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Candidates lining up around the block to challenge Emanuel

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Mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy said he favors locating a casino at O’Hare International Airport in order to help fix Chicago’s financial problems.

McCarthy, who was fired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as police superintendent in late 2015, said during an interview that aired this weekend on WBBM-AM’s “At Issue” program that an airport casino would be a big money-earner for the city while cutting down on many of the societal problems that can accompany legalized gambling. […]

Paul Vallas, meanwhile, took a step toward a mayoral run Monday by filing paperwork with the State Board of Elections to set up a campaign fund. Attorney Burt Odelson previewed the move last week, saying Vallas’ campaign was “full-speed ahead.

* McCarthy’s campaign has even granted an “exclusive” interview of the candidate’s spouse…

Chicago attorney Kristin Barnette says she never went looking for politics. But even after she married Garry McCarthy in 2014 — then superintendent of the Chicago Police Department and now a candidate for mayor — she wasn’t quite keen on the idea of her husband seeking elected office.

“I think for a while I tried to ignore it,” Barnette told NBC 5, “but then when it was clear that things were building up and there was a path to success, it was time to make sure that I supported Garry in this.”

The Chicago media is just drooling over this guy.

* More…

One week after his first-ever campaign for political office ended in defeat, Ra Joy — the man gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy chose as his running mate — is now weighing a run for Chicago mayor. […]

Sources said community activist Amara Enyia, who ran for mayor in 2015 and has been a policy advisor to Joy, is also considering throwing her hat in the ring once again. Enyia did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Former Chicago Public Schools principal Troy LaRaviere, who endorsed Kennedy in the Democratic primary, already announced his campaign for mayor, while another Kennedy supporter, attorney Lori Lightfoot has been quietly speaking with her advisors about a potential run. Lightfoot, who serves as the Chicago Police Board president and has led reform efforts within CPD, would not definitively say on WTTW earlier this week if she might enter the contest.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:02 pm

Comments

Sister Jean has not said that she’s not running

Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:03 pm
Joy is the exact kind of candidate this race was calling out for. It’s crazy to me that all of the big challengers so far have been to Rahm’s right.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:12 pm
I misread the first sentence as:
“Mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy said he favors looting a casino . . .”

I think it is time for new glasses.

Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Lori Lightfoot would give Rahm a real run. Can speak knowledgeably about the failings of the police department under Rahm. She also happens to be gay, which help her appeal to lakefront liberals. I’d be most scared of Lightfoot if I were Rahm’s team.

Comment by Rahm's Middle Finger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Watching Garry McCarthy humiliate himself time and again in the spotlight and end up with fewer votes than Willie Wilson will be one of the true joys of the coming year.

Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:46 pm
=== Ra Joy — the man gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy chose as his running mate — is now weighing a run for Chicago mayor. […]===

LOL

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:51 pm
What’s the lane for McCarthy? Suburban editorial writers and the 19th and 41st wards? That a losing campaign.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:52 pm
@Rahm’sMiddleFinger

I don’t think Lightfoot could be the candidate. As it looks, Rahm will end up in a runoff again. But in order to beat him, everyone will have to unite behind that challenger. I don’t think Lightfoot would be the person everyone would unite behind as she’s too fragmented in her appeal.

Now, if Emanuel somehow gets 20 percent of the vote, and by some miracle Lightfoot gets 25, and Vallas or McCarthy were to get 22, it might happen.

But I’m guessing Emanuel will get in the upper 30s and someone like Vallas will get just below that. But will everyone unite behind him, or will Rahm’s money reign supreme?

As other’s have stated, McCarthy has no lane. I don’t think you could even say that the 19th or 41st would vote for him. Too many police who don’t care for him.

Comment by Anon35 Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:03 pm
“Chicago attorney Kristin Barnette says she never went looking for politics.”

Seriously? She is related to former 39th Ward Democratic Committeeman Randy Barnette and (by marriage) Alderman Marge Laurino and State Representative John D’Amico, but she is apolitical?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:23 pm
Anon35 - I agree with you on McCarthy, but what lane do you imagine is available to Vallas? The CTU likely hates him more than even Rahm. The only lane open is to the left and Vallas ain’t going there.

Comment by TominChicago Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:24 pm
None of these candidates are going to dethrone Rahm. There is definitely room for a challenge, but the right person has not yet emerged. What about Pawar? He didn’t have the Statewide chops, but he could make some noise in the City?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:30 pm
12,500 signatures is a tall task and I don’t know if all these candidates are up to it.

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:50 pm
#PatQuinnforMayor2019

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Anon35- Too fragmented in her appeal? She can appeal to African Americans, progressives, and downtown business folks not enamored with Rahm. Who can’t she appeal to? Take a second and find an interview of her on YouTube, or better yet, watch her City Club address. She’s the real deal.

And who are Vallas’ voters?

Comment by Rahm's Middle Finger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:54 pm
The Lori Lightfoot fans need to realize she is not as perfect as you think.

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1014145.html

Comment by Bernie Epton in 2019 Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:57 pm
===or better yet, watch her City Club address===

Giving a speech and putting together a viable and winning campaign in one of the nation’s largest cities are two different things. Talk is cheap.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Rich,

No reasonable person would argue differently. When looking at the other candidates, they’ve done nothing to stand out. Vallas put together a gubernatorial campaign, but that was 16 years ago (and he was not a particularly impressive LG candidate). All the potential candidates have a lot of work to do, but Lori has the right profile to actually beat Rahm.

No one knew who Kim Foxx was before she challenged Anita Alvarez, and early on there were questions about her campaign structure. As soon as she started campaign, those concerns went away.

Comment by Rahm's Middle Finger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:13 pm
@Anonymous–
I agree about Pawar, I personally would love to see him get into the race. I thought his messaging was strong during the gubernatorial run, he just lacked name recognition and, partially as a resutt, the fundraising capability. I think he could credibly run to Rahm’s left, with decent name recognition and some pre-built support. That said, I don’t think anyone has an easy path to victory against Emmanuel.

Comment by Actual Red Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:14 pm
I am sure Rham is happy to have a herd in the race. The more that run the better his chances are to be reelected. He has a base and most of them will be there.

Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:46 pm
Neiva, your understanding of politics as about as good as your spelling, the more candidates the better chances of a runoff.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Is Ram Villivilam from Chicago? Id love to see a Ram vs Rahm matchup /s

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 4:29 pm
==Mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy said he favors locating a casino at O’Hare International Airport in order to help fix Chicago’s financial problems.==

There already is a casino at O’Hare. Rivers Casino is literally a 10 minute drive from the gates of O’Hare. Jesus Garry at least do a little research. Sure the City of Chicago doesn’t get that revenue, but you are never going to fit a full size casino with the limited space there. I like him but he’s about to look way over his head…but I guess that didn’t stop Trump

Comment by BucknIrish Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 4:33 pm
Lori lightfoot had a chance in the Daley years to speak out about police misconduct but as a Daley appointee she said NOTHING out of fear of the king. Now she the big crusader for police reform.

Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 4:36 pm
I like Vallas. But he has no chance. McCarthy if he runs as a law and order Dem could surprise. Rahm will likely win, which is not a bad thing.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:08 pm
the Rahminator is no fool, there will a whole bunch in the field, he will see to it they are funded enough to make it look legit. If you cant crush all opposition you divide and conquer age old Chitown politics. He held of the McDonald info release and got re elected, people have short memories. The murder rate was slightly down last year from the near record year. Rahm has Chitown moving on and up just like the random violent street crime in previously safe neighborhoods.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 10:20 pm
Lot’s of Rahm loving wishful thinkers out there.
Some hard truths.
Cops may hate McCarthy. But they hate Rahm even more. They are already pulling for McCarthy
Rahm approval is between 19 to 36 percent.
Wilson, Vallas, McCarthy and others to follow are teaming up. Rahm won’t face a field of mediocre candidates. Just a few really strong ones
Almost every Chicago public figure has or is beating Rahm in one on one polling.
McCarthy has far more black support than previously thought. Lots of blacks credited him with saving their neighborhoods.
Rahm can’t shake the McDonald shooting albatross. WTTW can’t spin it for him.
All of these Rahm loving fiscal conservatives better draft a real republican to run in the Chicago mayoralty. If Rahm runs one on one against Vallas , he is finished.

Comment by RahmIsFinished Wednesday, Apr 4, 18 @ 9:39 am
@RahmIsFinished

I agree with any and all of the above. But this being the place that it is, I can hardly see this being set in stone with 11 months to go. Some people still contend that Rahm isn’t running, even though he is taking money.

That said, I do hope that he is finished. But will the city unite behind McCarthy or Vallas if they go one on one with Rahm? It’s so hard to say. Rahm has a team researching opponents as we speak and they are giving Giangreco his next smug soundbite.

Comment by Anon35 Wednesday, Apr 4, 18 @ 1:54 pm