Mayoral candidate Jesus “Chuy” Garcia wrapped up a two-day East Coast swing Tuesday with a $500-a-person fundraiser that drew teacher unions officials, lobbyists and many Latino supporters.
The candidate got a boost from labor leaders who framed up his challenge of Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a class struggle. Some guests sported campaign buttons touting Garcia as “Mayor 100%.”
Keith Kelleher, president of SEIU Healthcare’s Midwest chapter, elaborated — suggesting that Emanuel’s “Mayor 1%” nickname needs an update, given the numerous super wealthy donors to his campaign.
“The Mayor 1% — or the Mayor .01% — is going to be defeated by the Mayor 100%,” said Kelleher, who also cited the closing of 50 public schools, continued gun violence and a recent American Civil Liberties Union study that found a higher rate of Chicago police stops of young adults last summer than New York City cops did at its height.
In addition, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association, were among union officials introducing Garcia, who wore a Chicago flag lapel pin and struck optimistic notes.
Garcia contended that with the election two weeks out, people around the country and the world were watching and wondering how a “Mexican immigrant boy” who came to the U.S. 50 years ago could have captured so many Polish, Irish and Asian votes.
“This is the best prospect that Chicago has had in 50 years to come together and embrace all people in the city of Chicago in a true coalitional effort,” he said. “There’s a recognition that Chicago cannot prosper until all of the city prospers.”
The D.C. fundraiser was held in the home of lobbyist Robert Raben, and its host committee included Raben’s colleague, lobbyist Larry Gonzalez, and lobbyist and former Clinton administration official Mickey Ibarra. The townhouse, with modern furnishings and art and an empty outdoor pool, was awash in vases of fresh tulips as guests ate cheese and crackers and downed Samuel Adams Light.
Attendees included Ray Anderson, a former Chicago Public Schools Washington-based lobbyist, and Jonathan Jackson, a business-management professor at Chicago State University and the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson; and Ramiro Gonzalez, the former Cicero town president now with UniSol Energy.
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An aide said the D.C. event would bring in $100,000, and the campaign expected another $100,000 from a New York fundraiser held Monday.
But as Garcia worked to bring in money to keep TV ads on the air in the home stretch, Emanuel reported raising another $507,000 on Tuesday. The laborers and hospitality workers unions each gave $100,000, and the electrical workers union contributed $75,000.
All told, Emanuel has raised more than $20.7 million toward his re-election, and Garcia about $3.5 million ahead of the April 7 runoff election.
Back in Chicago, Emanuel appeared Tuesday at a South Chicago community center where he was publicly endorsed by a large group of African-American pastors. Emanuel has been trying to rebuild support among black voters after seeing a dropoff between the 2011 contest and last month’s election.
“I believe in both firm but fair leadership,” Emanuel said. “It is incumbent upon me — I’m accountable and responsible — that nobody is out of step together on that journey. … If people feel left out or distant. That there’s a city over here and they are over there, then there’s a gulf.”
Asked by a reporter how African-American ministers have any credibility in recommending who to vote for when they endorsed Mayor Richard M. Daley for years, Pastor Albert Tyson said “credibility is based on the call that we have received from the Lord. We operate in a prophetic mode.”
Asked if that meant that a vote for Garcia was a vote against God, another pastor said no, and that the ministers’ decision to endorse Emanuel was made after considering both candidates.
Skiba reported from Washington. Dizikes reported from Chicago.