'It's you that I fight for:' Mayor Lightfoot officially announces reelection campaign
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced the launch of her campaign for a second term.
Lightfoot announced her campaign in a video that was apparently first posted on Monday, but unveiled Tuesday.
In the video, Mayor Lightfoot says: "They say I'm tough. They say I get angry. They say sometimes, I take things personally. You know what I say? They're absolutely right."
"When we fight for change, confront a global pandemic, work to keep kids in school, take on guns and gangs, systemic inequality, and political corruption – only to have powerful forces try and stop progress for Chicago – of course I take it personally," Mayor Lightfoot says in the video.
Lightfoot admitted to not being "the most patient person."
"But just because some may not always like my delivery, doesn't mean we're not delivering," she said in the video.
The video goes on to present snippets of news broadcasts and other sound bites about various achievements the mayor chalked up – including rebuilding infrastructure, investing in affordable housing, adding police detectives, and handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I don't look or sound like any other mayor we've ever had before, and I've had to fight to get a seat at the table. And, like so many in our city, I've had to fight to have my voice heard. That's why I'll never back down from fighting every day to turn your voice into action." Mayor Lightfoot said in the video. "It's you that I fight for. All the people who love, breathe, and believe in making the greatest city in the world even greater. You love this city as much as I do. The fact is, because of you, Chicago is coming back."
At least seven candidates have announced plans to run against Lightfoot in next year's election: Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, millionaire Willie Wilson, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th), Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, and Chicago Police Officer Frederick Collins.
As CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reported, analysts say the city's crime crisis are expected to be the chief issue in the 2023 mayoral race.
"The number one issue will be public safety," said WVON host and political commentator Kimberly Egonmwan.
Egonmwan said along with crime, voters will have to take into account the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the civil unrest of 2020.
"There are crimes being committed in most communities in the city of Chicago, which is something that's unheard of," Egonmwan said. "I think people will judge her according to what their expectations were, but they also have to take into account a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic."
The mayor is riding high after reaching a deal to bring a casino to Chicago - something her predecessors were never able to get done.
On Tuesday night, supporters of the mayor were at a fundraiser at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios, 12 E. Ohio St., for the official start of her campaign. The supporters included several aldermen, and some of those aldermen didn't vote for Lightfoot the first time around.
"I didn't support Lori Lightfoot when she first ran, but I'm supporting her now," said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th), "because she is the incumbent, and I think it takes more than one term to get things together."
"I don't think it's necessary to change," said Ald. Jason Ervin (28th). "You don't change, as they say - in the middle of a war, you don't change generals."
Critics of the mayor have been quick to point out her temperament, which has included public spats with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Chicago Teachers Union.
A lack of transparency has also been called out — notably withholding some information surrounding the wrong police raid on Anjanette Young, who was handcuffed naked by officers who had come to the wrong residence.
"She's been going through some growing pains in dealing with it, but we are getting there," Burnett said.
"I think that all mayors - and I've been through three of them - have some personality quirks," added Ald. Michelle Harris (8th). "I think this mayor has faced thought more difficulties than any other mayor that I had to work with."
Some of the mayor's opponents in the race were quick to take issue with her record. Wilson accused Lightfoot of failing to "curtail the violence in our city" and protect the city during the 2020 unrest, and also of failing to back police – among other claims.
"Mayor Lightfoot has been an embarrassment to our city. My worse mistake was endorsing her to be our mayor," Wilson said in part in a statement. "I welcome her entry into the race because she has a failed record of leadership. I will fix our city and make sure that our residents are safe in their neighborhoods, on trains and buses."
Buckner also released a statement, saying Chicago needs a new mayor "with a plan."
He wrote in part: "Mayor Lightfoot has proven to be utterly ill-equipped to lead Chicago. Carjackings and violence are at record highs, economic disinvestment is drying up our neighborhoods, our schools are under-resourced, our police department is over-extended and under-staffed. Instead of a public safety plan, she's raised bridges, put up barricades and demanded curfews. Yesterday, three years too late, she announced a single piecemeal public safety measure, which is once again not part of any strategic vision for making Chicagoans safer."
For her own part, in response specifically to Sawyer's announcement last week, Lightfoot noted all of her declared opponents so far are men.
"Another day, another man who thinks he can do this job better than me," she said at an unrelated event last Thursday morning. "I'm just going to keep doing my work. I'm not going to worry about the folks who are jumping in."
Other potential candidates who have been weighing bids for mayor include Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), Ald. Sophia King (4th), Chicago Teachers Union vice president Stacy Davis Gates, Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, and community activist Ja'Mal Green.
On Wednesday, Mayor Lightfoot will spend the day zipping around the city to campaign – in Ashburn, Greater Grand Crossing, Little Village, Garfield Park, and the Northalsted District.
