* Earlier today…
Today, Susana Mendoza’s campaign announced that, based on the current status of the records exam, their count shows more than 13,000 valid ballot petition signatures, with almost half of the challenged signatures still left to review. The number puts Mendoza far above the 12,500 required signatures to appear on the February ballot.
The announced numbers highlight the political motivations of Toni Preckwinkle’s desperate attempt to knock Mendoza and four other women of color off the ballot while draining taxpayer money.
“As we’ve said from the start, Susana Mendoza will be on the ballot,” said Susana Mendoza for Mayor Campaign Manager Nicole DeMont. “Preckwinkle’s petition challenge is nothing more than a desperate political attack made by a party boss willing to waste taxpayer dollars to maintain her grip on power.”
* A bit later…
* And now…
“Being Mayor of Chicago is a tough job. That’s why there are high standards for getting on the ballot. While the campaign is dropping its challenge to Susana Mendoza’s petitions, Chicago voters should know that she just barely met the bar to be included on the ballot. This fits a pattern of Mendoza being unprepared to tackle the critical duties of the office. Since getting into this race, Mendoza has repeatedly dodged questions and failed to bring any new ideas,” said campaign spokesperson Monica Trevino.
“Toni Preckwinkle is a tough, proven progressive leader who has taken strong stands on critical issues, including criminal justice reform, police accountability and demanding a fair, equal and representative public school system. In this campaign, Toni is going to fight for this City and that includes holding every candidate accountable who fails to bring the bold leadership and vision needed to be Chicago’s mayor.”
In the end, much ado about very little.
*** UPDATE *** CFL endorsements have been released. Staying neutral in the mayor’s race, so now it’ll be on candidates to roll out individual union nods…
Ald. Brendan Reilly also isn’t on the list, but he said it was no big deal. He’s unopposed.
…Adding… Mendoza campaign…
“Today Susana’s opponent decided to drop her bogus petition challenge that she knew was nothing more than an attempt at a self-coronation and a complete waste of nearly $1 million in taxpayer dollars. The boss of the party bosses desperately tried to keep Susana out of the race and she failed. Despite what boss Preckwinkle hoped, there will be an election and voters will hold her accountable for her record of raising taxes first and providing transparency last. Her political games are exactly why Chicago needs a mayor focused on the next generation, instead of just the next four years.”
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
==she just barely met the bar to be included on the ballot==
Which is all that is required.
- Peoples Republic of Oak Park - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
Cisek gonna Cisek
- Anonie - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
Nice! Susana only had a few weeks in November to collect so she really actually accomplished a major feat to get that many in such a short time.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:13 pm:
But…her petitions! Two epic failures today by Team Toni and their liar in chief Jerry Morrison - petition challenge fails and CFL endorsement push fails.
- Archer Heights - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
I’m a 14th ward resident and Ed Burke sent his entire ward Christmas hams. It’s the latest strategy to get reelected.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
“Chicago voters should know that she just barely met the bar to be included on the ballot. This fits a pattern of Mendoza being unprepared to tackle the critical duties of the office.”
What unbelievably lame spin. Let me fix it for you:
“Chicago voters should know that Toni Preckwinkle is a machine boss who only knows how to govern as a machine boss. She’s now terrified that she failed miserably in her attempt to knock her #1 rival off the ballot and has to beat her the old fashioned way.”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
===While the campaign is dropping its challenge to Susana Mendoza’s petitions, Chicago voters should know that she just barely met…====
You win by *one* vote, you barely win… but you win.
Horribly bad form by Preckwinkle.
You challenged. You lost the challenge.
By the legal measure, you both qualify to be on the ballot.
Very disappointing.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
What a spectacle for Mendoza. Is this reflective of the rest of her campaign? Sloppily thrown together and always on the defensive.
- TopHatMonocle - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:24 pm:
She’s on the ballot which in the end is all that counts. But talk about stumbling out of the blocks. Spending two weeks assuring everyone you’re really going to be on the ballot is not exactly a great message. And it really does call into question what kind of operation she’s running.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:27 pm:
One person’s “barely met the bar” is another’s “brings a project in on-budget rather than wasting money with overkill.”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
Toni will be lucky to finish third. First the soda tax bullying, now this. When people show you who they are believe them.
- WSJ Paywall - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:44 pm:
=Nice! Susana only had a few weeks in November to collect so she really actually accomplished a major feat to get that many in such a short time.=
Not true. She had petitions out in the field since early October.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
==proven progressive leader who has taken strong stands on critical issues, including criminal justice reform, police accountability…==
going to need a broader base than this singular messaging will energize…
- Timmeh - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 5:27 pm:
>13,000 valid ballot petition signatures, with almost half of the challenged signatures still left to review. The number puts Mendoza far above the 12,500 required signatures
>she just barely met the bar to be included on the ballot
Doesn’t sound like barely to me.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 5:55 pm:
= This fits a pattern of Mendoza being unprepared to tackle the critical duties of the office.=
Here’s a tip. Rauner tried this tactic with Mendoza. It didn’t go well. He repeatedly got thumped. If anything it only seemed to energize her.
- labour - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 6:44 pm:
Political games says the Comptroller? Like running statewide against an opponent while not missing the opportunity to run for mayor when it opened? The other had no opponent.
Or saving Dan Burke numerous times while the community wanted someone else… and generally taking all the help she could from Edward Burke. Or running for Chicago City Clerk while serving as a state Representative.
Political games indeed
- City Zen - Wednesday, Dec 19, 18 @ 8:37 pm:
Union members across the city finally know whom middle management’s middle management will endorse.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Dec 20, 18 @ 7:23 am:
Preckwinkle’s “Mendoza barely cleared the bar” message isn’t meant for voters or CapFax commenters — it’s intended for potential campaign donors.
It’s to rattle Susanna’s and to reassure Toni’s that she’s down for a nasty slog.
– MrJM