Mayoral hopefuls spar over Burke

When five mayoral candidates appeared Wednesday at a newspaper endorsement session, the topic inevitably turned to Ald. Edward Burke.

“He’s been around longer than I’ve been alive,” Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said of the 14th Ward alderman. “I actually got my start representing a large portion of his district, so it would be absolutely weird and abnormal for me not to have a relationship with him.”

Mendoza and four others attended the second day of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board’s mayoral forums. The newspaper is handling the large field in shifts.

Joining Mendoza were former Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd), Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and attorney John Kozlar.

Kozlar touted his lack of experience as an alternative to candidates who’ve been tied to Burke. Fioretti is opposed to Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th) replacing Burke as chairman of the Finance Committee, calling him “Ed Burke Jr.”

Brown has her own federal investigation to account for. When pressed for more information on the five-year investigation, Brown said she hasn’t been in contact with investigators in three years and said the accusations come from individuals who “had it out” for her.

Mendoza said Gery Chico is the candidate with Burke’s endorsement and that Toni Preckwinkle is the candidate with a lack of “political courage” who has accepted contributions from Burke’s fundraisers.

Preckwinkle swung back on Wednesday, suggesting that Mendoza would be “Rahm Emanuel’s third term.”

Vallas emphasized his record in magnetizing neighborhood schools.