Feb. 20--Two weeks ago in this space, we laid out the case for re-electing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. We're back now to remind you why.
We're also here to urge voters to support a strong batch of aldermanic candidates. Some of them will align with Emanuel, some of them will give him fits. Some of them will give us fits from time to time, too. We're backing them because we think they'll build their communities and challenge their colleagues. Chicago will be better for it.
Credit Emanuel for his willingness to say and do what needs to be said and done. You don't score many points with voters by closing underperforming neighborhood schools, passing pension reform bills in Springfield, cutting jobs at City Hall or scrapping tradition-bound, ward-based garbage collection for a more efficient system. But those changes were long overdue, Emanuel did them and more, and he has taken the heat.
He's still taking it from his four challengers: Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia; Ald. Bob Fioretti, 2nd; businessman Willie Wilson; and activist William "Dock" Walls.
If you've watched any of the mayoral debates, you know that Emanuel's challengers hope to win your vote by second-guessing the mayor's four years in office, but they're thin on vision for the next four.
They talk about hiring 500 or 1,000 new police officers, about reopening those shuttered schools. They promise not to raise property taxes and to do away with the unpopular traffic cameras. They'd raise money by taxing millionaires or suburbanites, by finding riches hiding in TIF districts, by legalizing marijuana ... or something.
But there has been precious little talk from the challengers about how they would honestly deal with the massive financial problems that face the city and its schools. Where will they find $550 million for police and fire pension funds? Why aren't they screaming that the teachers pension fund and four city worker funds are closing in on $30 billion in unfunded obligations? And what would they do about that?
It's a lot easier to talk about how you'll spend money you don't have.
Emanuel hasn't exactly been eager during this campaign to pop his hand up and say, "Hey, we're still in deep trouble!" One of our gripes with him is that he hasn't been even more aggressive in dealing with massive government debt. But he has made headway ... and paid a political price.
Ticking down to Election Day, none of the not-Rahm candidates has made a convincing case that he would drive Chicago to thrive.
Under Emanuel, kids in Chicago have a longer school day, full-day kindergarten, expanded pre-K. They have more choices in schools. The CTA is on a firmer track, the Loop is booming and City Hall has been released from costly federal oversight of its hiring practices.
There's a lot that isn't finished. The city's long-term debt has increased on Emanuel's watch. Getting that under control is a true emergency. We endorsed him because we think he's the only candidate willing and able to get that job done.
That doesn't mean we support a City Council to rubber stamp his every move. Aldermen voting in lockstep with mayors helped to get Chicago into this mess.
Chicago needs a City Council that will reject bad ideas and promote better ideas. In making our endorsements in 43 contested races, we looked for candidates who will ask questions, think for themselves.
We're backing most of the incumbents who identify themselves as independents, such as Ald. Scott Waguespack in the 32nd Ward, who has been targeted by a political action committee linked to the mayor.
And we're backing fresh thinkers such as Robert Murphy in the 39th Ward, Tara Stamps in the 37th Ward, Alyx Pattison in the 2nd Ward and LaShonda "Shonnie" Curry in the 7th Ward.
And we're backing Emanuel allies who have delivered results for their communities, such as Ald. Anthony Beale in the 9th Ward and Ald. Danny Solis in the 25th Ward.
You'll find the entire list of our endorsements on this page. These are the candidates who most impressed us with their passion, their candor and their creativity. We appreciate the breadth of their experience and their willingness to learn and to make informed decisions. Those are qualities worthy of our support. And yours.
