North Cook News

Last week Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot vehemently stood by her record on tackling crime in the city during a mayoral candidates forum, often-times making accusations and interrupting other candidates who spoke out against her.

According to the Chicago Tribune, there were two fields of candidates in the forum, which was hosted by WCPT 820-AM on January 26. The first field of candidates included Lightfoot, Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, U.S. Rep. and Chicago Southside businessman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and businessman Willie Wilson. Crime was the burning issue as it has been throughout this campaign season, with Mayor Lightfoot saying she was the only one working to alleviate the issue and keep the streets safe, while her rivals capitalize on the issue politically. She also spoke highly of police Superintendent David Brown, who she chose, noting that the city’s shootings and homicides are down from last year.

“David Brown has been through hell and back as we all have,” Lightfoot said. “He is, in this moment, leading our department and I stand by him.”

The Tribune story noted that while shooting and homicide numbers are down from a year ago, they are “significantly up” from 2019 when Lightfoot took office.

Earlier in the debate she said that Garcia is in support of defunding the police, saying “This man is a (police) defunder, pure and simple. Don’t let him fool you.” She also called him the “OG” of police defunding, to which Garcia denied that he supported the movement which gained steam after the George Floyd's death.

She also criticized the work of Vallas as the former city budget director, saying “this man has no plan to keep Chicago safe.”

Wilson, whose son was murdered when he was 20-years-old, spoke out against the Lightfoot Administration, saying that there were too many constraints on police. He also defended early remarks he made that those running from police should be “hunted down like rabbits.”

“When you lose a 20-year-old son, get killed by gun violence, it’s emotion… I am tired of people making excuses out here for these people committing crimes,” Wilson said.

The second field included state Rep. Kambium Buckner, Alderman Sophia King, Alderman Roderick Sawyer and Ja’Mal Green. The major issue of contention here surrounded aldermanic prerogative, as Green said some city council members abused the power. He said aldermen have been holding onto land, and then alluded to corruption much like Lightfoot did in her inauguration speech.

King added that without having aldermanic prerogative there would be a casino in Bronzeville. She said her community did not want it and she “chose to use that voice to fight.”

The candidates are running in the February 28 election and if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote getters will be in a runoff election on April 4.

Ballots can be cast through Election Day at 191 North Clark Street and the sixth floor of 69 West Washington Street.