Emanuel, Garcia Vying For Hispanic Voters
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's mayoral election is little more than a month away and today, both Mayor Emanuel and one of his major challengers turned their attention to attracting Hispanic voters, reports CBS 2's Derrick Blakley.
Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia, campaigned Sunday in Humboldt Park, and spoke just outside Von Humboldt school, one of 50 shut down by Mayor Emanuel.
"This is a time to put Chicago on a new path that puts neighborhoods first," Garcia said.
Garcia accepted the endorsement of former City Clerk Miguel Del Valle, who ran against Emanuel in 2011.
"Downtown continues to progress, neighborhoods continue to decline," Del Valle said.
But Mayor Emanuel countered, cutting the ribbon on a new, 22-acre park in Little Village.
"We closed a coal plant and opening up a park and that's the future of the city of Chicago, for these children," Emanuel said.
But Mayor Emanuel countered with the endorsement of not one Hispanic leader but three: Former school board president Gery Chico, City Clerk Susan Mendoza and Congressman Luis Gutierrez.
Emanuel also received the endorsements of not one Hispanic leader but three: Former school board president Gery Chico, City Clerk Susan Mendoza and Congressman Luis Gutierrez.
"We are weaving a structure of unity for this mayor; unprecedented in city of Chicago," Gutierrez said.
Heavyweight endorsements, but to Garcia, not insurmountable.
"I think they're largely symbolic," Garcia said. "I think people have been paying attention. I think there is an excitement in the community about my candidacy."
A potential threat Emanuel isn't about to ignore.
About one-third of Chicago's population is Latino, with a significant number undocumented, and therefore unable to vote. But more than 90 percent of Chicago's Latinos under 18 are U.S. citizens, which means the Latino portion of the electorate is expected to rapidly grow.