* Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Walter Burnett endorsed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor yesterday. Lori Lightfoot was not impressed…
“We need someone who’s going to run the city of Chicago who has experience,” White said. […]
“Toni Preckwinkle is the epitome of those entrenched political interests, so it’s not surprising to me that she is seeking people who she has worked with for decades,” Lightfoot said.
I do not remember the last time a Democrat said something harsh about Secretary White. Burnett? Sure. White? Nope.
* Secretary White responded today…
Unfortunately, Lori Lightfoot seems to feel like she has to attack everyone who disagrees with her. That’s no way to get things done and that’s not what Chicagoans expect in their elected officials. Like Toni, I’m honored to have been re-elected by my constituents for making real change in Illinois. And I’ve done it by working together with the concerned citizens and other elected officials.
* Toni Preckwinkle…
Corporate lawyer Lori Lightfoot’s attack on Jesse White is almost as disgusting as her making millions as co-owner of a law firm that represents Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and big polluters. Secretary White is a three-time military veteran — he served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard. And as Secretary of State Jesse White has implemented countless programs to improve the lives of Illinoisans including reforming the teen driving program which reduced teen driving deaths by 54 percent. Unfortunately, Lori has made it clear that, instead of listening to folks who disagree with her, she will instead point fingers and attack. That’s no way to lead a city.
* Meanwhile, Lightfoot is staying on message…
Today, Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot released a new TV ad, “Why.” The ad questions the motivations behind Toni Preckwinkle’s recent attacks on Lightfoot and points to Preckwinkle’s history of regressive tax hikes and old-school machine politics. The ad is Lightfoot’s third of the campaign, and second of the runoff. Lightfoot released her first TV ad of the runoff, “Change,” on March 1.
“Why is Toni Preckwinkle launching a ‘full blown,’ and ‘incorrect’ attack against Lori Lightfoot?” asks the narrator. The ad then features news stories about Preckwinkle’s ties to the broken Chicago machine and history of regressive taxation. “An entrenched political insider won’t lead Chicago forward. It’s time to bring in the light,” the narrator concludes as the ad features footage from Lightfoot’s election night celebration.
Tonight, former teacher Toni Preckwinkle and corporate attorney Lori Lightfoot square off in the first televised debate of the runoff.
The spotlight will be on Lightfoot, whose record is now starting to come into focus for Chicago voters.
Here are five questions she must answer for Chicago voters tonight:
* Does she think it was progressive to defend a Wall Street bank being sued for racial discrimination or to make a profit as equity partner of a firm that represents Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, Wall Street banks, and corporate polluters?
* If she is such a progressive, why would she accept the endorsement of two anti-immigrant aldermen, Anthony Napolitano and Nick Sposato?
* Why did she represent Republican politicians trying to protect their power?
* What was her justification for overruling her own investigators to justify police shootings?
* Why did a political operative for Alderman Scott Waguespack say that she promised him a powerful position on the council if it wasn’t true?
Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot is leading rival Toni Preckwinkle in nearly every category and has a lead of 30 points more than three weeks before the April 2, according to an internal poll provided by Lightfoot’s campaign.
Lightfoot is leading among union households, self-described liberals as well as those who voted for Bill Daley or Jerry Joyce; Amara Enyia or Willie Wilson; and Susana Mendoza or Gery Chico.
The Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 endorsed Lori Lightfoot for mayor at a press conference on Thursday. Lightfoot announced the endorsement at the historic formerly all-Black firehouse on 35th and Calumet. Today marked Lightfoot’s second union endorsement. The Illinois Education Association Region 67 endorsed Lightfoot in February.
“It’s my great pleasure to accept this endorsement, and I’m humbled by it,” said Lightfoot. “Our first responders do a tremendous job in our communities and are really part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. We need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to provide them with the support and resources that they need. It is a great honor to be here at this historic firehouse and accept the support of this important group.”
“We are here to throw our support behind Lori Lightfoot for mayor,” said Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 President Jim Tracy. “She comes from a union home and understands the importance of unions and their roles in lifting up the middle class. Lori understands Local 2’s needs when it comes to our staffing, antiquated rigs, and the need for more ambulances. We all understand the roadblocks ahead when it comes to pension payments and higher property taxes, and Lori strikes a balance that can take care of the economic development downtown, and in turn, take care of some of the blighted communities such as Englewood and the West Side. We need that economic development to make the city a more fair and balanced place, and Local 2 is here to support our next mayor, Lori Lightfoot.”
