| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. It’s two weeks to Election Day!
|  | TOP TALKER | | Paul Vallas is emulating former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the money race for Chicago mayor, raising millions from the business community, while rival Brandon Johnson is relying primarily on union monies to fuel his campaign. By the numbers: Vallas has raised $11.1 million in his bid for mayor, and Johnson has raised $7.1 million. “It feels very Rahm Emanuel-ish,” political fundraiser Trisha Rooney told Playbook about Vallas’ fundraising. “It’s that same kind of energy. People are giving anything they can, whether it’s $500 or $100,000.” Rooney should know. She was a fundraiser for former Mayor Richard M. Daley and Emanuel, who famously worked the phones to raise money, whether it was for his mayoral or previous congressional campaign or for Barack Obama, for whom he worked as chief of staff. Vallas isn’t afraid to make phone calls either, Rooney said. “He will call anyone, and then he wants to tell them his plans.” Breaking it down: Vallas has received contributions from hundreds of individual donors, including high-profile business names such as Craig Duchossois ($510,000), Don Wilson ($350,000) and Joseph Grendys ($200,000). Last week, Vallas headlined two big fundraisers — one at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse that raised $650,000 and another at Joe Perillo’s Bentley Gold Coast showroom, where $350,000 was raised. Union label: Johnson’s money has come from the Chicago Teachers Union ($2.5 million), the American Federation of Teachers ($1.7 million), SEIU Healthcare and various SEIU organizations, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. The CTU even approved a plan to apportion $8 from each union member’s monthly dues to PACs for him. High-stakes weeks: Vallas and Johnson are still a long way from Emanuel’s $24 million effort in 2015, though they’ve passed the $7 million Mayor Lori Lightfoot raised in 2019. Vallas could get close. He has 37 more fundraisers — breakfasts, lunches and evening events — before the April 4 runoff election. There’s dark money, too: A new independent super PAC created to support Vallas received an infusion of $320,000 last week. A super PAC whose donors are anonymous, it was formed by Greg Goldner, founder and manager of ReAsolute Public Affairs, according to Crain’s Justin Laurence, who first had the story. BIG ENDORSEMENTS: Former Congressman Bobby Rush is endorsing Paul Vallas, and Al Sharpton is heading to town to endorse Brandon Johnson, per NBC’s Natasha Korecki. Also, Ald. Jason Ervin, head of the City Council’s Black Caucus is endorsing Johnson. Context: Black voters who endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others during the first round of the mayor’s race will be a deciding factor in who wins April 4 — and Vallas and Johnson are pulling out all the stops to win their support. 4 business groups, including Chicagoland Chamber, back Vallas, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman RELATED City’s chief labor negotiator reportedly sacked after interview gushing about Vallas: “Neither the city’s longtime negotiator, Jim Franczek, nor Mayor Lori Lightfoot commented on the situation,” reports Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. Hundreds show up for Monday night forum that shows stark differences between Vallas, Johnson on schools, crime, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall and Liz Nagy Vallas and Johnson address 7 key issues, by Block Club’s Quinn Myers
| | THE BUZZ | | Tensions are rising in the labor community after Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, made an eyebrow raising comment during an interview with Olivia Olander of POLITICO's Weekly Shift. Gates was making the case that the CTU, SEIU and SEIU Healthcare are unions with mostly Black and women members who endorse Brandon Johnson for mayor. Gates said they’re not just “white guys in hard hats.” Taking offense: “There is no room in the labor movement or politics for divisive statements like Stacy’s,” Mike Macellaio, president of the Chicago and Cook County Building Trades Council, said in a statement to Playbook. “The building trades are a diverse group of highly skilled men and women of every race, color and creed.” And Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor is also concerned. “The labor movement fights every day to provide pay and opportunity to members. But we have to make sure that we can disagree with each other without getting to a point where it divides us — because the labor movement has to endure.” Staying neutral: Neither the CFL nor the trades council have endorsed anyone in the mayor’s race. Gates responds: “I truly don’t understand the response to my comment. And, I think we are saying the same thing: Labor is diverse, and its leadership is diverse, too. It is important especially for women during Women’s History Month to know they are represented at the highest levels of union leadership,” Gates said in a statement. If you are Greg Goldner, Playbook would like to know who’s funding your PAC. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
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| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — State Rep. Bob Rita testifies that Speaker Michael Madigan ruled caucus ‘through fear and intimidation’: “Rita testified Madigan could crush a lawmaker who took positions that the speaker didn’t like, citing how Madigan orchestrated the defeat of former Rep. Ken Dunkin, a Chicago Democrat who sided with then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, to cause legislation Madigan-backed legislation to fail,” report Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Lawmakers advance measure to regulate ride-shares as ‘common carriers: “Lawmakers are considering a bill that would treat ride-share companies such as Uber and Lyft as “common carriers,” opening them up to the same level of liability as other forms of public transportation,” reports Capitol News’ Nika Schoonover. Some opposition: Pastors have written to lawmakers saying the bill goes against reform efforts that address disproportionately impacted communities of color. Letter here — House sends cat declawing ban to Senate, by State Journal-Register’s Patrick Keck — Behind-the-scenes state office helps judges decide bond amounts, by New-Gazette’s Mary Schenk — State health officials warn of rise in dangerous strep infections after 5 pediatric deaths are reported, by NBC 5’s Lauren Petty and Alexandria Fisher
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — Evanston ward candidate returns campaign donations tied to the Ryan family, by Evanston Roundtable’s Duncan Agnew — How Naperville mayoral candidates plan to keep economy thriving beyond downtown, by Daily Herald’s Kevin Schmit — 45th Ward: Ald. Jim Gardiner tries to secure reelection over attorney Megan Mathias: “The race has hinged in significant part on questions about Gardiner’s fitness,” reports Tribune’s John Byrne.
| | CHICAGO | | — Durbin, Duckworth send 2 names to Biden for new U.S. attorney: “If either ends up being confirmed, it would be the first time a Hispanic or a woman held the job,” reports Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet. — Posing a danger for children, majority of Chicago homes contain hazardous levels of lead paint, health officials say, by WTTW’s Paris Schutz — Chances fade that Lightfoot will convince lame duck City Council to pass ComEd deal, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone — 3-year Kennedy Expressway construction project now underway, by ABC 7’s Diane Pathieu, who gets creative giving her report in a moving vehicle. — Pitchfork Music Festival announces 2023 lineup, by WBEZ’s Ayana Contreras COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — A commission created to investigate police torture more than a decade ago under scrutiny: Special prosecutors acting on behalf of Cook County are challenging it: There are concerns of conflict of interest and cases “costing the county hundreds of thousands of dollars while straying from their objective,” reports Tribune’s Madeline Buckley.
| | POT-POURRI | | — How an out-of-state pot firm used a shooting victim in a bid to score social equity licenses in Illinois: “Edna Peterson was searching for a job on Craigslist earlier this year and came across an offer that sounded too good to be true: ‘Interested in a quick $2,000?’” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and David Struett.
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked if it’s OK for lawmakers to vote on legislation remotely. Holly Ambuehl: “Only as long as they fully allow and support remote testimony to enhance public accessibility as well.” Eric DeBellis: “Yes. It allows less time where all the lobbyists are and more time where their constituents and families are — and less time commuting.” Graham Grady: “Yes, but with limitations such as illness, severe weather, or meetings called on an emergency basis. There is value associated with being together — whether in agreement or in opposition. Government needs to be a collaborative effort.” Ed Mazur: “No. The electorate deserves to see them raise their hands, vote aye or nay and face their voters.” Patricia Ann Watson: “Absolutely! No need to treat legislating as if we are in the Pony Express, telegraph and the back-slapping, cigar-smoking days.” When did you call a state legislator’s office? Email skapos@politico.com
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Sean Connolly has been named chair of the board of the Economic Club of Chicago, effective July 1. In his day job, Connolly is president and CEO of Conagra Brands. He'll succeed Mary Dillon, president and CEO of Foot Locker.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — By-the-book DA confronts unpredictable opponent in Trump, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden — GOP to energy companies: We’re here to help. Industry: Meh, by POLITICO’s Zack Colman — Lindsey Graham: $20 says Trump beats Biden in 2024, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Karen Mancera-Cuevas is now senior director of health equity at the National Health Council. She was deputy director for health promotion at the Illinois Department of Public Health.
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Bryce Harris for correctly answering that Gov. Jim Thompson used a blackjack table as a desk when he signed the Riverboat Gaming Act into law in 1990. TODAY’s QUESTION: Why did James “Big Jim” Kennally try to steal the body of Abraham Lincoln? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Illinois Board of Higher Education Chair John Atkinson, former Lt. Gov and past Boise State University President Bob Kustra, Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Executive Director Tiffany Hightower, longtime Southern Illinois political operative Dennis Johnson, JLL Technologies’ Mirela Krawczyk and Abbot editorial content senior manager and former Tribune business editor Mike Kellams. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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