Chatter in Chicago urban communities is about replacing Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the coming 2015 election because he did not support them in the CPS school turnaround debacle. Currently there is only one announced candidate to unseat Mayor Emanuel. She is Dr. Amara Enyia, a well-educated Nigerian and former city employee with a vast knowledge base of inner mechanics.
Dr. Enyia addressed members of the South Shore community at a coffee klatch, back in April. The meeting was attended by friends and neighbors in the community to learn about her vision and candidacy for mayor.
After her introduction, Dr. Amara Enyia gave an overview of her vision for Chicago and education in urban communities. She took questions from the audience and explained how she would approach crime and socio-economic issues that plague Chicago’s urban communities.
Dr. Enyia expressed some very clear ideas about what she would do in communities like Englewood, North Lawndale, Garfield, and Austin. She feels that some of the problems in these urban communities would decline significantly if the aldermen were involved and not just “rubber stamps” for Mayor Emanuel.
Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President and Alderman Bob Fioretti of the 2nd Ward are two names that are being bandied about along with the usual “perennial” mayoral candidates.
Former Alderman and school teacher, Toni Preckwinkle, has an extensive history in Chicago politics and is doing a swell job governing the Cook County Board. The media has been after her to make a commitment as to whether she will run for Mayor or not.”I have lots of things to do yet” in Cook County, she told Crain’s Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz.
A novice in Chicago Politics, Alderman Bob Fioretti has hinted at running for mayor. “At its root, we are seeing the widening of Chicago into two cities,” according to Tribune reporter Hal Dardick, Fioretti said. “We need One Chicago, not two. One humanity, not two. Rising together, as New York’s new mayor Bill De Blasio says, not from the top down but from the middle out.”
The Mayor Emanuel has a big “war chest” along with the support of his former bosses, Presidents Obama and Clinton, I don’t see any candidate beating Mayor Rahm Emanuel at this juncture. In my opinion, Toni Preckwinkle is the only candidate that has a chance of beating Mayor Emanuel if the other mayoral candidates unite behind her with a good campaign strategy and “mucho dinero.”
The issues are out there. Crime is on the rampage and people are dissatisfied with Mayor Emanuel and Barbara Byrd-Bennett handling of the CPS school closings. CPS staffs are losing their jobs and TIF funds being misused outside blighted areas is the making of a “perfect storm” to unseat the mayor.
