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Chuy Garcia to Ed Burke: Drop Trump

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Illinois

Ald. Ed Burke said Monday he’s not worried about losing the seat he’s held since 1969 to a progressive Democrat in next year’s city election, but the 74-year-old City Hall power broker also stopped short of saying he’d run for an unprecedented 13th full term.

The 14th Ward alderman’s comments are the first he’s made publicly since his brother, 27-year state Rep. Dan Burke, lost in last month’s Democratic primary to Aaron Ortiz, a 26-year-old high school counselor backed by Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. […]

Garcia has hinted he may put up another progressive against Burke in the February 2019 city election. Burke has run virtually unopposed since 1971, and if he’s worried about a challenge to his longtime reign, he did not show it at City Hall on Monday.

* Chuy set down a marker…

Democratic Congressional nominee Jesus “Chuy” Garcia on Tuesday accused Ald. Edward Burke (14th) of “disrespecting” the residents of his predominantly Hispanic ward by doing property tax reduction work for the riverfront tower that bears the name of President Donald Trump.

One day after Burke declared his brother’s humiliating defeat would not alter his plan to seek re-election, Garcia made the case for ending the 49-year-reign of the City Council’s most powerful and longest-serving alderman.

It’s the same reason state Rep. Dan Burke lost to Aaron Ortiz, a 26-year-old Garcia-backed political newcomer in a race dominated by Edward Burke’s property tax reduction work for Trump International Hotel and Tower. […]

“Donald Trump began his campaign for the presidency attacking the Mexican-American community. The overwhelming number of residents of the 14th Ward are of Mexican-American heritage. It is highly disrespectful to put that aside and simply respond to self interest,” Garcia said. “It shows that he’s out of touch with the community and that the community’s concern was nowhere on his radar screen.”

Seems like a no-brainer.

However, no candidate has yet emerged.

* Meanwhile…

Retiring Ald. Mike Zalewski (23rd) advised Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday to cut a deal with Jesus “Chuy” Garcia to install Garcia’s protégé, Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd), as chairman of the City Council’s Aviation Committee in exchange for Garcia’s endorsement of Emanuel’s 2019 re-election bid.

“The fact that Chuy is now going to go to Congress is obviously something that is probably gonna stop him from running for mayor [again]. If the mayor and the congressman-elect can get together, it’s gonna help both of them,” Zalewski said Tuesday. […]

“That would be uncharacteristic of why I endorse people running for office. I’m not a quid-pro-quo type of politician. Never have been. I am a progressive, movement-centered politician. That’s how I make my decisions,” Garcia said. […]

Also on Tuesday, Zalewski recommended that Emanuel appoint veteran State Rep. Silvana Tabares (D-Chicago) of Garfield Ridge to become the new 23rd Ward alderman.

Rep. Tabares’ replacement could be an interesting reveal on some of this.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:25 pm

Comments

Is this symbolism or substance? I have been told that Trump does not own the building that bears his name.

Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:41 pm
It’s politicians like this and why they do what they do that makes many of us tired of the the political games. It wouldn’t be so bad if this led to elected officials who did their jobs but when you’re more concerned about be a “movement-centered politician” we seem to end up with a city and state that is failing. And why anyone wonders at the exodus of people who can leave Il is beyond me.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:45 pm
==It’s politicians like this and why they do what they do that makes many of us tired of the the political games==

Uhhhhh… Please speak for yourself. I would much rather have a politician who listens to the will of the people rather than someone who makes their decisions based ONLY on horse trading.

(notice how I said ONLY as I will concede there are certain times when political horse trading can be a good thing)

Comment by FDB Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:49 pm
–Seems like a no-brainer.–

And just for starters.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:58 pm
Hey- Chuy has more in common with a guy named Maduro- electing him to Congress won’t be one of Illinois’ finer moments but unfortunately it’s par for the course these days in terms of Illinois becoming another California

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Blog Title of the Year nominee.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 4:13 pm
No way Chuy endorses Emanuel, but maybe a deal could be had for him to make no endorsements in the mayoral race.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 4:18 pm
===Garcia to install Garcia’s protégé, Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd), as chairman of the City Council’s Aviation Committee in exchange for Garcia’s endorsement of Emanuel’s 2019 re-election bid.===
I understand swapping endorsements in politics but I don’t think Rahm can swap an official act for a political act such as an endorsement.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 5:24 pm
I got stuck on 1969. He has been an alderman from the time I was in high school till the time I’m Medicare. Just a little perspective.

Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 5:49 pm
I agree it would be a good PR move, but I think it would be better if the business and political decisions were completely separate. I know, call me naive.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 5:55 pm
Term limits would have prevented all of this.
There are no excuses for 50 year aldermanic terms.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 6:42 pm
I don’t understand why people are just throwing it around as fact that Chuey would not run for mayor when he is elected to Congress. Have these people ever heard of Harold Washington?

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 7:23 pm
Does Chuey scrutinize all of MJM’s clients as well.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 7:35 pm
My enemy’s enemy’s friend is my enemy.

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 8:16 pm
Chey maybe you should get elected first.

Trump bashing is is stylish but Bruke has had this client for a very long time.

Could not agree more that a 5 decade term ( maybe 40 plus years) is a bit much and do not forget his wife is a long time judge.

Comment by cannon649 Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 8:34 pm
Asking and getting are two different things. So far it’s all just talk.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 9:06 pm
== and do not forget his wife is a long time judge ==

True, but her posistion shouldn’t really be part of the equation in any capacity here. I think she’s proven her ability to remain ethically I compromised. Not to mention she is a pretty darn good jurist.

Comment by Anonymice Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 9:10 pm
**uncompromised**

Comment by Anonymice Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 9:11 pm
=====Hey- Chuy has more in common with a guy named Maduro- electing him to Congress won’t be one of Illinois’ finer moments but unfortunately it’s par for the course these days in terms of Illinois becoming another California ====

The state with the sixth largest economy in the world? Yes please.

Comment by The_Equalizer Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 9:37 pm
Rahm’s gonna have to give up a lot more than that to get Chuy’s endorsement (or to stay out of the race).

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 9:51 pm
**There are no excuses for 50 year aldermanic terms.-**

Last I checked aldermanic terms were four years. But valiant attempt at absurd messaging.

Comment by SaulGoodman Wednesday, Apr 18, 18 @ 12:16 am
Garcia might soon find a scandal brewing in his past practice, justifiably so.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 18, 18 @ 7:12 am
Alderman Zalewski shows yet again his practical, down to earth sensibility with that proposal. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Chuy agrees.

*People on both sides are fortunate his son is in government and has the same qualities as his dad. He has never had attitude and treats everyone with respect… his approach to politics is just as sensible. The apple didnt fall far from the tree, and thats a very good thing.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Apr 18, 18 @ 7:28 am
The real estate community has mused about the percentage drop in value because of the Trump name on those condos.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 18, 18 @ 8:06 am
“… drop in value- Trump name on building”
No kidding. To say nothing of the visual pollution it causes on that stretch of Chicago riverfront.

Any mayoral candidate who pledges to find a way to get the sign off that building will start w a 10K vote advantage. They’d carry the 42nd Ward by a mile.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Apr 18, 18 @ 8:27 am