“Draft Mendoza” effort started
Friday, Sep 14, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Coming late to this because of all the other stuff yesterday. Sun-Times…
Susana Mendoza hasn’t ruled out running for mayor of Chicago.
Now someone is trying to sway her decision by forming a committee to draft her to run.
That someone is Marty Castro, former chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, who plans to launch the committee to get Mendoza, already running for re-election as Illinois comptroller, into next year’s mayor’s race.
Castro ran against incumbent U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez in the 2002 Democratic primary for the 4th Congressional District seat. Since then, Castro co-chaired the mayoral campaigns of Gery Chico in 2011 and Chuy Garcia in 2015. But this time around, “more is at stake than ever before,” Castro said in a statement.
* Tribune…
“I can think of no better person at this point in time to lead our city. On day one, she will bring a fresh voice and ideas, free from the reins of a longstanding broken political system, to create lasting change for our city,” Castro said in a statement. “Susana understands Chicago. She is Chicago. No one is more qualified or has a more compassionate understanding of the struggles that so many residents and families face.”
Castro said in the statement that he has spoken to the comptroller and urged her to run. Mendoza’s camp confirmed that Castro spoke to her.
But in a statement, Mendoza reiterated that she’s focusing on her re-election campaign.
“I am nothing but flattered and honored by the many calls of support urging me to run for mayor of Chicago, which would be an honor and a privilege, but right now I am focused on running for reelection and supporting the statewide Democratic ticket,” Mendoza said in a statement. “After nearly four years of a disastrous administration led by Bruce Rauner, we can’t take anything for granted.”
Nice dance.
Last month, Secretary of State Jesse White was asked whether he intended to serve out his full term in office if he’s elected in November. I think Mendoza should be asked the same question until she answers it.
- Driving a car - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
She should run for both if that’s what she wants to do, and I don’t know how many voters (if any?) would turn against her for it.
If she wants to focus on one race at a time that’s fine too. It’s a non-issue to me.
- Monkey Business - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
JB will replace the toilets in his Mansion before we get Mendoza to answer the “will you serve out your full term” question.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
Maybe she can somehow blame Rauner?
Say it ain’t so, Suzanna./snark
- anon2 - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:22 pm:
Preckwinkle is also on the ballot, and also ought to be asked if she will serve out her full term as county board president.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
==Maybe she can somehow blame Rauner?==
Why not? Rauner somehow blames Madigan for everything. Isn’t that what we do now? Blame the other guy for all of the woes in the world?
- Just Observing - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
=== She should run for both if that’s what she wants to do ===
She doesn’t have to run for both at the same time. She’ll have the ability to collect enough sigs to run for mayor, albeit under a much tighter deadline, right after the Nov. election.
That said, if she’s not saying no today to running for mayor, it means she’s thinking about it and its fair game for the media and public to hound her about it.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
It is a fair question for any candidate on the ballot in November. It’s up to each individual voter whether it matters to them, but they should have to answer “Why should I support you for Office A in November, when you plan to win Office B and quit Office A in May?”
- Glengarry - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
She’s got a better chance than Bill Daley, who just announced his run.
- Board Watcher - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
If Preckwinkle runs Mendoza wont. However if she does run against Preckwinkle she has ZERO chance.
- City Zen - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
Mendoza had no problems passing unbalanced budgets in the state legislature. She’d make a fine Chicago mayor.
- Driving a car - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
==“Why should I support you for Office A in November, when you plan to win Office B and quit Office A in May?”==
Hard question to answer for any pol in IL that’s not named Susana Mendoza. She can easily answer that she intends to win a 4-yr term to Comptroller on her personal blend of: experience, tenacity, energy, and compassion…. and then go and take that same message to the voters of Chicago.
She’s legally allowed to run for both, she’s qualified for both… I’m failing to see the issue here.
- Driving a car - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
==Preckwinkle is also on the ballot==
Good point. Chuy too.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:08 pm:
–She’s legally allowed to run for both, she’s qualified for both… I’m failing to see the issue here.–
That’s your right. Some of us, on the other hand, have this silly notion that when a candidate runs for an office and says they are going to do this and that, that they actually stay in the office for a while and not start running for the next stepping stone before they even get sworn in.
- Monkey Business - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:16 pm:
- She’s legally allowed to run for both, she’s qualified for both… I’m failing to see the issue here.–
It’s simple. A deal is a deal, until a better deal comes along.
It’s easy. Just answer the question and run for whatever office you want. Voters deserve to know if you’re gonna stick around for the office you’re running for.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Chuy’s co-chair is trying to recruit another Hispanic candidate?
- City Zen - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
==It’s simple. A deal is a deal, until a better deal comes along.==
Mendoza should coach collegiate football.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:23 pm:
The bigger the field, the better it is for anyone who can get 17% or more.
It’s only about a runoff, until the field and the number of candidates, total, is solidified.