March 19, 2015
By LaborPress
The Illinois state council of the Service Employees International Union voted March 14 to endorse challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for mayor of Chicago over incumbent Rahm Emanuel. The union had previously been neutral, but SEIU Local 1 and SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana, which wanted Garcia, prevailed over SEIU Local 73, which supported Emanuel.
Local 73 Secretary-Treasurer Matt Brandon said “the mayor has done a lot for our members,” while the state council was “trying to create more of a socialist agenda.” The Chicago Teachers Union has strongly backed Garcia, while Emanuel has raised more than 10 times as much money and is leading in the polls. But SEIU Local 1 spokesperson Jerry Morrison was optimistic, saying, “we usually play to win in politics.” Read more
