Garcia hits Emanuel on 'pay-to-play' politics
Mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia addresses the media during a press conference to release his ethics policy agenda alongside Tuesday, March 31, 2015 outside the Citadel Global Headquarters in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)
Challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia on Tuesday criticized Mayor Rahm Emanuel for “pay-to-play” politics, staging a news conference outside the Loop headquarters of a top donor to the mayor’s campaign.
Garcia said that as mayor, he would refuse to accept --- and seek to limit --- political contributions from those who have done or are looking to do business with the city, and that he also would spurn contributions from those who manage the city’s pension funds.
“I will work with the people of Chicago, not for my friends, not for myself,” Garcia said. “I will bring professionalism and openness to city government.”
The Tribune this year detailed that more than $14 million of Emanuel’s campaign contributions have come from an elite group of 103 contributors, 60 of which received some benefit from him or his administration. The circle of donors, made up of investment firms, developers, law firms and restaurateurs, received contracts, permits, appointments or personal mayoral endorsements.
Though he has declined to discuss his campaign fundraising in detail, Emanuel has defended the practice by saying, “We follow the law specifically.”Garcia rips Emanuel on 'pay-to-play' politics - Chicago Tribune:
