Vallas gears up for yet another campaign
Monday, Jan 29, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune looks at a possible Paul Vallas mayoral bid…
Vallas’ recent move back into the city could open him up to attacks that he’s a campaign carpetbagger. His role in an aggressive expansion of charter schools under former Mayor Richard M. Daley would all but guarantee opposition from the Chicago Teachers Union and grassroots education activists. And his time as budget director could leave an opening for Emanuel to paint Vallas as having a role in Daley’s financial mismanagement of the city.
Plus, there is Vallas’ history with an education consultant who later would end up at the center of a kickback scandal that landed former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett in federal prison. At a minimum, those ties would require some explaining from Vallas, which he’s done little of publicly to date. […]
It’s also unclear what political base Vallas could claim. He’d have to find his lane in a field that already includes Emanuel and Chicago principals association president Troy LaRaviere, a favorite of teachers and progressives. Former police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer also continue to mull possible runs.
* Greg Hinz…
But Vallas is somewhat more conservative than Emanuel, something that could hurt in a city that has moved to the political left in recent decades. He never has been a particularly strong fundraiser, and he’s been away from city politics long enough that someone with a deep war chest such as Emanuel could define him to younger voters.
* Sun-Times reporter Dan Mihalopoulos…
That would not be wise. At all.
- chi - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 9:36 am:
So, McCarthy is running as the Trump candidate and Vallas as the Rauner candidate. In Chicago. In 2019. Could this get any easier for Rahm?
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 9:45 am:
Why would Rauner fund a candidate that ran on a ticket against him in 2014? And why would Vallas think he’d receive funding?
And why does he still want to seek office at 65 years old? Just retire if you don’t want to work at Chicago State.
- Arsenal - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 9:46 am:
==Could this get any easier for Rahm?==
I dunno, if a legit progressive with some charisma gets in, too, those guys could siphon off voes Rahm needs.
- Norseman - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 9:48 am:
I’ve put Vallas on the “Please Go Away” list with Pat Quinn.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 9:59 am:
Dan M. should have surrounded the word friend with quotation marks.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:10 am:
I’m not seeing it. Maybe he’s making noise so Emanuel will help him land a higher-paying gig to get him out of the way.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:12 am:
Ego is a wonderful thing. Vallas? Sigh.
- Whatever - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:12 am:
*Yawn. Cue another fawning Kass column, and Vallas will misinterpret his constituency of one as a groundswell.
I agree with Norseman — Vallas needs to make way for someone serious who can run a competent campaign to defeat Rahm.
- input for the library - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:27 am:
==Why would Rauner fund a candidate that ran on a ticket against him in 2014?==hisgirlfriday
Because Paul Vallas helped Rauner win by helping Pat Quinn lose?
- @misterjayem - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:51 am:
If Vallas and McCarthy get in, it’s Chance’s race to lose.
– MrJM
- Arsenal - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:54 am:
==If Vallas and McCarthy get in, it’s Chance’s race to lose.==
ABC already cancelled “The Mayor”, but the concept is strong.
- Actual Red - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 11:56 am:
@Arsenal
Do you think Pawar gets in? I thought his messaging during his time in the primary was pretty good, and he built at least some name recognition. With Chuy out of the way I could see him as a viable “progressive alternative to Rahm” candidate.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 12:34 pm:
Everyone I speak to in my neighborhood is rejoicing in the much anticipated return of Paul vallas. For years we have been waiting, praying for him to come back and lead us to the promised land. The days of skipped pension payments, shorter class year and day, more standardized tests and charters as far as the eye can see will finally be upon us once again. Give me a break. And the fact that Kass doesn’t call him on any of these things just shows what we already know… Kass is a phony.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:25 pm:
Amazing to AA that Vallas was able to effect a complete turnaround of Chicago State in barely a year. #Superstar
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
CSU trustees unanimously terminated his contract immediately for him this afternoon, per the Tribune.
- Annonin' - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 5:20 pm:
Rumors say “immediately” leaves him several months short for pension qualifier ….. opps now GovJunk will need to find another gig
- Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf & Dumb - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 6:07 pm:
I think it may be too early for Pawar to run for something else so soon after ending a run for Governor. Rahm will have opposition but the question is will Sen. Durbin be running for re-election? Someone needs to push Sen. Durbin to embrace Medicare for All if Durbin plans to be in the 2020 Primary. Pawar could very effective at doing that with his recent experience campaigning downstate.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 7:01 pm:
Annonin’, he needs 5 years at his age to qualify for a pension at CTPF. He worked at CPS for 6, so he qualifies. He is a little short on being able to count his time at CSU as another year for pension (and final average salary calculation) purposes.
Whoops.