In just two weeks, Chicago will pick its next mayor, but voters have already started taking advantage of early voting.
The Chicago Board of Elections reports roughly 22,000 voters have already cast their ballots in the first two days of Early Voting ahead of the April election – a record for a municipal election, and on Tuesday Mayor Rahm Emanuel received the endorsement of a group of African American ministers.
Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia says he knows he can't match Mayor Emanuel dollar-for-dollar but spent the day Tuesday wrapping up a two-day fundraising trip in in Washington in hopes of bringing more financial resources back to Chicago before the next debate on Thursday.
The runoff has certainly made Mayor Emanuel more available. He was taking questions again Tuesday and responding to critics who say the mayor's budget plan needs Springfield to agree – and that is no guarantee.
Giving support from the city’s South Side, Rev. Albert Tyson defended Emanuel’s decision to close 50 schools.
“Do I want my children to going to a failing school?” Tyson combatted.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters and others on Capitol Hill expressed their support for Garcia’s stance on education.
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“The fact that 50 schools have been closed in Chicago sends a terrible message across the country,” Rep. Waters said.
Emanuel's budget plan relies on Springfield to agree to not only a Chicago casino but expanding the sales tax. Garcia, on the other hand, has been criticized for not offering specifics on his budget plan.
