Toni Preckwinkle Will Not Run For Mayor
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 15, 2014 7:40PM
All the wishful thinking for a Rahm Emanuel-Toni Preckwinkle race for mayor may now cease. Preckwinkle, the Cook County Board President, absolutely, positively, definitively ruled out a mayoral run Tuesday, saying that her work to clean up and streamline county government is not complete.
The Sun-Times, citing sources close to Preckwinkle, broke the story a few moments ago. Sun-Times reporter Kate N. Grossman tweeted the following statement from Preckwinkle.
More Toni: "I made a commitment to reform Cook County's criminal justice system, transform our healthcare system."
— Kate N. Grossman (@KateGrossman1) July 15, 2014More on why Toni won't run: "We are making progress, but we still have work to do."
— Kate N. Grossman (@KateGrossman1) July 15, 2014More on why Toni won't run: "I am passionate about making Cook County a more fair and efficient place to live and work."
— Kate N. Grossman (@KateGrossman1) July 15, 2014Preckwinkle has consistently said her focus was on her re-election campaign for County Board President but polls have shown her winning in head-to-head matchups against Emanuel. The most recent Sun-Times poll that showed Karen Lewis with a nine-point advantage over the mayor also had Preckwinkle holding a nearly 25 point advantage over Emanuel. Unlike Lewis, Preckwinkle's appeal crossed racial lines.
The Tribune, citing other sources, reports Preckwinkle had grown increasingly tired with the questions about if she would mount a mayoral campaign, which she would have to undertake before she was even sworn in for a second term as County Board President.
Emanuel (whom we imagine is breathing a sigh of relief) released a statement responding to Preckwinkle's announcement.
"Toni Preckwinkle has been a strong partner in tackling many of the challenges facing Chicago neighborhoods, and an outspoken voice for criminal justice and pension reform. The unprecedented cooperation between the City and County has produced more than $65 million in taxpayer savings, a reformed workforce board that's finding jobs for more Chicagoans, and expanded partnership to expand minority and women-owned businesses. I agree that we have more work to do together on these and other issues so that we can find ways to improve Chicago and Cook County for everybody."