Mayor Emanuel Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign
CHICAGO (CBS) --Mayor Emanuel opened his re-election bid Saturday in a soundstage filled with cheering supporters, saying that the city has come a long way under his watch, but saying, "We still have a long way to go."
Emanuel chose a location for the formal launch of his campaign far different from the hot, sweaty and overstuffed grade school gymnasium he utilized in 2010. This time, the site was
Stage 16 at the Cinespace Studios complex, located in a former Ryerson Steel plant on 16th Street in Pilsen, two stages down from the space in which the television show "Chicago Fire" is filmed.
Emanuel said the city has made "steady progress" in a number of areas. He said that on his watch crime is down, jobs and businesses are locating in Chicago, the minimum wage is being increased, streets are being re-paved and schools are improved.
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He did not shy away from schools -- one of the lightning rods of the campaign, because of his decision to close an unprecedented 50 public schools a year ago. He trumpeted all-day kindergarten, rising high school graduation rates and his proposal for a Chicago Star scholarship program, which would grant free community college tuition to any Chicago Public Schools student who graduates high school with a B or better average.
He said progress means little if they don't extend to every corner of the city.
"Our future depends on moving forward together," he said. "We don't have a neighborhood or a person to waste."
It was billed as the formal launch of his campaign, even though he filed his official petitions last month.
State Democratic leaders, labor officials and Chicago aldermen were among the more than 500 people who attended the event. Those who spoke were U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who opposed Emanuel four years ago but is now a co-chairman of his re-election committee; Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and city clerk Susana Mendoza.
White and Mendoza are also campaign co-chairs.
Emanuel is reported to have a campaign warchest of more than $9 million and is already running television ads. Ald. Robert
Fioretti (2) and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia have filed petitions to challenge him.
Fioretti issued a statement in which he said Chicago has been neither tough nor fair under Emanuel.
"The mayor's policies have created two Chicagos and no amount of campaign cash or TV ads can change that fact," he said. "Chicagoans want a new direction and are ready for a vision of safe streets and strong neighborhoods. I am the candidate with the backbone to make that happen."
