CHICAGO–Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago) said Wednesday, after a Latino Forum Policy breakfast, that if he becomes Chicago’s next mayor, he would create more economic development in Black and Hispanic communities.
“I think greater economic fairness and prosperity is key to improving the lives of poor people in Chicago, who are disproportionately African American and Hispanic,” he said.
Garcia, who was the The Latino Policy Forum’s founding president, spoke at its fourth annual policy breakfast. Hundreds of civic, corporate and community leaders, as well as elected officials like Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle enjoyed breakfast at the Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Street. Author Juana Bordas, most commonly known for her book “Salsa, Soul and Spirit—Leadership for a Multicultural Age,” was the keynote speaker and spoke about common misconceptions people tend to have about Latinos. She said they aren’t true and that their story is an “American story” that needs to be told. People from all walks of life need to work together, she said.
Even though the event focused on Hispanic cultural pride and speakers encouraged them to vote, Garcia said his plans aren’t to only represent the growing Hispanic community, but all of Chicago.
“I think moving forward with an equity agenda is something that appeals to everyone, he said. I also think that having a mayor who is more responsive and who has a pulse on what goes on in the neighborhoods would prevent the types of policies that have turned Chicagoans off, like the massive school closings.”
Garcia announced on Monday that he is entering the 2015 mayoral race, which means that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has another challenger. After Chicago Teacher Union President Karen Lewis said that she would no longer consider running, that left Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd), East Garfield Park resident and community activist Amara Enyia, Frederick Collins, a Chicago police officer and former Ald. Robert Shaw of the 9th Ward in the competition.
Unlike the other candidates, Garcia’s political background ties him to the late Mayor Harold Washington. The city’s first Black mayor appointed Garcia as deputy commissioner of the Department of Water in 1984. Two years later, he was elected as alderman for the 22nd Ward. The new position allowed him to work closely with Washington.
After the breakfast, Garcia said in an interview that he and Washington were friends. He also called him a mentor and teacher.
The city of Chicago that Washington knew and had to deal with is vastly different from today’s Chicago, Garcia said. There is much more diversity, but there could be more.
He said when people learned that Lewis was completely out, the phone calls started. His track record of working with policy groups and community leaders makes him a strong candidate, he said.
“I have heard time and time again that it is time to have someone on the fifth floor of City Hall who comes from the neighborhood,’ Garcia said, insinuating that Emanuel doesn’t have that kind of connection to the city.
Garcia said he not only wants to bring communities together, but he wants to stir up economic growth.
“I will be the kind of executive who will be responsive to Chicago’s neighborhoods, I will have the patience to engage, to listen, to accept criticism, something that I think has been lacking, so I believe those are the conditions that make a candidacy like mine one to watch,” Garcia said.