Meeks Rips Search for "Consensus" Black Mayoral Candidate

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 9, 2010 2:30PM

State Senator James Meeks criticized the Chicago Coalition for Mayor that was charged with finding a "consensus" African-American candidate for mayor in an interview with Crain's Chicago Business' Greg Hinz. Meek said the process was too focused on race and stacked against him from the start, although it didn't stop Meeks from actively seeking the group's blessing, even going so far as to give up his ministering duties at Salem Baptist Church in order to curry favor with the coalition.

"It was an 'anybody but Meeks' coalition," Meeks said. The coalition eventually chose Congressman Danny Davis as their candidate. Meeks now says that he was unwilling to be a mayoral candidate that would represent only one voting bloc. "I refused to be 'the black candidate,'" Meeks said. "That was a big sticking point with them." Meeks also indicated that he's close to making a formal announcement of his candidacy.