Chicago

Former CPS CEO Vallas Announces Mayoral Bid

Add one more to the growing list of candidates interested in challenging Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Former CEO for Chicago Public Schools Paul Vallas on Twitter says “Please Share: I am in it to win.” His attorney, Burt Odelson, tells NBC 5 he’s “100 percent in.”

Vallas not only once ran the Chicago schools he was also the school superintendent in New Orleans, Bridgeport, Connecticut and Philadelphia.

As for politics, Vallas ran for governor and lost to Rod Blagojevich in the Democratic primary, then ran for lieutenant governor with Pat Quinn and lost in 2014.

A month ago Vallas’s youngest son Mark died at a substance abuse facility and he has not spoken publicly since then.

Vallas, according to his attorney, will file Monday with the Illinois State Board of Elections. He joins a growing list from former police superintendent Garry McCarthy to businessman and philanthropist Willie Wilson and former CPS Principal Troy LaRaviere.

Others considering a mayoral campaign include: Ald. Scott Waugespack, former lieutenant governor candidate Ra Joy, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, attorney Lori Lightfoot, activist Amara Enyia and tech entrepreneur Neal Sales-Griffin.

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