consequences that come from making blanket promises with a system as complex as CPS. The only promise should be to do what's best for students and their families.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "It is imperative that the Chicago Board of Education has input from parents and community members. Without this, the Board is ill-equipped to make decisions that impact the education of Chicago students. I support a School Board made up of 7 members – 6 elected by districts and one appointed by the mayor. The mayoral appointee must be a parent of a child currently enrolled in CPS at the time of the appointment."[132]

Crime

“

Rebuilding and Restoring Staffing

  • The police department has been severely depleted — costing the department millions of dollars in overtime, money that could be better spent on technical resources and training to help Chicago officers effectively carry out their jobs. City budgeting must prioritize hiring more officers to build a more responsive and accountable CPD.
  • In addition to the severe financial consequences of having an under-staffed police department, without a substantial increase in the number of sworn officers CPD will continue to be unable to effectively serve and protect Chicagoans. Chicago lags the nation in clearance rates for homicides and shootings. All Chicagoans are put at risk by the city’s failure to prioritize investigation of these crimes. Too many cases are languishing because of the manpower shortage. The CPD detective division must be restored to full capacity to ensure violent crime is investigated in a timely manner.
  • To supplement the detective division, the position of “detective emeritus” would be created to allow recently retired detectives to be called back on a case-by-case basis and paid on an hourly basis. This additional pool of detectives would help combat potential staffing shortages

Youth Engagement

  • Law enforcement is but one component of public safety. Positive, effective programs need to be developed for youth in our neighborhoods that focus on underlying causes of crime, including youth unemployment, lack of educational opportunity, and lack of hope. Programs must be developed and resourced to provide summer and part-time public service jobs to help shape the next generation of leaders. To help create a pipeline to success, youth that successfully participate in these city job programs will be given course credit at Chicago City Colleges and state universities, preference for grants and scholarships for higher education, and/or receive credit towards applications for City jobs.
  • Additionally, existing programs that build interaction and engagement between Chicago’s youth and CPD need to be enhanced. I propose new programs such as one-on-one mentoring with CPD officers; increased CPD-Community teams working together at schools, parks, community gardens; sports leagues and tourneys; and other programs that facilitate positive interaction and engagement.

Community Engagement

  • Building trust between CPD and the various communities in Chicago is vital. To establish more authentic community policing, I propose a Neighborhood Immersion Pilot Program. This pilot program would create teams of sergeants and beat officers that remain on the same beat for a period of 30 months. Having the same team in the same neighborhood for an extended period of time will foster consistency and familiarity that is currently lacking. With this immersion, officers will be better able to gather intelligence for solving crimes. By increasing the clearance rates and establishing a stable presence in these communities, the relationship and trust between officers and the communities they serve will improve.

New Training Facilities

  • Significant funds must be devoted to the needs of our first responder training, but the current proposal for constructing a new police and fire academy completely ignores the fiscal health of the city. The city should wait until it is on more stable financial footing before revisiting the costly construction of a new facility.
  • My proposed plan ensures that public safety, economic development and fiscal responsibility go hand-in-hand. We will repurpose five of the remaining vacant Chicago Public School buildings that were closed in 2013 to house the city’s new fire and police training academies. This plan could save the city more than $100 million and serve as a catalyst for additional investment in the surrounding communities. The schools chosen for this plan were strategically selected because they are located within the boundaries of one of the newly-established Federal Opportunity Zones — a federal program that provides tax incentives to help spur investment in economically-depressed communities. This plan will save the city an additional $400,000 annually in costs currently associated with maintaining the vacant buildings.

Gun Violence

  • Chicago does not have a gun problem; it has a gun EPIDEMIC. And it’s an epidemic that has been stealing innocent lives and destroying Chicago communities for decades. Between 2013 and 2016, Chicago Police seized almost 7,000 illegal guns each year, In 2017 that number jumped to more than 8,600. The amount of illegal guns coming into the city through illegal trafficking from neighboring states continues to exacerbate the problem.
  • Addressing Chicago’s gun epidemic requires a coordinated effort. Every level of government must be brought to the table — federal, state, county and city agencies — to coordinate a response that shares strategic and financial resources and utilizes the best tools available to law enforcement. I would seek more assistance from the federal government and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and work with the ATF on a pilot program focused exclusively on removing guns from our streets.

Pretrial Concerns

  • Under current policy, violent offenders and individuals with multiple felony convictions or bond-related violations are being released in high volumes on “I”-Bonds or placed on electronic monitoring. Without adequate supervision or monitoring, many of these individuals fail to appear for court and return to criminal activity.
  • Monitoring criminal defendants. Many defendants placed on electronic monitoring disable their ankle bracelet, violating their bail conditions, and roam our streets with no accountability or restrictions. While an arrest warrant may be issued, apprehending these defendants has not been made a priority in Chicago and Cook County. Catching these defendant who have violated their bail conditions and are a public danger must be a priority. Let’s get back to the basics and form a Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police task force to locate and apprehend defendants who remove their electronic monitoring bracelet.
  • Safety and well-being of crime victims. Just as victims of crime should be notified when a convicted felon is released from prison, victims have the right to be notified immediately that a criminal defendant has violated conditions of bail and/or escaped from their electronic monitoring ankle bracelets. It is common sense, but it does not occur. The rights of victims of crimes must be given the attention and protections they deserve.[133][97]
 ”

Police reform consent decree

“

I support a Chicago Police Department that is effective, accountable and fair. There are many components of the consent decree that can help achieve this. The consent decree will likely be in place by the time the next mayor is sworn in. As mayor, I would work with the FOP to implement and satisfy the terms of the decree as expeditiously as possible.

The decree calls for better training, better supervision, better equipment and departmental guidelines that are clear, these components could help improve the operations and efficiencies of the police department. Estimated costs that will be associated with implementation of the consent decree vary from several million up to hundreds of millions of dollars. To my knowledge, there has not been any federal or state funding identified to cover the costs of implementation and that is an issue that needs to be addressed.[132][97]

”

Tax increment financing

"TIFs can be an important economic development tool, but in Chicago it is clear that there have been abuses. The current lack of accountability and transparency in the TIF process is a tremendous problem that the next Mayor must identify as a priority. As Mayor, I would conduct a comprehensive review of the TIF process, including public input, to ensure that TIF dollars are only being used for their intended purpose."[96]

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

  • "I would seek to find a balance between gentrification and recognizing the specific needs and concerns of long-time residents and work with developers to address these matters."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • "I have always supported term limits with two terms for mayor and two to three terms for aldermen."
  • "I support City Council reforms but the aldermen are the voices of the people they serve and I believe they should retain aldermanic privilege to determine what is best for the constituents that they directly serve."
  • "I propose a ban on any outside income for members of the City Council and the senior staff of department agencies."[124]

John Kozlar

John Kozlar

Pensions

“

Pension Reform - NEW employees, who start in the year 2020, will be going on a 401K plan. Current employees and retirees will be grandfathered into their current pension program. This policy change will immediately stop the bleeding. No other candidate is talking about pension reform.[134][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. No. Low-performing schools should be revamped or re-purposed - not closed.

2. No. Schools that are under-enrolled should be revamped or re-purposed - not closed.

3. If we need more space for students, then adding new schools will be an option. However, if enrollment is down, we should invest more into our teachers and children, so that they can be properly equipped to teach and learn. We need to focus on nurturing our youth at a young age, so that they can be prepared as they enter adulthood.[116][97]

”

School board selection

    • "I believe in a 9 member Chicago Board of Education. 5 of which will be elected, and 4 appointed by the Mayor of Chicago. In order to be elected, the candidate must have some previous relationship with Chicago Public Schools (ie teachers, parents, principals, LSC member, etc). This will filter out money being poured into the election process, where only wealthy or well-funded candidates can win. There needs to be accountability from the Mayor’s office, which is why I do not feel it should be a completely elected school board."[135]

Crime

“
  • I will not undermine the importance of our Police Department
  • I will work with our community members and Chicago Police Department to infiltrate gangs and implement programs so the most at-risk Chicagoan's can have an opportunity to make a positive impact on society
  • We have some of the best CAPS groups with a strong sense of Chicago pride throughout our neighborhoods, and I will be there to support them every step of the way
  • I will work hard with the CPD and CAPS to implement new strategies for Chicago, and will advocate for more police presence and efficiency throughout our city
  • We need to start making criminals feel uncomfortable, and support our residents who stand up within our communities for a safer Chicago. I will make it known to all criminals, that we will protect our streets and will not tolerate anyone who tries to put fear into our neighborhoods."[134][97]
 ”

Police reform consent decree

  • "I believe the consent decree has some good recommendations when it comes to more training, however, I would rather listen to a group that has professional experience in policing. Individuals who have policing experience did not write the consent decree, resulting in unnecessary and illogical recommendations. I believe the intent to make the Chicago Police Department more efficient is a good intent. We just need better policy changes in place, without the need of making the Chicago Police Department less equipped to do its job to serve and protect our neighborhoods. I have my full ideas listed on my website at http://www.JohnKozlar.com."[135]

Tax increment financing

“

TIFs were intended to be used for blighted areas, however, they were not used for blighted areas. For example, millions of dollars were spent in the Willis Tower and Block 37, both located in downtown Chicago. What we have seen is neighborhoods being ignored, namely those on the South, Southeast, and West sides of our city. Our residents continue to feel disenfranchised due to the lack of investment inside of their neighborhoods. As a result of the abuse of the TIF funds, the areas that received the benefits of TIFs look beautiful, and the ones that were ignored are filled with empty lots and boarded up storefronts. This has resulted in violence pouring in all across the city, generational families moving out of Chicago, and the machine style of politics staying intact. If TIFs are still available, which we need to reassess to see if any funds remain, then we must invest in our neighborhoods throughout the City of Chicago, and not just downtown. I will redirect the funds to go to areas for its intended purpose — blighted areas. This will result in all of Chicago being treated fairly, funds going directly inside of neighborhood for long-term investments, and we can thereby aid in reducing the violence in our streets.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

Lori Lightfoot

Lori Lightfoot

Pensions

Amending the state constitution and bond borrowing

  • "People spend their whole working lives figuring out what their magic number is, when they’re going to be able to retire, and we can’t pull the rug out from under them."[113]
  • Regarding the bond proposal, Lightfoot called for "an independent analysis, substantive debate in City Council, and multiple public hearings."[114]

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. Closing a school for “chronic low-performance” says that we have failed. It means we have failed to help children learn, failed to save a community anchor, and in recent cases has meant we failed to provide black and brown children with the good quality, stable educational environment they deserve. A Lightfoot administration will engage in a respectful partnership with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to support and maintain clean, safe, quality public schools for every student in every neighborhood. In this collaborative environment, a closure would be the very last resort after all other options have been exhausted and after a transparent and engaged dialogue with all stakeholders. I would never agree to such a hard and fast rule that does not allow for nuance or community input to help turn a school around or give our kids the best quality public education in their neighborhood.

2. As with the first question, I would not commit to a rule that does not allow for community engagement in these critical decisions. Of course, our children should learn in an environment where they can enjoy a full range of educational experiences and resources. Those objectives become challenging to meet where there is material under-enrollment. However, our first reaction should not be to close those schools, which places the burden of failed economic development and disinvestment on our students and often on black and brown students in particular. Instead, we must increase enrollment by addressing the root causes of flight and working collaboratively with all stakeholders to turn our schools around.

3. As with the first two questions, I would make critical decisions about our schools collaboratively with stakeholders. Every student in every neighborhood deserves a safe, clean, quality school nearby; however, this is not the case in every neighborhood right now. I would work with parents, students, teachers, and other stakeholders to make this vision for a more equitable CPS a reality.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "My mother was an elected school board member, so I understand the importance of giving parents and stakeholders a real voice in how our children are educated. That is why I support a fully independent, elected school board. I am currently evaluating proposals for electing a school board, including whether candidates should first be required to serve on a Local School Council (LSC)."[136]

Crime

Lightfoot released a six-part public safety plan. The following are excerpts. Read the full plan here.

“

1. Addressing Violence as a Public Health Crisis
First, in order to tackle the violence, we must address it as a public health crisis. Framing the challenges in this way will compel the City to address the root causes of the violence and meet those challenges head on with a toolkit that extends beyond law enforcement. ...

2. New Mayor’s Office for Public Safety
To ensure that the city has a comprehensive public health approach to addressing violence and overall public safety, I will create a Mayor’s Office of Public Safety (“MOPS”), a first of its kind in Chicago. ...

3. The Role of Law Enforcement to Address Illegal Guns and Violence
... We must solve the illegal gun problem if we are going to reduce the crime and violence that plague the city. And we will do that through a proactive, coordinated response led by federal law enforcement officials, strengthening state and federal gun laws, creating a centralized department within CPD responsible for tracking illegal guns throughout the city, and strategically deploying police cameras in neighborhoods. ...

4. Rebuild Community Relations and Reform Police Practices
If Chicago is to succeed, then CPD must succeed. And for far too long, and despite the efforts of the vast number of current and former officers who are dedicated public servants committed to lawful policing, CPD has not succeeded at bridging the gap between it and the communities it serves. ...

5. Other Efforts to Address Violence and Help Ex-Offenders Reintegrate into Society
We cannot rely exclusively on “hard powers,” like arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment, to reduce crime and violence. This “hard” power only strategy has not worked and it has led to the mass incarceration of minorities. As a result, the city and its partners must also use “soft powers” to address the root causes of violence. ...

6. Develop Relevant Educational Programming for CPS Students
...[A]s mayor I will ask Chicago Public Schools to begin developing a K-12 curriculum that teaches children about the dangers of guns and gun violence, and how they can work within their communities to end violence and the scourge of illegal guns. The curriculum will also include sections devoted to conflict resolution, social justice and identifying and treating trauma associated with guns and violence.[97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

The consent decree proposed by the parties has yet to be approved by the federal court. I support a police consent decree because given CPD’s history, it is the only tool currently available to make the systemic reforms necessary, in a responsible time frame, in an environment of review and accountability. However, I have been clear that the draft prepared by the parties needs substantive changes and I have shared the changes that I believe are needed with the parties, and the federal court and they can be found on the campaign website, Lightfootforchicago.com.

I am the only candidate in this race that has a broad depth of experience in dealing with issues related to police excess force and abuse, accountability and reform. My perspective on these issues stems from my roles as a federal prosecutor and the head of the former Office of Professional Standards, in which I made countless recommendations to terminate police officers who failed to properly perform their duties, including in police-involved shootings. More recently, I led the Police Accountability Task Force (PATF), whose report served as the underpinnings for both the Obama DOJ report and recommendations on the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the consent decree. There would be no consent decree without the PATF. I also served as the president of Chicago Police Board, where I held officers accountable for misconduct. Before resigning from the police board to run for mayor, I significantly increased the number of officers that were terminated for serious misconduct or received lengthy suspensions.

My body of work demonstrates my commitment to ensuring that public safety is available to everyone and in every neighborhood, that officers must be held accountable for misconduct and that taxpayers cannot continue to shoulder the burden of unchecked misconduct manifested in settlements, judgments, and attorneys’ fees currently totaling over $500 million in the last seven years.[136][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

Chicago must bring real transparency to all aspects of tax increment financing (“TIF”), an economic development tool that diverts more than $650 million in property taxes annually.

When I am mayor, the city will not create new TIF districts until we have fully analyzed the performance of existing districts to ensure that they are meeting their intended objectives and that private recipients of TIF funds are satisfying their contractual obligations. The city will set performance thresholds for each TIF district, and each district will be reviewed at least every five years to determine whether those thresholds are being met. If they are not being met, then the city will, after soliciting public input, determine whether to close a district, revise its objectives or make other changes. In addition, the city will impose penalties on private recipients of TIF funds that do not meet their contractual obligations.

Before any new TIF is created, the city must strengthen the standards for determining whether a district qualifies for TIF. The city will no longer loosely apply the test for determining whether an area is “blighted,” and it will raise the bar for clearing the “but for” test, which requires one to show that private projects and investment would not happen without TIF investment. Only then will the city consider creating new TIF districts that meet these more rigorous standards.

For any new TIF district, the city will clearly describe the justifications for creating the TIF, and it will do so in publicly available documents and in town hall meetings in the proposed district where citizens can provide input. In addition, the city will closely monitor private developers to ensure they are meeting their obligations under redevelopment agreements, including those related to job creation and minority and women business enterprise requirements. If a private developer fails to meet its obligations, the city will enforce penalty provisions contained in the redevelopment agreement, including clawing back TIF funds.

I will address additional TIF-related reforms as the campaign progresses.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. As set forth in my housing plan, I support amending the Affordable Requirements Ordinance to increase the number of affordable units built, including requiring affordable units to be built within market rate developments, and shrinking the radius where affordable units can be built so developers are forced to build affordable units in gentrifying neighborhoods. I also support limiting an alderman's ability to keep affordable housing from being built in his or her ward."[120]

Ethics reforms

Lightfoot proposed a nine-point plan entitled Cleaning Up City Government, including: two-term limit for mayor; prohibiting city employees and officials from profiting from public service; shifting responsibility for the workers' compensation program from the council finance committee to the executive branch; centralizing the Office of Inspector General; complying with the Freedom of Information Act; increasing transparency in the tax increment financing program; merging the Chicago and Cook County boards of election; requiring separate counsel for the legislative and executive branches; and holding public town hall meetings during the budget season. Read the full plan here.

Additional statements:

  • "I support imposing a two term limit on mayor. And as set forth in my People First Pledge, I support limiting an alderman to serving two terms as chairperson of a city council committee."
  • "I support moving the city’s workers’ compensation program from city council to the executive branch and giving the inspector general authority to investigate and oversee the program. I also support limiting aldermen to serving two terms as chairman of any committee and curbing the aldermanic prerogative."
  • "I support fixing Rule 14 to ensure that if an alderman has a conflict of interest, he or she immediately disclose the conflict, and on the record, and immediately recuse him or herself from any city council proceedings related to the conflict."[124]

Garry McCarthy

Garry McCarthy

Pensions

Amending the state constitution

  • "Our police, fire and teacher pensions have to not only be protected, but funded in full. Chicago made them a promise and I will keep that promise."[137]

Additional statements

“

Reduction of benefits for newly hired city workers after a certain date, AKA Tier III benefits, would be the ideal scenario.

However, many veteran city workers who work side-by-side with new hires have expressed hostility toward lesser benefits for employees doing the same job they are. For example, two firefighters are both putting their lives on the line. Why would they want their partner to receive any less benefits? Rather than creating a new Tier III, I recommend a graduated pension tax with living requirements.

Many retired city workers have fled Chicago. The original intent of requiring current city workers to reside in Chicago is for tax purposes. Once we allow our retirees to leave – and take their pension money with them – our city loses out on its originally intended idea to capture revenues from city workers investing in neighborhood economies.

To stem this, we must implement a graduated pension tax on all who pull a pension. Those who keep their primary residence in Chicago will be subject to lesser benefits taxes. Those who choose to leave Chicago, or those who are collecting a pension or multiple pensions collectively higher than 1.5x the median US income, will be taxed at a higher percentage.

This plan also allows our retirees ample time to financially plan for retirement either within the city limits for a lesser pension tax, or outside the city limit while still constitutionally guaranteeing the originally defined benefit.[138][97]

”

Education

School closings

“

Rahm’s Record of Neglect of CPS Students & Chicago Neighborhoods

Rahm’s wrong-headed school closure strategy has uprooted more than 12,000 children from their home schools and disinvested struggling neighborhoods of their most reliable community resource. Thousands of children have been traumatized by the move, and put directly in the firing line of our already violent streets by having to travel outside of their own community to go to distant schools, sometimes miles away from familiar surroundings, leaving too many to struggle academically in unfamiliar learning environments. It’s not just the students who suffer, neighborhood economies are further depressed by the disinvestment of millions of dollars in job wages and consumer traffic taken out of the community thanks to closed neighborhood schools.

The Days of Using CPS & Our Children as Political Pawns Are Over

Rahm Emanuel and Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the mayor’s corrupt former CEO of CPS, contrived a pretext for closing scores of schools and laying off hundreds of teachers as a political move to weaken the teachers union and disempower aldermen who might stand up to the mayor. Following Byrd-Bennett’s disgraceful departure and criminal indictment, her successor, Mayoral fixer and political ally Forrest Claypool, also left government under the stench of wrongdoing–accused by the CPS Inspector General of a “full-blown cover up.”

Claypool left behind a cleanliness audit plan designed to provide independent oversight for the effective sanitation and cleanliness of CPS schools. The plan and the firm hired to carry it out failed in spectacular fashion.

Overwhelmed by rampant corruption, CPS began inspecting its own schools for cleanliness — which had been passing independent cleanliness audits — and uncovered filthy floors, unhealthy food-service equipment and odorous bathrooms at 91 of the 125 schools it examined. Even more disturbing, we now learn that CPD has investigated more than 500 cases of sexual assault against CPS students, often at the hands of the very CPS staff charged with keeping them safe. What continues to be Rahm’s most egregious failure is our children facing threats of handgun violence in and around school grounds–a threat exacerbated by students forced to walk across gang-lines just to get to a new school as a result of Rahm’s school closures.

Garry McCarthy: “I Believe in Neighborhood Schools”

Garry McCarthy’s Neighborhood Schools Reinvestment Plan starts with building a more modern, more equitable education infrastructure that supports families where they live and engages all community stakeholders to “wrap around” our children with the resources they need to achieve their life goals.

Garry McCarthy’s Neighborhood Schools Reinvestment Plan meets head-on four important challenges caused or worsened by the mayor’s rampage against neighborhood schools.

  • Out-migration & low enrollment: Out-migration of Chicago families — African American families in particular — has been the main driver behind low school enrollment. This out-migration is shrinking our tax base and forcing families who stick it out to carry a disproportionate burden. It is tantamount to punishing the victim. We should not disinvest from communities suffering population loss, but rather reinvest in them to retain and attract small businesses and economic opportunities for families to live and work here.
  • Open new pathways to career success: The overall college enrollment rate of CPS graduates is 60%. We must create viable career pathways for the 40% of CPS graduates who choose a path other than college. CPS’s Career Technical Education (CTE) programs offer a wealth of learning opportunities, but 109 CPS high schools offer no CTE programs at all; leaving about 47,000 students without with limited viable career pathways.
  • Reverse the $90,000,000 in crippling disinvestment from the south and west sides: From 2013 to 2018, nearly half of all school closures happened in just five wards on the south and west sides–mainly the 3rd and 28th wards. Based on previous budgets of the schools closed in these wards, over Rahm’s six-year reign of disinvestment, the mayor snatched nearly $90,000,000 away from these communities.
  • Attacks on student achievement: Rahm’s school closures have worsened students’ academic performance. According to the UChicago Consortium for School Research, “When schools closed, it severed the longstanding social connections that families and staff had with their schools and with one another, resulting in a period of mourning. Students affected by school closures experienced negative learning effects, especially students from closed schools. The largest negative impact of school closures was on the test scores of students from closed schools.”[139][97]
 ”

School board selection

  • "Garry McCarthy knows the importance of joining accountability with the authority to effect the change parents, activists and students are yearning to see in Chicago schools. That is why Garry supports a partially-elected school board; as mayor, Garry would appoint half of the board members and maintain some responsibility for the school board’s decision-making, while the other three board members would be elected by Chicago voters."[139]

Crime

The following is an excerpt from the McCarthy campaign website section on crime. Read the full section on crime here.

“

1. Turning the tide against violent crime in Chicago begins with restoring legitimacy to city government by eliminating the political manipulation and micromanagement of the police department by City Hall.

2. Initiate a top to bottom review of the disciplinary system of CPD by a blue-ribbon panel of experts to examine all aspects of the system, including the role of COPA and the Police Board.

3. Dispatchers should work for CPD rather than OEMC. Department policies such as beat integrity and Emotionally Disturbed Person protocols would be observed.

4. Use data-driven policing strategies to reduce specialization, enhance professional management, and put more police on the streets.

5. A clearly delineated career path must again be established for all ranks, especially exempt members. We will reduce the percentage of meritorious promotions in the Department.

6. While more resources may be required to reverse the higher crime trends of the last 3 years, what the CPD needs most is dynamic, honest, and professional leaders in positions of responsibility, as well as a real partnership with City Hall.

7. Restoring public trust in the police department will require completely depoliticizing decision-making, hiring, and public communications.

8. We will roll out the Community Relations Strategy that was created in conjunction with the community, but shelved by the current administration in 2015. With this strategy put in place, we will have the difficult conversation about the racial tension affecting not only this city, but also the entire country, and the historic socio-economic divide that has caused it. While wearing body cameras may increase officer integrity, it will not help overcome 400 years of systemic government racism in this country.

9. We will implement the most forward-looking, rigorous training regimen in CPD’s history. These programs will cover the range of important issues that impact the rank-and-file: community policing, interaction with the public, active shooter situations, anti-gang strategies, etc.

10. Neighborhood improvement occurs at the intersection of public safety, public education and public health. We’ll be making bold, new policy announcements on how to fight crime through a holistic policy approach.

11. Implement an enforcement strategy that deprioritizes routine drug arrests and puts possession of illegal-firearms and anti-gang strategies as our first concern.

12. Community policing, along with an integrated social services network—including neighborhood outreach and participation—are integral to making Chicago safe again. Community policing is not merely a strategy, it is a philosophy that will drive our progress.[140][97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

First, it is important to note that CPD’s use of force is consistent with the national average. Second, this fact partly demonstrates why I view the consent decree as a political document that hardly addresses the real challenges facing our police officers when they’re confronting violent criminals on the streets of Chicago. Much of the decree is already state law and in some cases it undermines public safety by diverting supervisors from their primary job of ensuring quality police work to focusing on administrative and reporting responsibilities. Lastly, the consent decree is another example of politicizing law enforcement as no one has been able to identify the police policy experts who helped draft the decree; and no one has indicated how much money these new restrictions will cost to implement and enforce.

The real question is whether the consent decree is now the state standard for all Illinois municipal police departments or has Chicago been singled out as a lone bad actor? Shouldn’t the State of Illinois have uniform policing standards?[138][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

Chicago’s rising property taxes are not translating into better services and quality of life for Chicago families because the mayor and the city council use Chicago’s TIF program as their personal political slush fund, splurging on flashy downtown development at the wholesale neglect of blighted communities. Schools are closing, violent crime is rampant and the communities most in need of reinvestment are carrying the tax burden while experiencing the very worst of these plights. This is not fair.

We can stop the inside trading by allocating TIF funds to address our most serious challenges, like reducing property taxes. We can usher in a new era of fairness by ushering out the era of political spending that only benefits the friends and allies of powerful politicians. As mayor, I will audit our TIF program to achieve full budget transparency and ensure TIF funds are used to build up blighted communities and reinvest in the future of Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Reallocating TIF funds to address critical funding priorities:

  • Implement a $400 million property tax cut by reallocating 30% of Chicago’s $1.4 billion currently sitting in TIF funds back into the corporate treasury.
  • Restore City retirees’ healthcare by reallocating $130 million of TIF funds to pension benefits.
  • Transfer up to $500 million in TIF surpluses from affluent communities into TIFs in poor communities to combat blight and poverty.
  • Restore the $276 million back to Chicago Public Schools that was siphoned away by TIFs.

In 2017, the top ten TIFs collected a total of $238 million in property taxes. These TIFs in downtown and city center communities are currently holding $583 million in property taxes as of January 1, 2018. The Kinzie TIF alone is holding $97.3 million in unused surplus. At the start of 2018 there was $1.4 billion dollars sitting in Chicago’s various TIF funds.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. Without affordable housing units in gentrifying communities long time residents will be pushed out. We've had enough displacement of homeowners and renters from their desired communities. If they can stay, we ought to make affordable housing available so they can stay. None of us are against neighborhood improvements, but we should be resistant to forcing people from their neighborhoods because of it."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • "We need term limits in Chicago to reduce the potential for corruption and the development of conflicts in personal, government and professional interests. I support limiting mayoral, clerk and treasurer terms to two terms and/or no more than 10 years in office and limiting terms for aldermen to three and/or no more than 15 years."
“

Aldermanic privilege is a code of silence observed among Chicago aldermen. That is why I am calling for a consent decree that monitors Chicago’s city council, instead of oversight schemes for individual government institutions. CPD is not the only government agency needing public scrutiny, CPS is rampant with political corruption and neglect of our children. Clearly, what all these agencies have in common is they’re all micromanaged and politicized by City Hall.

I would introduce an ordinance where on ward, local neighborhood issues, such as zoning and TIFs, aldermen are required to list a reason for their vote for or against the measure, including the home ward alderman.[97]

”
“

There are three components of operations Chicago aldermen, especially, cannot be trusted to manage: TIF spending, police misconduct settlements, redistricting ward boundaries.

Via a consent decree between the Citizens of Chicago and the City of Chicago, form a Chicago city council review board chaired by an official with judicial experience.

The council review board will provide a truthful accounting of TIFs, so that all surplus funds are returned to Chicago taxpayers who were defrauded by Cook County Assessor Berrios and his accomplice, Toni Preckwinkle.

In police misconduct cases involving settlements of $750,000 or more the council review board must be allowed 10 days to review the settlement and offer a recommendation; and

On TIF spending, the council review board may issue a recommendation dissenting from that of the Joint Board of Review, admissible into the official record and presented to aldermen with status equal to that of the JBR’s report.[124][97]

”

Susana Mendoza

Susana Mendoza

Pensions

Amending the state constitution

  • "We do not mess with people’s pensions because there were promises that were made and we have to keep them. End of story."[113]

Additional statements

“

Illinois’s combination of a flat income tax, high sales taxes, and heavy local government reliance on property taxes gives it one of the most regressive tax systems in the country. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Illinois has the fifth most regressive taxation in the United States. This unfortunate fact is a driver of population loss and acts as a barrier to opportunity. While pension liabilities have been cut by nearly 20% over the last eight years, annual contributions are expected to grow by $864 million over three years starting in 2020, including a $300 million increase in 2020.

At the same time, Illinois ranks 49th in the country in state funding of education and 50th in funding the neediest school districts. After Susana’s tireless advocacy, a new education funding reform bill passed in Springfield in late 2017, calling for more than $3 billion in additional funding for public schools over the next decade with the new formula distributing those dollars to low-income school districts, including nearly one-fifth benefiting Chicago Public Schools.

Susana supports innovative and responsible changes to our revenue sources that will help hold the line for middle-class and working families as we address pension and education funding needs. To accomplish this goal, she will fight for the following solutions:

  • LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

A responsible law, passed in consultation with law enforcement, to legalize cannabis use for recreational purposes can be a critical revenue stream to help address funding for social services and pensions. Moreover, legalization would help diminish the black market for marijuana and the crime and violence that goes along with it, cut down on unjust incarceration, and allow police to focus their efforts on more important types of crime. A 2018 study by Washington State University scholars found that states that had legalized recreational marijuana experienced improvements in clearance rates for violence and property crimes.

Susana will work with the Governor and State Legislature to pass responsible legislation based on best practices in other states and countries, and fight to guarantee participation for minority- and women-owned operators.

  • SUPPORT A CHICAGO CASINO

A responsible, transparent and well-regulated casino can be a critical source of revenue, with a portion earmarked to address pension payments.

Susana would make this a priority of her Springfield agenda and fight to have it built in a location that lures tourists rather than becoming a debt trap in Chicago’s under-resourced neighborhoods.

  • EXPLORE REFINANCING PENSION DEBT TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS

As Comptroller, Susana successfully battled Gov. Rauner to refinance state debt, saving taxpayers between $4 and $6 billion over the lifetime of the bond deal.

As mayor, Susana will work with the City Council in a collaborative and transparent way to explore available financing tools, including the possible issuance of a pension obligation bond to refinance pension debt to secure the retirement savings of city workers while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

  • ACTIVELY OPPOSE REGRESSIVE TAX INCREASES

Susana is committed to protecting working families and will oppose any attempts to raise the sales tax rate or other taxes on essential household items. Growing up in a middle-class family, Susana knows how much harder across-the-board tax increases hit working families. The disastrous implementation of the regressive soda tax last year was proof that instead of making government more efficient, the first instinct of some politicians is to simply propose more taxes that hit lower- and middle-income families the hardest.

As mayor, Susana will always recognize the disproportionate impact that regressive taxes have, and she will oppose increases in those taxes.

  • SEEK A STATEWIDE SOLUTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES

Chicago is not alone in facing big challenges with stabilizing its pension funds. For example, roughly one-third of the state’s more than 650 public safety pension funds are less than 50% funded. Susana understands the statewide implications of this crisis from her time as Comptroller, when mayors from across the state struggled to pay bills during the draconian 736-day budget crisis.

Drawing on the strong relationships Susana has built as Comptroller, she will work with public officials throughout Illinois to work with Governor Pritzker for equitable and sustainable pension revenue sources.[141][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. We cannot simply close schools because they’re under-performing. Our students deserve fully resourced neighborhood schools where they can achieve their maximum potential.

2. I’ve committed to at least a two-year moratorium on school closings until we understand everything it takes to thoughtfully and responsibly make decisions of that magnitude that impact neighborhoods across the city.

3. A one-size fits all approach to school capacity is short-sighted. We have multiple communities throughout the city with tremendous demand for seats due to overcapacity, while others face under-enrollment. We need to work with parents, teachers, local residents and LSCs to develop the right solution for their school and community. And we have to engage them directly and be transparent about the process.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "I support a school board mixed with elected and appointed officials. As a proud CPS parent, I believe community members deserve a voice on their school board, but I also believe a mayor has to have skin in the game and be held accountable for the performance of our neighborhood schools. As mayor, I will never abdicate or walk away from my responsibility and accountability to Chicago’s students."[142]

Crime

Mendoza released a Public Safety and Police Accountability plan. Excerpts are below. Read the full plan here.

“

1) REVAMP TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS
For too long, police training has been viewed as something we only do to prepare new recruits. We need to completely revamp the CPD’s training programs – whether it is pre-service at the academy, in-service with veteran personnel on a regular basis, and in the field where commanders should use everyday examples on the street to reinforce these trainings learned or relearned in the classroom.

We owe it to every mother who watches her child walk out the door, and we owe it to every spouse of every officer who walks out the door in the morning, to do everything we can to make sure they all come home safely – and that starts with better police training. ...

2) INVEST IN SMART COMMUNITY POLICING
We should all admire any man or woman who puts on a uniform and is willing to lay down their life to protect the lives of people they have never even met. Whether they are marines or soldiers or sailors or closer to home serving as our police officers, firefighters and EMTs, we should honor those who put their lives on the line every day. But while those who wear a police uniform are everyday heroes, they ought not have the warrior mentality of those heroes who serve in our armed forces. When it comes to tackling crime here in Chicago, there should be no “us and them.” There should only be “we.” ...

3) REFORM GOVERNANCE AND POLICING PRACTICES TO REBUILD TRUST
Susana’s unique perspective on policing is grounded in her personal experience: she grew up in a neighborhood with rampant violence and experiences a similar stress every day with family on the police force. Susana will work to implement policies that increase trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve. ...

4) IMPROVE THE CASE CLOSURE RATE
In 2017, Chicago saw an abysmally low 17.1% closure rate on homicides. That fell even further in the first half of 2018 to 15.4%. With every case that goes unsolved, trust is lost amongst Chicagoans and the cycle of violence continues. ...

5) CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL GUNS
One of the core drivers of Chicago’s higher homicide rates is the sheer volume of illegal guns that enter the city. Susana has a strong track record of fighting against the influx of illegal guns. In addition to voting in favor of a 30-day waiting period for handguns, Susana sponsored legislation allowing prosecution of illegal gun sellers for crimes committed with that gun for one year after sale. She also supported legislation allowing for revocation of a firearm owner’s identity card for a parent or guardian who is unable to prevent their child from gaining access to firearms. ...

6) SUPPORTING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Data show that our neighborhoods suffering from the highest crime rates are also struggling with other challenges such as high unemployment rates, lower life expectancies, and other public health issues. ...[97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

When it comes to tackling crime here in Chicago, there should be no “us and them”; there should only be “we.” I believe in fully implementing the consent decree and helping our police officers transition from a warrior mindset to a guardian mindset. To do so means giving our officers the training and tools they need to recognize mental health crises, engage in de-escalation techniques, and ending the code of silence in our department.

By taking these steps, and by enlisting families in neighborhoods across our city, I am confident we can make our city safer while repairing relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.[142][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

As we work to expand economic development funding tools under the constraints of reduced state funding, TIF programs have an important role in building the next generation of infrastructure, schools and a diverse workforce. But we must make the program more transparent and more accountable. To start, I would set clear rules that prohibit profitable corporations and developers from accessing public funding as an incentive to move downtown. TIFs are meant to improve public assets, like infrastructure and schools, not to serve as giveaways to wealthy corporations shopping around for new office subsidies. I would also build on the existing TIF web portal to list projects under consideration for TIFs, instead of just projects that have already been approved. This will ultimately give the public the opportunity to scrutinize deals and offer input before they are complete.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

  • "Yes. I will leverage our current downtown growth to bring more investment in affordable housing to our neighborhoods. By using and expanding programs like the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, I'm confident we can make every neighborhood affordable for every Chicago family."[120]

Ethics reforms

Mendoza released a four-part Ethics Platform, including: the creation of an ethics commission; increasing transparency; city council reforms including ending aldermanic privilege, creating term limits, and limiting outside income; and campaign finance and ballot access reform. Read the full plan here.

  • "I support term limits for aldermen. I would work to bring stakeholders together to decide on an appropriate limit as part of a broader ethics reform package."
  • "I will end the unwritten rules surrounding aldermanic prerogative and work with city council to reform the formal rules to create a more inclusive, affordable Chicago while bringing an end to a system that is too often abused."
  • "I would take steps to limit public officials’ ability to accept outside income, particularly in cases where there would be a conflict of interest."[124]

Toni Preckwinkle

Toni Preckwinkle

Pensions

  • "I do not think the state Constitution should be amended to allow any reductions to promised pension benefits for current city workers or retirees. We owe it to our workers and retirees to fully fund our pension system. Relying on the state to help us with our pension crisis is a gamble we can not afford to take. We have to find creative ways to generate progressive and long term revenue to help fund our pension obligations."[143]

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. No. The schools labeled as "chronically low-performing" are in the same neighborhoods on the South and West sides subject to massive disinvestment, over-policing, the destruction of affordable housing, and Great Depression-era unemployment. The answer, then, isn't to take even more from the same folks. Instead, my first steps as mayor will be investing in schools so they have the things they deserve based on the elements of the state's new evidence-based funding formula: additional social workers, nurses and school counselors; lower class sizes; early childhood education; and the resources and supports for a broad and rich curriculum. And I will address the structural issues that impact what happens in schools: build additional affordable housing, expand job opportunities for people outside of downtown, and criminal justice changes that make it possible for people to make it on the outside.

2. No. Rahm's school closures were an abject failure, as a recent University of Chicago report made clear. The school closures unnecessarily harmed students and destroyed community centers, and demonstrated a key problem with policy by formula - if the formula elements change, the outcomes change, too. Those same so-called underenrolled schools under CPS' numbers would be optimally used if we made tweaks to the formula, such as lowering class sizes, especially in the early grades, and expanding the sustainable community schools model to provide additional wraparound supports for students, healthcare access, and adult education opportunities. The problem with school closures is the austerity they forced on only some residents in Chicago. To be clear, the decline in students in CPS is almost entirely attributed to the decline in Black students. Their families were pushed out of the city by unaffordable housing, a lack of jobs, and regressive fines and fees. And in the past year, that pushout spread to Latino families, as those same factors and the Trump Justice Department's immigration enforcement forced untenable choices on greater numbers of people. The city's school enrollment and population are linked. Closing schools doesn't fix either.

3. Yes. We can't foreclose the need to build new schools to replace ones that are in need of replacing. But I do commit to few important ideas. First, I dramatically favor investing capital in existing schools to make sure that they have what they need: engaging learning environments, technology infrastructure, appropriate climate controls so students aren't sweltering or freezing, and health and safety repairs that ensure our children don't get lead poisoning or mold poisoning at school. Second, we need a freeze on new charter schools, which only made the enrollment issues worse as more schools served fewer students, thereby forcing a hunger games scenario on children and families. Third, the new schools over the last ten years have been predominantly built for selective enrollment students who are disproportionately white and higher income. That's an inequity that must end. Test scores should not determine the facility you learn in. Finally, I commit to having a capital plan that is an actual plan rather than a series of political favors to be doled out. School repairs should be allocated on basis of need, not based on access.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "Feeling valued goes hand in hand with being heard. Currently, Chicago Public Schools has the only appointed school board in Illinois. That means that the Chicago Board of Education answers only to the Mayor and has no direct accountability to the communities, students, and educators it is supposed to serve. Toni supports an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools to make sure that every family in Chicago has a voice in the direction and future of their child’s education."[144]

Crime

Preckwinkle released a "Building a Safer Chicago" agenda with 15 steps. To see the full agenda, click here.

She summarized the agenda in the following way:

“

There is no greater responsibility for any government than ensuring the safety of its constituents. For far too long, for far too many, the City of Chicago has failed to meet this basic need. As an educator and elected official, I’ve known and mourned too many lives cut short by the devastating violence that plagues our city. As a mother and grandmother, Toni empathizes deeply with the toll and trauma this violence has imposed on generations of families, many of whom have lost multiple loved ones to violence. There is no pain worse than that of a parent forced to bury a child.

Though none of our city’s communities have been immune, it is no secret that violence has been concentrated in roughly 15 communities, almost exclusively on the south and west side; the same communities struggling with high unemployment, under-resourced or closed schools, and overall lack of investment. And while the CountyCare program Toni helped create as Cook County Board President has brought unprecedented behavioral and physical health care into our communities, we still face deficits due to years of neglect. The violence, combined with these underlying factors, has contributed to a growing exodus of families from these communities, removing critical economic and social resources, and making the devastating cycle of disinvestment and decline worse.

Even in the city’s more affluent neighborhoods, other types of violent crime, such as armed robbery, assault, and vehicular hijacking, have undermined many resident’s sense of personal safety. If elected, nothing will be more important to my administration than ending fear and restoring safety to all of Chicago’s neighborhoods.

My approach to public safety will enhance racial justice and equity. Contrary to what some argue, these goals actually work together. When we over-incarcerate for nonviolent offenses, we destabilize communities, increasing the likelihood for criminality and violence. That’s why as Cook County Board President, Toni worked with criminal justice stakeholders to reform the practice of keeping people behind bars waiting for trial for minor, non-violent offenses. Those reforms reduced the County jail population by thousands without negatively impacting public safety.

Toni will build upon this work as mayor by focusing on three areas.

First, Toni will take direct ownership of various aspects of the city’s criminal justice and public safety efforts through the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which will ensure a holistic and collaborative approach to public safety throughout the city.

Secondly, Toni will work with community stakeholders and the Chicago Police Department to restore trust and accountability between city’s police and the people of Chicago. This means enforcing the consent decree, implementing a system of civilian oversight, and integrating community in every aspect of CPD’s operations, from training to crime prevention.

Thirdly, Toni will ensure that Chicago Police Department strives to become the most effective police department in the country, by improving training, supervision, promotion, collaboration and crime-solving capacity within the department and demanding real improvement in homicide clearance and overall crime reduction.

All of these efforts must work in tandem with robust investment in our public schools, our neighborhoods, and our access to mental health services. Our bold agenda on these fronts will be just as critical, if not more so, to the security of our city as the reforms we make to policing. Therefore, as mayor Toni will see to it that our investments in these key areas match with their value to the public safety of all Chicagoans.[97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

The consent decree is much needed and long overdue. It is essential to the difficult, but necessary, work of rebuilding the relationship between police and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.

A lack of accountability and an inability to develop strong relationships in Chicago’s communities are leading factors in CPD being one of the least effective large police forces in the United States in solving and preventing homicides and shootings. In 2017, CPD identified a suspect in only 17% of homicides and 5% of shootings. This is far lower than the national averages. Restoring trust between officers and communities will help improve these numbers, because more officers will develop relationships that yield the information that helps solve crimes.

The consent decree will also lead to better supervision and more appropriate, consistent training, both of which are necessary to create effective, constitutional policing at the CPD.

As Mayor, I will make sure that the Chicago Police Department fully complies with the mandates of the consent decree. However, police reform will require more than the consent decree. True and sustainable public safety requires a multi-faceted and coordinated approach. The Chicago Police Department must work closely with other local and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as other city departments, social service organizations and public health officials.[143][97]

”

Tax increment financing

The Chicago Sun-Times wrote:

“

Preckwinkle wants the annual TIF surplus earmarked exclusively for CPS, instead of giving city government a cut of that money. That would continue until all 144 TIFs are abolished, if she is elected mayor.

“About a third of our property taxes go into TIF districts. We’ve really got to look at unwinding as many of those TIFs as we possibly can and turning the resources back to Chicago Public Schools,” she told the Sun-Times.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. Families who have occupied their homes and neighborhoods for generations find themselves pushed out due to gentrification and rising costs of living. It is important that there are affordable housing options in gentrifying areas to ensure that longtime residents can stay in the communities they've called home long before the demographic change."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • "I do not believe that term limits should be imposed by law, as voters are given the opportunity to choose their elected officials with each election."
  • "Voters elect their aldermen with the trust that they will make informed decisions for their ward and constituents. For this reason, I do not believe the practice of “aldermanic privilege” should end. However, in light of the charges against Alderman Burke, I have proposed a ban on dual employment in City Council. It’s clear that there are too many conflicts of interest posed from dual employment, so this policy should instill a greater sense of transparency and accountability to taxpayers. I also would support a limit on the number of recusals committee chairpersons are allowed for votes in their committees. Given the influence that chairpersons wield in steering debate, they should not be engaged in activities that give them vested interest in matters under their committee’s jurisdiction."
  • "Government best serves the people when it is transparent and accessible. I will make sure the Mayor’s Office is transparent in its processes and that there is adequate community input. As Cook County Board President, my office follows strict adherence to the Freedom of Information Act policies, digitally streams all meetings for public viewing and opened up the budget process to be more transparent and engaged with residents. County employees are also barred from donating to my Mayoral campaign. We should always be striving more greater transparency and accountability in government. However, in my 28 years as a public servant, I have found that there are many good people in government and local government can have meaningful positive impacts in the lives of residents."[124]

Neal Sáles-Griffin

Neal Sáles-Griffin

Education

School board selection

  • "We have to get rid of the corruption in our school system. Instituting an elected school board will put power back into the hands of parents and communities. Chicago is one of the few cities in America where the mayor appoints the school board, silencing the voices of parents, students and teachers. Two of CPS’ CEOs appointed by Rahm Emanuel have had to step down. One is a convicted felon serving time in jail, and the other resigned for ethical misconduct. The mayor has let Chicago down with these appointees. We can end bad decisions like this through an elected school board, along with a cap on how much money can be donated to candidates."[145]

Crime

“

Create an Office for Violence Prevention
Currently, the Chicago Police Department is the primary department we rely on for the reduction of crime. We cannot police our way out of violence. We need to put more resources into preventing violence before it happens through a holistic approach that incorporates data, mental health, and community voices. I’ll create an Office of Violence Prevention to support violence prevention programs and collaborate with community organizations to help end Chicago’s violence.

Leverage data to reduce the use of force and racial disparities in policing
We need to take advantage of the data we’re collecting to move our police force in the right direction. We will apply data-driven methods to end the use of unnecessary force against black and brown people. Over-policing fuels violence and breaks down trust.

Provide access to mental health services to all Chicagoans
Too many Chicagoans experience trauma as a result of gun violence and disinvestment in our neighborhoods, starting in childhood.

We can’t address our city’s violence without recognizing the impact it has on our mental health. We will increase access to quality and affordable mental health interventions in high-need communities, and we’ll invest in providing mental health services both online and over the phone. We’ll also work towards de-stigmatizing mental health support, especially in communities most impacted by violence.

Recruit police officers from the communities they serve
You deserve police officers who know your name. This starts by hiring more police officers from the neighborhoods they’re serving. My father was a Chicago Police Officer for over 30 years. I saw firsthand both how tough and how rewarding service was for him. He was a friendly and accessible community policeman, and we need more like him walking around our neighborhoods.[146][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

  • "I will restrict the buyout option in the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) that allows developers to pay a fee instead of actually building affordable homes. We have to stop prioritizing the profits of developers over the needs of residents by strengthening the ARO to require the creation of more affordable units."[147]

Paul Vallas

Paul Vallas

Pensions

Bond borrowing

  • Regarding the bond proposal, Vallas said, "If it’s a great idea, great, I’ll do it when I’m mayor…but it’s a terrible idea."[114]

Additional statements

“

Paul's plan will fully fund the City’s pension systems while balancing the budget and capping property taxes while freezing fees and fines. The plan does not reduce benefits for either new or old employees.

The Plan

While there is much talk of a “grand compromise” to be reached with labor, state and local governments and the business community to amend the Constitution to address the City’s pension funding needs, it is unlikely to happen even if Governor-elect Pritzker had not voiced his opposition to such an amendment. As for the talk of changing the benefits for new employees who would not be protected by the Constitution, that has already been done. Employees hired after 2010 became Tier 2 pension participants at far lower benefits. Tier 2 employees contribute much more than what it takes to pay their own benefits and are, in fact, subsidizing Tier 1 retirees. This, in itself, could create future legal problems. It is highly unlikely there would be support for a further diminishing of new employee future pension benefits. Paul oppose any changes to new and old employee benefits.

The underlying pension funding problem is in large part the result of inequities in State funding which discriminated against Chicago Teachers and the City’s irresponsible decision to secure, through State legislation, a “Pension Holiday,” that allowed it to skip payments to all City-funded pension systems. The Police, Fire, Municipal Employees, and Laborers were all victimized by the pension holiday. The City also secured a pension holiday for the Chicago Teachers Retirement System. (It is ironic that the leadership of a number of unions’ leadership has orchestrated the endorsements of candidates who supported the underfunding of the systems.)

Paul’s Pension Record

During Paul’s tenure as City Budget Director, municipal workers pension funding levels were above 90%. City laborers had enough assets to cover 133% of their liabilities. Even City police pensions, which had been traditionally underfunded, hovered around 70%, and on the upswing. During my six-year tenure as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Retirement System’s (CTRS) pension funding level rose from 80% funded to 104%. Along with building cash balances of almost $1 billion when Paul left and keeping debt service on long-term debt obligations at only 5% of the systems annual revenues, the system was considered a national model for effective financial management and fiscal health. The rating agencies acknowledged this by awarding an unprecedented twelve bond rating upgrades in just six years. We also had an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union that was backed by State statute requiring the district make the payments needed to keep the system fully funded on an “actuarial basis.” That agreement was not fully adhered to after 2004 when the funding level fell below 90%, and was totally ignored when the City successfully pursued legislation after the 2008 Great Recession to defer employer pension contributions to not only the CTRS but to all City employee systems, Police, Fire, Municipal Employees, and Laborers.

The Pension Funding Obligation

Currently, the City contribution to employee pensions stands at $1.228 billion. State statute requires that City funding is ramped up to $2.161 billion by 2023. This is almost a billion dollars more than the City is contributing now. The City must meet its obligations because the State Constitution mandates promised employee benefits. There can be no changes unless the Illinois State Constitution is changed. Nothing short of City bankruptcy would circumvent this mandate, and any bankruptcy route will be a prolonged process that would do serious damage to the City’s business climate and be subject to years of expensive litigation.

The City has four years to ramp up to their funding level. This gives the City time to implement a financial plan that will include a practical, reasonable agenda to secure more State support and to take a series of actions that can secure reasonable savings in the City and City-controlled agency budgets that can be freed up to meet the pension payment obligations.

The Four-Year Ramp-Up

Paul have developed just such a plan. The plan includes supporting a legislative agenda that protects the statutory local government share of any increase in the State Income Tax that Governor Pritzker and the legislature enact, restores the illegal diversion of Corporate Personal Property Tax revenues that occurred during the previous administration, and phases in, over ten years, full State funding equity for the Chicago Teachers Retirement System. The first two items are things every municipality and county will be supporting and could be phased in over the next four years during the pension ramp-up.

The Springfield Agenda

This Springfield agenda alone will cover more than half the funding needed to complete the statutory pension funding ramp-up. The remaining obligation could be met through savings realized in the City budget. Paul has identified a number of specific budget areas where the growth in City non-pension spending could be reduced over the next five years to provide the balance of what is needed to meet the City’s pension obligations. These areas include overtime, contractual services, worker’s compensation, healthcare, and more. Just a five percent reduction in base spending over the next five years would enable the City to meet the balance of the pension funding ramp up. By 2023, the State mandated annual increases in pension contributions will be much more moderate and financially manageable – not only as a result of the almost doubling of contributions, but because of the increasing numbers of Tier 2 employees in the system.

While some have advocated for the earmark of revenues from a City Casino or a tax on cannabis to fund pensions, Paul would be cautious about making pension funding contingent on uncertain and unproven revenue sources that would at very best provide barely a fourth of what would be needed to meet the City’s pension funding obligations. Furthermore, we have been waiting for casinos for years and, even if finally approved, the full the revenue impact would be uncertain and not immediate. Funding for pensions should not be tied to unreliable revenue sources. Pension funding should be in the form of a “direct intercept” in the budget of the actuarial determined annual amount needed to ensure the system’s pension funds are on a 30-year full funding schedule.

The TIF Pension Funding Option

As a contingency against delays or partial success in implementing the Springfield agenda and a hedge against unanticipated expenditure increases the City could consider issuing a Pension Obligation Bond financed through the revenue windfall from expiring TIFs. This would protect the City’s existing revenue base from further securitization, while providing a substantial increase in the amount invested in the retirement systems, thereby significantly reducing the increase in the annual contribution.

A Citywide TIF would be created to capture the revenue from expiring TIFs, the revenues of which could be dedicated to pension funding. The City would have the flexibility of using the revenues to immediately finance the POB to immediately improve the health of the system the unfunded. Even if the TIF was not used to finance a POB, the dedication of future TIF revenues would have a positive impact in the calculation of the long-term unfunded liability. Given the City’s direct funding of the Chicago Teachers Retirement System, the Pension TIF could earmark all but the County’s share of the revenue from expiring TIF’s.

Reforming Pension Investment Practices

Resolving the pension funding issue must also include reforming pension fund investment practices. This involves creating a Pension Investment Board of local investment professionals and taking the pay-to-play politics out of investment decisions. Often politicized and all too often lacking in real investment expertise, pension fund investments have historically produced disappointing returns and have sometimes been scandalous. There should be a consolidation of pension investments for cost efficiencies and to ensure the highest rate of return. Although data from the pension funds are hard to compare because returns vary across time periods, it is not unreasonable to think that if all the big pension funds in Illinois paid fees and produced investment returns that were achieved by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), which is 90% funded, the additional earnings would approach $1 billion statewide. If you had a board of Chicago’s most accomplished local investment professionals making investment decisions, do you think they would have been the recipient of tens of millions of dollars in substandard investment strategy that cost the police pension $54 million?

Outcomes

With the City’s pension funding issue addressed and the City’s commitment to its public employees met, the City’s “non-pension” expenditure obligations needed to fund City services could be secured through natural revenue growth allowing property taxes to be permanently capped for homeowners, landlords and businesses, at no more than 5% or the rate of inflation whichever is less. Fees could be frozen, and fines reduced to no more than the cost of the license or ticket. Additional revenues from a casino, sports betting and video poker could be dedicated to neighborhood infrastructure improvements, and services and proceeds from the tax on cannabis could be dedicated to rebuilding the critically needed social service infrastructure in poor communities like mental health and wellness, health care, legal aid, family counseling, drug and opioid addiction.[148][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. No. I support transforming underperforming schools by improving those schools through better programming, or in some cases introducing a different and proven school model.

2. Anyone who claims they are never going to close a school due to under-enrollment is pandering to the public. My priority will be to do my best to avoid school closings by bringing programs to under-performing schools that will result in increased student enrollment. We should never close a performing school, but rather we should determine ways to get more students to attend. This includes expanding access via free or subsidized transportation. With regards to closing under-enrolled schools that are also underperforming, we should work to offer more programming that encourages neighborhood families to send their children to the schools. When I was CEO of CPS, to revitalize under-enrolled and under-performing high schools I placed magnet-type programs in the schools to make those schools more attractive.

3. No, except in situations where buildings are environmentally unsafe or substandard. I don’t support the current administration’s strategy because I don’t think there is a strategy – unless that strategy is to drive out those children most in need and with the fewest high quality education options. If that is not the intent, it is certainly the outcome.[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • "Appoint a hybrid Chicago Public School Board of Education by appointing board members who are elected by the public, not the Mayor. The Board will have at minimum seven members with three appointed and three elected; the President will be appointed by the Mayor. Publicly elected Board members could be elected in 'at large' elections or by Local School Council members. All Boards that have oversight of public funds and have critical public service responsibilities need to have civilian representation, and civilians need to be selected by the public at large."[148]

Crime

“

– Guarantee “Beat Integrity” by ensuring there are enough police officers to serve every community that are known by the community, & ensure all officers receive high quality redundant training

– Hire retired police officers with investigatory experience to immediately provide investigative support to the Detective Division to get violent criminals off the streets & re-open two closed Detective Areas

– Strengthen the Patrol Area level Teams & create a Special Operations Unit to ensure the police can deploy resources to high crime areas or special events without taking officers away from their individual districts

– Convert enough school & park district safety & security positions to ensure every public school has a Chicago Police Officer during the school year that is deployed to the parks & recreational areas where young people gather when school is out.[149][97]

”

Police reform consent decree

“

The Consent Decree is a foregone conclusion. It is important to note that the vast majority of recommendations included in the Consent Decree are things CPD should have been doing and that rank and file Police Officers welcome. They include more comprehensive and redundant training. The deployment of Tasers and working equipment. The restoring of sufficient supervisory personnel like Sergeants and Training Officers. These things were included in my comprehensive Public Safety Plan that I presented in April, months before the final proposed Consent Decree was presented.

I have stated publicly that my goal would be to take steps to ensure that the Consent Decree does not punish or place an undue burden on the Police, that the Decree is streamline by removing burdensome reporting and procedures that detract valuable policing time and that the Consent Decree not become an expensive cottage industry for lawyers and advocates who would seek to profit from its provisions. I am confident that my comprehensive Public Safety Plan will provide CPD with the resources and support that they need to be effective and accountable and will put us in a strong position to get the courts to support steps to ensure that the Consent Decree is fair, not an undue burden and short lived.[150][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

The City needs to implement a new paradigm for using TIF funds to support new development and its TIF program. Large-scale redevelopment projects, essential for the City to thrive, need to have clearer TIF guidelines for developers and also should provide opportunities for the City to leverage that growth to help poor and long-neglected communities. Furthermore, the new paradigm needs to provide taxpayers with the transparency to clearly understand how their taxpayer money is being used.

The critical components of that paradigm are as follows:

  • Existing successful TIF’s should be evaluated for possible accelerated expiration so that local governments and schools can reap the benefits of an expanded tax base.
  • A minimum of one-third of all TIF proceeds should be dedicated to a Chicago Equity Investment Fund (CEIF) to provide capital for investment in blighted areas of the City, with priority given to the 133 Federally-designated Opportunity Zones (see my previously released Economic Development Plan).
  • TIF revenues and other City subsidies and grants to businesses and developers should be in the form of an “equity investment,” allowing the City to realize a return on its investment that can be used for future investments.
  • Full transparency in the drawing of TIF’s to ensure that they are being drawn in a way that does not divert “existing” property tax revenues away from the schools and other local governments, which only increases taxes on other taxpayers.
  • Full transparency on what TIF proceeds will be used for, and protections and security to ensure that developers and businesses that receive direct or indirect City support live up to their commitments (avoidance of another Target store controversy).

This new paradigm for TIF investment will not diminish development, but will provide a structure to ensure greater transparency and accountability in City investment, while also ensuring benefits are shared in poorer communities.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. Developers who receive City subsidies/City support should be required to include affordable units in their development. Enforcement of requirements that developers create affordable housing will not begin addressing the issue of gentrification. We can do this when we remove the obstacles to expand multifamily affordable housing units, secure tens of thousands of unoccupied residences & turn them over to community-based developers/organizations for rehab/occupation, & cap property tax increases."[120]

Ethics reforms

“

Paul will end pay-to-play culture at City Hall and ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.

Paul Vallas’ decades long reputation as a highly ethical, transparent and honest public servant has been reinforced with every position he has held, from his position as Executive Director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission all the way through each of the school districts he had led. He has presided over multi-billion dollar budgets funded by taxpayer dollars with complete integrity. He is highly qualified and can be fully trusted to implement the ethical reforms he has been discussing since the very beginning of this campaign – prior to the entry into the race of candidates who declined to challenged Rahm Emanuel and the political status quo. Unlike other candidates, he has no need to attempt to “reset” his campaign with a last minute “ethics plan” – ethical checks and balances run through his plan on every subject. Specifically, to clean up city government and restore the public’s faith in both its public servants and their processes, Vallas will:

  • Institute term limits for both City Council and the mayor. Vallas actively participated in former Governor Pat Quinn’s Summer 2018 petition campaign to get a ballot referendum on term limits. Vallas was the first mayoral candidate to demand term limits for all Chicago elected officials.
  • Implement rotating committee chairmanships for City Council committees to avoid the consolidation of power that contributes to City Hall’s current immoral pay-to-play culture. Each Alderman would be limited to no more than four consecutive years as committee chairman.
  • Audit all committee chairmanship assignments to determine which chairmen should remain and which chairmen should be replaced and with whom, ensuring appointees reflect the diversity of the city and have the support of the community.
  • De-politicize zoning decisions and the issuance of building permits – just as he did when he was CEO of CPS − by removing the authority to award construction contracts out of the highly publicized Public Building Commission.
    • Specifically, Vallas will remove aldermanic privilege that allows Alderman to have political power over zoning and licensing issues in their wards.
    • These are administrative tasks that for decades have been influenced by “clout” and favoritism and that practice will end.
  • Remove workman’s compensation from the Finance Committee to the executive branch of city government. All executive functions will be placed in the executive branch where they can be executed with full transparency to the public.
  • Institute rules prohibiting outside work or business for elected city officials and for those serving on any board of directors that oversees public money.
  • Require officials and board members abstaining from votes due to “conflicts of interest” to detail those conflicts, and make them available to the public.
  • “Revolving Door Ban” – prohibition on lobbying for two years following the termination of an elected or appointed position – including city employees departing Shakman exempt positions.
  • Prohibition on hiring family members to Shakman exempt positions.
  • Greater transparency in the city’s procurement process and contracting – with full transparency on all contract awards.
  • Change the culture in the city’s FOIA office – from one of routinely fighting FOIA’s from the media or private citizens to a culture of immediate and complete compliance except as prohibited by law or personnel regulations. This includes providing additional resources to ensure FOIS requests are timely answered.
  • Continue to study best practices for municipal governments and strengthen ethics rules and quality management systems for ensuring Chicago meets or exceeds the standards of any major U.S. city.[148][97]
 ”

Willie Wilson

Willie Wilson

Pensions

Amending the state constitution

  • Wilson expressed opposition to the constitutional amendement proposal.[114]

Additional statements

“

The workers deserve their pensions. The budget of Chicago can be managed, it currently is mismanaged. It is my view that there is a very significant amount of waste in our City due to poor management and that is the proper place to begin. As a CEO of my own enterprises for over 40 years, I understand that accountability and results are key to administrative success.

INSPECTOR GENERAL

After being established in 2010, the City Hall Inspector General has been in charge of reviewing all executive officials under the mayor. Despite the existence of the office of Chicago Inspector General, the public outrage over the long history of aldermanic misconduct led first to the creation instead of a separate office of Legislative Inspector General. Aldermen argued at the time that this was necessary to protect the legislative branch of government from executive control and to maintain a separation of powers. So they made this separate council watchdog with limited authority. An example of the council’s watchdog’s limited investigative authority was that the Inspector General still cannot launch an investigation into aldermanic wrongdoing without a signed, sworn complaint. Also, it did not have the power to examine waste and fraud through the normal audit and review process that is enforced at every other City Hall office.

I intend to return the City to the Originally proposed ethics ordinance that gave the Executive Inspector General the power to investigate the aldermen and their staffs and to examine city council programs, subjecting them to the same scrutiny that all other parts of the municipal government.

I would give the city inspector general the authority to examine city council programs that spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Transparency and the ‘light of day’ will put our city back on track to reverse the long held reputation for crooked dealings, insider transactions and wasteful mismanagement.

With literally, hundreds of billions of opportunity, here are the areas that I feel require immediate attention: Pensions, interest payments, civil payments, tourist projects, O’Hare, budget, TIFF. So you see, with proper management, proper business principles, there is more than $1 billion in savings opportunities with cash that is currently being spent.[151][97]

”

Education

School closings

WBEZ asked candidates if they supported:
1. Closing low-performing schools; 2. Closing schools more than 50 percent under-enrolled; 3. Opening new schools/constructing new buildings in years when enrollment has declined. The following is the candidate's extended answer:

“

1. No. This question does not really lend itself to a yes or no answer as the decision to close a school is a highly complex one that needs many bits of information as well as, most importantly in Dr. Wilson’s opinion, the input of the community and an elected school board. The decision to close a school should not be solely in the hands of the mayor but a collective of citizens that includes professionals as well as parents of the community in question.

2. No. As above, the percentage of "filled desks" is but one parameter in such an important decision. However there are other parameters including questioning if the size of school, can it be appropriately downsized and remain open?

3. Yes. All 50 schools should NOT have been closed down and many need to be reopened. Quoting overall numbers of desks and students is not the way to determine a school system that acts as a critical anchor to each community.

Extended statement: Dr. Wilson would involve the communities with the board of education and an elected school board to determine which of the 50 schools closed by Rahm should be reopened or rebuilt and like other departments, participate in forming the direction of all major decisions. Community based parent organizations in conjunction with an elected school board and the CPS staff will determine the proper number, size, location and staffing of each school and each community. This includes curriculum design. He also expects that community driving issues such as "prayer in school" would be properly discussed and decided jointly by the educators and the parents, together.

"Chicago is one the greatest cities in this nation but for many people on the South and West side of Chicago it seems more like two cities, a shiny, prosperous downtown and distant communities stripped of their schools, hospitals, clinics and resources that are necessary to stabilize healthy communities. Like a hillside stripped of it’s plants, the soil of these communities is surely eroding."[116][97]

”

School board selection

  • Wilson's campaign website called for an elected school board.[152]

Crime

  • "I do not believe it’s about bringing in more police officers. They done that all his administration – bringing in more police officers, and you get crime going up and up and up," Wilson said. “$8 billion out at O’Hare? Look, take some of those dollars and put them into the community to create the jobs, the contract, and you’ll see that violence go down."[153]
  • Wilson's campaign website called for re-opening community mental health centers to increase neighborhood safety.[151]

Police reform consent decree

“

I intend divide the city into 4 police districts and form community based citizen committees in each district to help choose the best police leader for their district. This would be the beginning of citizen and police working together, not as adversaries.

Training is now know to be critically lacking. The Chicago Police Department provides no clear directives on how it selects, trains and evaluates officers assigned to patrol public schools, according to a report released Thursday from the city inspector general.

CPD doesn’t even have up-to-date staffing rosters and legal agreements with the Chicago Public Schools system for its school resource officers, according to Inspector General Joseph Ferguson.

There are current no African American detectives in Chicago Police Homicide division. Further, New York and LA, have an overall rate of 15 percent of sworn detectives. Chicago is running at seven to eight percent. Since 2009, CPD has lost over 30 percent of its experienced detectives to retirement. In addition, the lack of technology places a role in low clearance rates of cases as well. It takes a year for DNA evidence to return from the lab.

These two factors are the main contributors to a ‘clearance rate’ for these crimes of less than 17.5%.

The department’s lack of guidance and structure over school resource officers underscores a “high probability” that students get unnecessarily entangled in the criminal justice system. The IG said it urged authorities to immediately create formal standards and responsibilities for school-based police officers by the start of classes this fall.

In 2017, a report from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law concluded CPD’s school police officers lacked proper training, faced little accountability and accumulated more than $2 million in misconduct settlements for actions that occurred on and off school grounds between 2012 and 2016.

We must restructure the Chicago Police Department to a racial make up that closely reflects the citizen population including detective level and supervisory level personal. Inclusion of citizens in all aspects of planning for CPD, not just the Review Board, is key to making the department ‘part of’ each community, not ‘above it’. This should ideally include training program design that reflect not only best police practices but issues important to our citizens. We must also have an efficient crime lab availability that is under our own control. I would ensure that these goals are accomplished ahead of any new development projects.[151][97]

”

Tax increment financing

“

Everyone knows and many say that the TIF dollars are taken from the communities tax base and funneled into downtown and a few neighborhoods favored by Rahm, directly at his own discretion. I would call for a forensic audit of the program, but such examinations have yet to materialize. The mayor and his staffers who handle the TIF program fight requests to release information clarifying the way TIF funds have been expended.

I would stop plowing all that money into downtown, the riverwalk and the tourist areas and redirect those funds back into the blighted neighborhoods that they were intended for. This will also create new jobs and opportunities in those areas that will help reduce violence. These funds were designed to help the poorest communities and should be used for the ideas above. My more extensive 10 point plan for chicago contains these ideas as well as additional ideas on how to increase revenues, without raising taxes, to fund all of my initiatives….

It is no mystery, if you pass through a neighborhood where residents have jobs, the business community flourishes, where the unemployment is high, stores are vacant, schools are closed and young men are in the streets foraging for a way to survive, by whatever means. Everyone must eat and they will do what they must, not always by choice, to feed their families. We must put resources into the roughly eight communities that are indeed, ‘blighted’.[96][97]

”

Affordable housing requirements

WBEZ asked: "Will you force developers of new projects to build affordable housing units in gentrifying communities where long-time residents are being displaced?" The candidate answered with the following:

"Yes. Real estate developers already are required to include or build 20% of new units on certain sized projects. I will support the continued requirement and perhaps increased participation."[120]

Ethics reforms

  • "I believe that public service is a temporary assignment, not a life assignment/career. The problem is that many of our politicians come into politics seeking their life's fortune, not to serve the citizens. I believe that when you seek elected office, there should be a maximum term or term limits that you know going in to the job. You leave the life that you had, for a temporary period of time, and return to that business life after your service is over."
“

I intend to return the City to its originally proposed ethics ordinance that gave the Executive Inspector General the power to investigate the aldermen and their staffs and to examine city council programs, subjecting them to the same scrutiny that all other parts of the municipal government.

I would give the city inspector general the authority to examine city council programs that spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Transparency and the ‘light of day’ will put our city back on track to reverse the long held reputation for crooked dealings, insider transactions and wasteful mismanagement and spending. Quarterly audits will be initiated for every department[124][97]

”

Campaign ads and media

This section shows advertisements and other media released in this race. Candidate sections were added as advertisements were discovered. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Noteworthy events

Conviction on racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion (2019-2024)

See also: Noteworthy criminal misconduct in American politics (2019-2020)

On June 24, 2024, Burke was sentenced to spend two years in prison and pay a $2 million fine after being found guilty of racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion in December 2023.[154] He reported to prison on September 23, 2024.[155]

Extortion charges filed (January 2019)

On January 2, 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) filed a complaint in the U.S. Northern District of Illinois court alleging that 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke attempted to commit extortion. The complaint alleged that Burke attempted to use his position as alderman to solicit business for his law firm, Klafter & Burke, from a restaurant owner who was seeking permits for remodeling in 2017. It also claimed that Burke illegally sought a donation for another unnamed politician from an executive of the company.[156][157] The FBI had conducted raids of Burke's offices on November 29 and December 13, 2018.[156][157]

Burke said of the charges, "I believe that I’m not guilty of anything, and I’m trusting that when I have my day in court, that will be clear beyond a reasonable doubt." He stepped down from his role as chairman of the city council Finance Committee on January 7, 2019.[158] He withdrew from the law firm in April 2019.[159]

Charges expanded (May 2019)

On May 30, 2019, Burke was charged with two counts of attempted extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of racketeering, two counts of federal program bribery, and eight counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an illegal activity. The May 30 indictment included the one charge of attempted extortion from January 2. Other charges were related to the redevelopment of the Old Main Post Office and a museum that wanted to increase admission fees.[160][161]

Burke released the following statement: "Any suggestion that Ald. Burke abused his position as a public official for personal gain is simply not true. The charges are unfounded and not based on actual evidence."[162]

Trial, conviction, and sentencing (2019-2024)

On June 4, 2019, Burke pleaded not guilty in court.[163][164]

On February 8, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Dow heard oral arguments.[165] Dow rejected motions from Burke's team to dismiss charges in June.[166] In July, Dow set the trial date for November 6, 2023.[167]

On November 28, 2022, Dana Kozlov of CBS Chicago reported that Burke would not run for re-election, saying she learned "this action happened the same day as a big bombshell dropped in Burke's federal bribery case. ... Adding to Burke's case now is a filing issued Monday, which states federal prosecutors have almost 90 hours of videos of consensually recoded meetings, and more than 2,000 texts, involving a cooperating witness – former Ald. Danny Solis (25th)."[168]

On December 21, 2023, Burke was found guilty on 13 counts related to racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion.[169] On June 24, 2024, he was sentenced to spend two years in prison and pay a $2 million fine.[154]

Mayoral candidate reactions

Below are reactions from mayoral candidates in the immediate aftermath of Burke's charge. See above for candidates' city council ethics proposals.

Preckwinkle, who as of the election was Cook County Democratic Party chairwoman, removed Burke from his chairmanship of the Cook County judicial slating committee and said he should resign from the council. Preckwinkle also said she would return all money raised at a January 2018 fundraiser at Burke's house for her re-election bid to the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Preckwinkle confirmed she received a donation for that race from the company executive named in the FBI complaint. Her lawyer said the donation was not accepted and the campaign may have made a technical error in not reporting the donation and its return.[170]

Chico said that he would not accept support from Burke in the mayoral race. Burke said in October 2018 that there was "probably nobody more qualified" in the mayoral race than Chico.[171][172] Chico called on Burke to step down as Finance Committee chair.[173]

Mendoza called on Burke to step down from the Finance Committee and said it was time for someone else to represent the 14th Ward. Daley also said the ward needed a new alderman.[174]

Fioretti called on Burke to step down as Finance Committee chair. He also said Preckwinkle should drop out of the mayoral race over the contribution in question and called on Chico to disavow Burke's endorsement.[175][176]

Vallas called on Preckwinkle, Mendoza, Chico, and Daley to withdraw from the mayoral race because of their connections to Burke. Wilson said Preckwinkle should resign as Cook County board president.

Lightfoot called on Burke to resign as finance chair following the first raid of his offices and, after the charge, said Burke should also resign from the city council.

Enyia said, "A lot of the other candidates have significant ties to Alderman Burke and therefore ties to corruption, so the question Chicagoans will be asking is can we trust individuals that came out of that same establishment."[177] She called on Burke to resign from city council.

Candidate survey

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Ballotpedia invited all 2019 municipal candidates in Chicago to participate in our candidate survey, created through our partnership with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Interactivity Foundation, and City Bureau, as well as insights from more than one hundred diverse citizens living throughout Chicago’s wards.

Click here to view the survey.


Mayoral partisanship

Once mayors elected in 2019 assumed office, the mayors of 65 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Out of the 31 mayoral elections that were held in 2019 in the 100 largest cities, five partisan changes occurred. Democrats gained three mayorships: two previously held by Republicans and one previously held by an independent. Republicans won one office held by an unaffiliated mayor, and one office where the incumbent's partisan affiliation was unknown.

In the elections in Phoenix, Arizona and Wichita, Kansas, Democrats won seats with Republican incumbents. In Wichita, Democrat Brandon Whipple defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Longwell. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a Democrat won a seat previously held by an independent. In Aurora, Colorado, a Republican succeeded an unaffiliated mayor. In Garland, Texas, a Republican succeeded a mayor with unknown party affiliation. Incumbents did not seek re-election in Phoenix, Raleigh, Aurora, or Garland.

Click here to learn more.

Election history

In 1995, the city switched from holding plurality-winner primary and general elections for citywide offices to holding general elections that require a candidate to receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win without a runoff.[178]

Click here to see election results going back to 1975.

2015

In 2015, Chicago saw its first mayoral runoff election. From a general election candidate field of five, Emanuel and Jesus "Chuy" Garcia advanced to a runoff, where Emanuel won by 12 percentage points.

Key issues in the 2015 mayoral race included the closing of 50 schools during Emanuel's first term, whether the school board of Chicago Public Schools should be elected or remain appointed by the mayor, and the city's downgraded debt rating. In February 2015, the bond-rating service Moody's downgraded Chicago to Baa2, a mid-to-low level rating that sits two positions up from what financial analysts call “junk,” a status that indicates high risks for bondholders. Moody's cited unfunded pension obligations as the main reason for the downgrade.

Election results

Mayor of Chicago, Runoff Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRahm Emanuel Incumbent 56.2% 332,171
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia 43.8% 258,562
Total Votes 590,733
Source: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "Official runoff election results," accessed July 9, 2015

Mayor of Chicago, General Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRahm Emanuel Incumbent 45.6% 218,217
Green check mark transparent.pngJesus "Chuy" Garcia 33.5% 160,414
Willie Wilson 10.7% 50,960
Robert W. "Bob" Fioretti 7.4% 35,363
William "Dock" Walls, III 2.8% 13,250
Total Votes 478,204
Source: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "Official general election results," accessed July 9, 2015

2011

The mayoral seat was open in 2011 as longtime incumbent Richard M. Daley did not seek re-election. Major issues in the election included how to approach the city's $655 million budget deficit and the city's growing unfunded pension obligation. Candidates debated how to reduce the cost of city services and raise revenues.[179][180][181]

Mayor of Chicago, General Election, 2011
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRahm Emanuel 55.3% 326,331
Gery Chico 23.9% 141,228
Miguel Del Valle 9.3% 54,689
Carol Moseley Braun 9% 53,062
Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins 1.6% 9,704
Dock Walls 0.9% 5,343
Total Votes 585,014
Source: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "Official general election results," accessed July 9, 2015

2007

Mayor of Chicago, General Election, 2007
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRichard M. Daley Incumbent 71% 324,519
Dorothy Brown 20.1% 91,878
William "Dock" Walls, III 8.8% 40,368
Total Votes 456,765
Source: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, "Election results," accessed December 7, 2018

History of the office

See our page on the history of Chicago's mayoral office for a deep historical dive.

Evolution of the office

Chicago's municipal charter of 1837 established the office of mayor as an elected office with one-year terms. In 1863, the term was extended to two years, then to four years in 1907.[182]

The mayor's powers have grown over time, with significant expansions occurring within the first decades of the office's existence. ... Click here to learn more about how mayoral powers expanded over time.

Prominence of the Democratic Party

For the first 90 years during which Chicago had a mayor, voters elected mayors from a variety of parties; Democrats, Republicans, Whigs and more all held the city's top position. That changed after 1927, the year Chicagoans elected their last non-Democratic mayor for at least 90 years.[183] The first in a long line of consecutive Democratic mayors was Anton Cermak, elected in 1931. Political observers and historians give at least partial credit to Cermak for what they refer to as "the machine"—the Democratic Party organization in Chicago and Cook County more broadly that lasted into the late 1970s or early 1980s.[184][185] "The ascendancy of the Democratic Party was not secured until Anton Cermak built a broad coalition of ethnic and working-class voters that secured his election," according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago.[186] By 1890, when the census first found Chicago to be the nation's second-largest city, immigrants and the children of immigrants made up three-quarters of its population.[187] Cermak was a Czech immigrant.

After Cermak's death in 1933, Cook County Democratic Central Committee chairman Patrick Nash appointed his replacement: Edward Kelly, who served as mayor until 1947. During Kelly's tenure, the city's growing black population increasingly voted Democratic. Kelly was a proponent of desegregated schools and housing. He worked with Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) to secure New Deal funding for Chicago.[188][189] ... Click here to continue reading.

National significance

Chicago was the nation's second-largest city from 1890 to 1982.[190] Its population peaked at 3.6 million in the 1950 census.[191] As of 2017, Chicago was the third-largest city in the U.S. (population of 2.7 million) behind New York City (8.6 million) and Los Angeles (4 million).[192]

Due to the city's size and the strength of its Democratic Party organization, Chicago and its mayors have exerted influence beyond city boundaries. The following is a sampling of ways in which Chicago and its mayors have demonstrated national political significance throughout history:

  • Through 2016, Chicago hosted more major-party conventions than any other U.S. city. It hosted 25 total—11 Democratic National Conventions and 14 Republican National Conventions between 1860 and 1996.[193] Philadelphia hosted nine total through 2016, and Baltimore hosted 10 (the last one being in 1912).[194]
  • Anton Cermak, elected mayor in 1931, was an influential campaigner for Franklin D. Roosevelt in Cook County, which FDR won along with the 1932 presidential election overall. Cermak met with FDR in Miami ahead of the inauguration to discuss Roosevelt's appointments and New Deal funding for Chicago. Cermak was shot in a failed assassination attempt on FDR and died weeks later.[195][196]
  • In 1960, Mayor Richard J. Daley campaigned for John F. Kennedy (D) during his presidential bid. Daley was also the chair of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee, which History.com referred to as "the strongest political organization in the country." Kennedy won Illinois' delegates at the party convention and the state's electoral votes in the general election.[197] In 1960, Illinois had 27 electoral votes—the fourth-highest share of any state.[198]

Click here to read more examples of the mayor's role on the national stage.

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Illinois elections, 2019

What's on your ballot?
Click here to find out using My Vote

About the city

See also: Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a city in Illinois. It is the seat of Cook County and the center of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, its population was 2,746,388.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Chicago uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[199] The mayor and city council each serve four-year terms.

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Illinois
Population 2,746,388 12,812,508
Land area (sq mi) 227 55,512
Race and ethnicity**
White 39% 63.3%
Black/African American 28.4% 13.8%
Asian 7.1% 5.8%
Native American 0.9% 0.5%
Pacific Islander 0.5% 0.4%
Two or more 12% 9.2%
Hispanic/Latino 29.6% 18.5%
Education
High school graduation rate 86.8% 90.3%
College graduation rate 43.3% 37.2%
Income
Median household income $75,134 $81,702
Persons below poverty level 16.8% 11.7%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


State profile

See also: Illinois and Illinois elections, 2019
USA Illinois location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held six of 13 state executive offices. The Illinois Commerce Commission was composed of individuals with different affiliations. Elections for the other six offices were nonpartisan.
  • Illinois' governor was Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

State legislature

Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Illinois quick stats
  • Became a state in 1818
  • 21st state admitted to the United States
  • Illinois' population doubled every 10 years between 1820 and 1860,
    making it one of the fastest-growing places in the world at the time.[200]
  • Members of the Illinois State Senate: 59
  • Members of the Illinois House of Representatives: 118
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 18
More Illinois coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Illinois
 IllinoisU.S.
Total population:12,839,047316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):55,5193,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:72.3%73.6%
Black/African American:14.3%12.6%
Asian:5%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:16.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:87.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:32.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$57,574$53,889
Persons below poverty level:16.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Illinois.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Chicago, Illinois Illinois Municipal government Other local coverage
Chicago city seal.png
Seal of Illinois.png
Municipal Government Final.png
Local Politics Image.jpg

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Officials hope early voting sites opening in all 50 wards will boost low numbers," February 11, 2019
  2. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "It's time: Voters to pick from largest field of mayoral candidates in Chicago's 181-year history," February 26, 2019
  3. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "It's down to six candidates on Chicago mayoral ballot," January 11, 2011
  4. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Bill Daley for Mayor," accessed February 14, 2019
  5. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Friends of Jerry Joyce," accessed February 20, 2019
  6. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Willie Wilson for Mayor," accessed January 24, 2019
  7. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Chicago’s latest Blues Brothers: Buddy Guy and … Bob Fioretti?" January 22, 2019
  8. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Friends of Amara Enyia," accessed January 24, 2019
  9. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Toni For Chicago," accessed December 11, 2018
  10. ↑ Illinois Sunshine, "Toni for Chicago," accessed January 24, 2019
  11. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "New 'dark money' ad against Bill Daley invokes comparison to ex-Gov. Bruce Rauner," February 20, 2019
  12. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Fight Back for a Better Tomorrow," accessed February 24, 2019
  13. ↑ Politico Illinios Playbook, "New ad blasts DALEY — POLL: It’s a 5-way dash to the finish — BETO to visit Chicago," February 15, 2019
  14. ↑ WGN TV, "Former Vice President Al Gore endorses Bill Daley in Chicago mayoral race," February 8, 2019
  15. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Daley proposes citywide referendum on shrinking City Council from 50 to 15," January 22, 2019
  16. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush backs Bill Daley for Chicago mayor," January 31, 2019
  17. ↑ Youtube, "Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Endorses Bill Daley for Mayor," January 20, 2019
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 The Daily Line, "Trail reports — Endorsement roundup: CTU backs 10 more candidates; Equality Illinois taps Lightfoot," February 8, 2019
  19. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Editorial: Bill Daley, to build Chicago," February 13, 2019
  20. ↑ Crain's Chicago Business, "Bill Daley is the Best Pick for Mayor," February 15, 2019
  21. ↑ Chicago Crusader, "Our time has finally come," February 21, 2019
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 NBC Chicago, "List of Endorsements in the Race for Chicago Mayor," February 20, 2019
  23. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Amara Enyia explains how she got Kanye West's backing for Chicago mayor and addresses his support for Trump," October 23, 2018
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 NBC Chicago, "Chance the Rapper Endorses Amara Enyia for Mayor of Chicago," "Chance the Rapper Endorses Amara Enyia for Mayor of Chicago," October 16, 2018
  25. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Dorothy Brown backs Amara Enyia in Chicago mayor's race,' January 31, 2019
  26. ↑ NBC Chicago, "Rep. Robin Kelly Endorses Lori Lightfoot for Chicago Mayor," February 21, 2019
  27. ↑ Lori Lightfoot's 2019 campaign website, "Press Release – Ald. Scott Waguespack endorses Lightfoot: Opportunity to set a new course," February 22, 2019
  28. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "With Dick Simpson at her side, Lightfoot proposes ethics reforms," August 21, 2018
  29. ↑ ABC Chicago, "Lori Lighfoot picks up endorsements in week before Chicago mayoral election," February 20, 2019
  30. ↑ Illinois Education Association, "Statement from IEA Region 67 on recommendation of Lori Lightfoot for Mayor of Chicago," February 13, 2019
  31. ↑ Victory Fund, "Our Candidates," acessed December 14, 2018
  32. ↑ Facebook, "LPAC on January 15, 2019," accessed January 16, 2019
  33. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "ENDORSEMENT: Lori Lightfoot for mayor — and a new Chicago Way," February 8, 2019
  34. ↑ WGN, "Chicago community activist Andrew Holmes endorses McCarthy for mayor," July 17, 2018
  35. ↑ NBC Chicago, "Rudy Giuliani Tweets Support for 'Jerry' McCarthy, Garry McCarthy Fires Back," August 6, 2018
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Preckwinkle lands CTU endorsement; Mendoza counters with Huerta," December 5, 2018
  37. ↑ Susana Mendoza's 2019 campaign website, "LIUNA Endorses Susana Mendoza for Mayor," January 7, 2019
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Politico, "Illinois Playbook," February 25, 2019
  39. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "A billionaire family divided: Laura Ricketts endorses Mendoza," January 31, 2019
  40. ↑ Susana Mendoza's 2019 campaign website, "Susana Mendoza Earns Latino Victory Fund Endorsement," February 4, 2019
  41. ↑ The Columbia Chronicle, "ENDORSEMENT: Susana Mendoza for mayor," February 22, 2019
  42. ↑ Chicago Defender, "Toni Preckwinkle Announces Run for Mayor of Chicago," September 20, 2018
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Politico Illinois Playbook, "Looking to WOMEN, LGBTQ for votes — SOLIS tapes name 4 aldermen — A MOVE on graduated income tax," February 4, 2019
  44. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Rep. Schakowsky endorses Preckwinkle for mayor: The 'progressive in this race,'" November 15, 2018
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Chicago Tribune, "Morning Spin: Preckwinkle touts mayoral bid backing from two progressive Democrats," October 19, 2018
  46. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Karen Lewis, former Chicago Teachers Union president, endorses Toni Preckwinkle on eve of Feb. 26 election," February 22, 2019
  47. ↑ SEIU Local 1, "SEIU Local 1 Endorses Toni Preckwinkle for Mayor," September 20, 2018
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Chicago Tribune, "Toni Preckwinkle accepts endorsement from Chicago Teachers Union, 2 other major union affiliates," December 6, 2018
  49. ↑ NASWIL, "NASW-Illinois Chapter Endorsements for 2019 Chicago Municipal Election," February 6, 2019
  50. ↑ Chicago GOP, "Chicago Republican committeemen vote to support Paul Vallas for mayor," February 17, 2019
  51. ↑ WBBM, "Mayoral Candidates Heat Up Over Endorsements, Voter Turnouts," February 18, 2019
  52. ↑ Suburban Chicagoland, "Cook County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison endorses Dr. Willie Wilson for Chicago Mayor," February 14, 2019
  53. ↑ Crain's Chicago Business, "It’s a match: Young Republicans back Willie Wilson," February 5, 2019
  54. ↑ Chicago City Wire, "Northwest Side GOP Club endorses Willie Wilson, a Democrat, for Chicago mayor," February 4, 2019
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 City of Chicago, "Annual Financial Analysis 2018," accessed December 11, 2018
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 City of Chicago, "Annual Financial Analysis 2017: The City's Pension Funds," accessed December 13, 2018
  57. ↑ Wilshire Associates, "2018 Wilshire Consulting Report on City & County Retirement Systems: Funding Levels and Asset Allocation," September 2018
  58. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB0777," accessed December 13, 2018
  59. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB0042," accessed December 13, 2018
  60. ↑ Investopedia, "Everything You Need to Know About Junk Bonds," accessed February 8, 2019
  61. ↑ Moody's, "Rating Action: Moody's affirms Chicago, IL's GO at Ba1 and revises outlook to stable," July 12, 2018
  62. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Standard & Poor’s affirms Chicago’s BBB+bond rating, citing warning flags," February 9, 2018
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Chicago Tribune, "Illinois Supreme Court ruling forces city to find new fix for 2 pension funds," March 24, 2016
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Ill. Supreme Court overturns city pension reforms," March 26, 2016
  65. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Mihalopoulos: COLA — It’s the real thing driving pension mess," June 7, 2016
  66. ↑ City of Chicago, "Mayor Emanuel Provides Roadmap to Continue to Confront Pension Obligations Head-On," December 12, 2018
  67. ↑ CNN, "Chicago board votes to close 50 schools," May 22, 2013
  68. ↑ CBS News, "Chicago Board of Ed votes to shut down 50 schools," May 22, 2013
  69. ↑ Chicago Teachers Union, "CTU President Karen Lewis Statement on CPS School Closings," accessed December 17, 2018
  70. ↑ Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, "Why these schools? Explaining school closures in Chicago, 2000-2013," November 2016
  71. ↑ WBEZ, "A Generation Of School Closings," December 3, 2018
  72. ↑ WTTW, "CPS Releases Space Utilization Data After Yearlong Gap," January 19, 2018
  73. ↑ Chalkbeat, "Chicago releases school ratings: Fewer make the top tiers," October 26, 2018
  74. ↑ The New York Times, "Chicago's Mayor Gains School Control That New York's Mayor Would Envy," June 25, 1995
  75. ↑ The Civic Federation, "Chicago Public Schools Board of Education Governance: A History and Review of Other Cities’ Practices," June 8, 2017
  76. ↑ Chicago Board of Education, "Home," accessed December 19, 2018
  77. ↑ Chicago Public Schools, "Chicago Public Schools FY19 Budget Interactive," accessed December 19, 2018
  78. ↑ Chicago Teachers Union Local 1, "Latest mayoral appointment underscores why we need elected, representative school board," December 14, 2018
  79. ↑ WBBM, "CTU Argues For Elected Chicago School Board," April 25, 2018
  80. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Elected school board bill passes committee despite CPS opposition," March 15, 2017
  81. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Emanuel, challengers face off over elected school boards," January 24, 2015
  82. ↑ Chicago Public Schools, "Local School Councils," accessed December 20, 2018
  83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 Chicago Police Department, "Annual Report 2017," accessed December 14, 2018
  84. ↑ Pew Research Center, "Despite recent violence, Chicago is far from the U.S. ‘murder capital,’" November 13, 2018
  85. ↑ Chicago Police Department, "ClearMap Crime Summary," accessed December 16, 2018
  86. ↑ ABC Chicago, "Jason Van Dyke sentenced to 6 years, 9 months in prison for Laquan McDonald murder," January 18, 2019
  87. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Judge acquits 3 Chicago cops of covering up Laquan McDonald's killing, backing police on each disputed point," January 17, 2019
  88. ↑ United States Department of Justice, "Investigation of the Chicago Police Department," January 13, 2017
  89. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Concerns mount over Chicago cop reform as Sessions vows to 'pull back,'" March 1, 2017
  90. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "U.S. attorney general says Chicago police consent decree should be tossed, while activists seek tighter rules," October 12, 2018
  91. ↑ FOP7 Blog, "FOP Statement On Proposed Consent Decree," July 20, 2018
  92. ↑ United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, "Consent Decree," accessed January 21, 2019
  93. ↑ Chicago Police Consent Decree, accessed January 21, 2019
  94. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Judge approves historic court order aimed at reforming Chicago Police Department: 'Let us begin,'" February 1, 2019
  95. ↑ CBS Chicago, "With Monitor In Place, Consent Decree To Overhaul Chicago Police Department Takes Effect," March 1, 2019
  96. ↑ 96.00 96.01 96.02 96.03 96.04 96.05 96.06 96.07 96.08 96.09 96.10 96.11 96.12 96.13 96.14 96.15 City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Tax Increment Financing Program," accessed December 27, 2018 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "tif" defined multiple times with different content
  97. ↑ 97.00 97.01 97.02 97.03 97.04 97.05 97.06 97.07 97.08 97.09 97.10 97.11 97.12 97.13 97.14 97.15 97.16 97.17 97.18 97.19 97.20 97.21 97.22 97.23 97.24 97.25 97.26 97.27 97.28 97.29 97.30 97.31 97.32 97.33 97.34 97.35 97.36 97.37 97.38 97.39 97.40 97.41 97.42 97.43 97.44 97.45 97.46 97.47 97.48 97.49 97.50 97.51 97.52 97.53 97.54 97.55 97.56 97.57 97.58 97.59 97.60 97.61 97.62 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 98.2 98.3 Urban Land Institute, "Findings and Recommendations for Reforming the Use of Tax Increment Financing in Chicago: Creating Greater Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability," August 23, 2011
  99. ↑ Cook County Clerk's Office, "Cook County TIFs to bring in a record $1 Billion according to Clerk Orr; Transit TIF revenue doubled," July 24, 2018
  100. ↑ City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed December 27, 2018
  101. ↑ Illinois Policy Institute, "Nearly a Third of Property Tax Revenue in Chicago is Diverted into 143 TIF Districts," July 26, 2018
  102. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Where 16 Chicago mayoral candidates stand on TIFs: Their full responses," December 8, 2018
  103. ↑ Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, "Improving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Economic Development," accessed January 1, 2019
  104. ↑ City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, "Tax Increment Financing: Streamlined TIF Program Overview and Application," accessed December 27, 2018
  105. ↑ City of Chicago, "Annual Financial Analysis 2018," accessed January 1, 2019
  106. ↑ 106.0 106.1 Burnham, "The Quest for Affordable Housing: Chicago Adopts New Developer Requirements," October 24, 2017
  107. ↑ 107.0 107.1 City of Chicago, "Mayor Emanuel Introduces Two Ordinances Designed to Preserve, Enhance Pilsen and Little Village to City Council," November 14, 2018
  108. ↑ City of Chicago Office of the City Clerk, "O2018-6119," accessed December 30, 2018
  109. ↑ Block Club Chicago, "City Must Spend ‘Millions’ More To Combat Affordable Housing Shortage, Group Tells Aldermen," August 2, 2018
  110. ↑ Crain's Chicago Business, "Chicago apartment developers scurry to beat new affordable-housing law," October 10, 2015
  111. ↑ Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, "Creating More Affordable Housing in Chicago," May 6, 2014
  112. ↑ University of Illinois at Chicago, "Corruption in Chicago and Illinois," February 11, 2019
  113. ↑ 113.0 113.1 113.2 113.3 113.4 Chicago Tribune, "Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushes public pension fix to City Council, including legalized marijuana, Chicago casino, constitutional amendment," December 12, 2018
  114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 114.2 114.3 WBEZ, "Emanuel’s Pension Plan Draws Ire Of Chicago Mayoral Candidates," December 13, 2018
  115. ↑ Gery Chico's 2019 campaign website, "Campaign Finance & Services," accessed December 16, 2018
  116. ↑ 116.00 116.01 116.02 116.03 116.04 116.05 116.06 116.07 116.08 116.09 116.10 '"WBEZ, "Most Mayoral Candidates Say No To More Chicago School Closings," December 9, 2018
  117. ↑ Gery Chico's 2019 campaign website, "Education," accessed December 20, 2018
  118. ↑ Gery Chico's 2019 campaign website, "Public Safety," accessed December 21, 2018
  119. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Gery Chico, candidate for mayor," January 18, 2019
  120. ↑ 120.00 120.01 120.02 120.03 120.04 120.05 120.06 120.07 120.08 120.09 120.10 120.11 120.12 WBEZ, "Chicago's Mayoral Candidates Answer 20 Yes Or No Questions," January 28, 2019
  121. ↑ Gery Chico's 2019 campaign website, "Ethics," accessed February 13, 2019
  122. ↑ Bill Daley's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 27, 2019
  123. ↑ 123.0 123.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "William M. Daley, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  124. ↑ 124.0 124.1 124.2 124.3 124.4 124.5 124.6 124.7 124.8 124.9 Crain's Chicago Business, "Asked & Answered," February 4, 2019
  125. ↑ 125.0 125.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Amara Enyia, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  126. ↑ Amara Enyia's 2019 campaign website, "The Issues," accessed December 21, 2018
  127. ↑ 127.0 127.1 Bob Fioretti's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 25, 2019
  128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Robert 'Bob' Fioretti, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  129. ↑ 129.0 129.1 129.2 Chicago Sun-Times, "La Shawn K. Ford, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  130. ↑ La Shawn Ford's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed December 21, 2018
  131. ↑ Jerry Joyce's 2019 campaign website, "Municipal Finances," accessed January 27, 2019
  132. ↑ 132.0 132.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Jerry Joyce, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  133. ↑ Jerry Joyce's 2019 campaign website, "Public Safety," accessed December 21, 2018
  134. ↑ 134.0 134.1 John Kozlar's 2019 campaign website, "Home," accessed December 16, 2018
  135. ↑ 135.0 135.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "John Kenneth Kozlar, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  136. ↑ 136.0 136.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Lori Lightfoot, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  137. ↑ Garry McCarthy's 2019 campaign website, "Garry on Finance," accessed December 16, 2018
  138. ↑ 138.0 138.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Garry McCarthy, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  139. ↑ 139.0 139.1 Garry McCarthy's 2019 campaign website, "Garry on Education," accessed January 27, 2019
  140. ↑ Garry McCarthy's 2019 campaign website, "Garry on Crime," accessed December 21, 2018
  141. ↑ Susana Mendoza's 2019 campaign website, "Progressive Revenue," accessed January 27, 2019
  142. ↑ 142.0 142.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Susana A. Mendoza, candidate for mayor," January 9, 2019
  143. ↑ 143.0 143.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Toni Preckwinkle, candidate for mayor," January 18, 2019
  144. ↑ Toni Preckwinkle's 2019 campaign website, "Education," accessed December 20, 2018
  145. ↑ Neal Sáles-Griffin's 2019 campaign website, "Education," accessed December 20, 2018
  146. ↑ Neal Sáles-Griffin's 2019 campaign website, "Public Safety," accessed December 21, 2018
  147. ↑ Neal Sáles-Griffin's 2019 campaign website, "Affordable Housing," accessed February 1, 2019
  148. ↑ 148.0 148.1 148.2 Paul Vallas' 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed January 27, 2019
  149. ↑ Paul Vallas' 2019 campaign website, "Paul's Five Point Plan," accessed December 21, 2018
  150. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Paul Vallas, candidate for mayor," January 18, 2019
  151. ↑ 151.0 151.1 151.2 Chicago Sun-Times, "Willie L. Wilson, candidate for mayor," January 18, 2019
  152. ↑ Willie Wilson's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed December 20, 2018
  153. ↑ WGNTV, "Here’s how 8 mayoral candidates say they would address violence in Chicago," August 6, 2018
  154. ↑ 154.0 154.1 NBC Chicago, "Ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke sentenced in federal corruption case," accessed June 24, 2024
  155. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ex-Ald. Edward Burke reports to prison, where he’s now federal inmate No. 53698-424," September 24, 2024
  156. ↑ 156.0 156.1 Chicago Tribune, "Feds charge powerful Ald. Edward Burke with corruption," January 3, 2019
  157. ↑ 157.0 157.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke charged in attempted extortion of Burger King," January 3, 2019
  158. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Ald. Edward Burke, Facing Corruption Charge, Resigns As Finance Committee Chairman," January 4, 2019
  159. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke no longer partner at tax appeals law firm at center of indictment," August 23, 2019
  160. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ald. Edward Burke indicted on expanded federal racketeering, bribery charges," May 31, 2019
  161. ↑ WTTW, "Ald. Ed Burke Indicted on 14 Counts of Racketeering, Extortion, Attempted Bribery," May 30, 2019
  162. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ald. Ed Burke charged with racketeering in sweeping indictment," May 30, 2019
  163. ↑ WGNTV, "Chicago Ald. Burke pleads not guilty in federal court to corruption charges," June 4, 2019
  164. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Burke could go to trial in the middle of 2021, but judge declines to set specific date," February 4, 2020
  165. ↑ The Chicago Sun-Times, "Judge in Ed Burke’s criminal case tells lawyers ‘stay tuned’ after crucial hearing on evidence," February 8, 2022
  166. ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Judge rejects motions from Burke and co-defendants, says evidence should be considered at trial," June 6, 2022
  167. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Judge sets Ald. Ed Burke’s racketeering trial for November 2023 — giving Burke a chance to run again," July 12, 2022
  168. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Ald. Edward Burke, longest serving Chicago alderman, is not running for reelection," November 28, 2022
  169. ↑ United States Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois, "Former City of Chicago Alderman Convicted on Federal Racketeering, Bribery, and Extortion Charges," December 21, 2023
  170. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Preckwinkle returning Burke cash, stripping his power to help get judges elected," January 6, 2019
  171. ↑ NBC Chicago, "Chicago Mayoral Candidates React to Burke Attempted Extortion Charge as Embattled Alderman Insists 'I Did Nothing Wrong,'" January 3, 2019
  172. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ald. Edward Burke on Gery Chico for Chicago mayor: 'There’s probably nobody more qualified,'" October 22, 2018
  173. ↑ Associated Press, "Corruption case injects uncertainty into Chicago mayor race," January 6, 2019
  174. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Bill Daley: Shrink Chicago City Council from 50 aldermen to 15," January 7, 2019
  175. ↑ WTTW, "Preckwinkle, FBI at Odds Over Campaign Contribution," January 7, 2019
  176. ↑ Politico Illinois Playbook, "BURKE blockbuster — MUNOZ’s next steps — SPEAKER votes for BUSTOS, DUCKWORTH," January 4, 2019
  177. ↑ ABC Chicago, "Ed Burke, longtime Chicago alderman, charged with attempted extortion," January 3, 2019
  178. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Government, City of Chicago," accessed November 13, 2018
  179. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Mayoral Debate Focuses On Issues, Not Emanuel," January 28, 2011
  180. ↑ Christian Science Monitor, "Chicago mayor's race: What the candidates promise," February 17, 2011
  181. ↑ The New York Times, "Emanuel Says He Favors Reduced Pensions for Current Workers and New Hires," January 8, 2011
  182. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Government, City of Chicago," accessed December 3, 2018
  183. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Chicago Mayors, 1837-2007," accessed December 6, 2018
  184. ↑ Britannica, "Anton J. Cermak," accessed December 7, 2018
  185. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "The Shooting of Anton Cermak," December 19, 2007
  186. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Politics," accessed December 7, 2018
  187. ↑ The Newberry, "Chicago and the Great Migration, 1915–1950," accessed December 7, 2018
  188. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Machine Politics," accessed December 7, 2018
  189. ↑ The University of Chicago, "Politics: A Short History," accessed December 7, 2018
  190. ↑ The New York Times, "Los Angeles Replaces Chicago as Second City," April 8, 1984
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  192. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2017 Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017," accessed December 4, 2018
  193. ↑ Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Political Conventions," accessed December 4, 2018
  194. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, "Political Conventions," accessed December 4, 2018
  195. ↑ Spartacus Educational, "Anton Cermak," accessed December 4, 2018
  196. ↑ Miami Herald, "He took a shot at a president-elect, and could have changed history," February 6, 2017
  197. ↑ History, "Richard Daley," accessed December 4, 2018
  198. ↑ 270 to Win, "1960 Presidential Election," accessed December 5, 2018
  199. ↑ City of Chicago, "Chicago Government," accessed August 29, 2014
  200. ↑ Encyclopedia.com, "Illinois," accessed May 7, 2019
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