Mayor says yes to debates
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has committed to debates. His primary oppostion is Ald. Bob Fioretti.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday he plans on waging a “vigorous campaign” for re- election that includes debates with Ald. Bob Fioretti ( 2nd), even though the field no longer includes Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis.
When Lewis dropped out of the mayor’s race this week after having surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, there was speculation that Emanuel would ignore Fioretti, forsake debates and use his $ 8.7 million campaign warchest to rebuild his plummeting popularity with a blitzkrieg of television commercials.
But Emanuel told the Chicago Sun- Times Editorial Board on Wednesday that the speculation is all wrong.
He was asked specifically if he would debate Fioretti.
“I’m sure we’ll have debates. And I’m gonna be out there laying out an agenda that people can make a [ judgment] on. Part of my responsibility is also to say, ‘ Here’s what we’ve done. Here are the results. Here’s what we’re gonna do’ and we’re gonna have that,” Emanuel said.
“Campaigns are healthy. So’s holding people accountable when they govern healthy. I plan on doing that, and I’m doing it right now.”
But Emanuel sidestepped a question about whether he would voluntarily limit the contributions his campaign takes in, even though the fund- raising caps in the race apparently no longer apply.