There Are Better Ways To Spend $7 Million Than On A Mayoral Campaign

By aaroncynic in News on May 14, 2014 1:30PM

Image via Brookings Institution/YouTube screengrab.

It’s no secret that money plays one of the most pivotal roles in politics, and it’s equally well known Chicago’s mayor has $7 million in his coffers ready to go to war with whomever might step up to challenge him. With 10 months to go before the 2015 mayoral election, there’s still plenty of time for big checks to roll in from Rahm Emanuel's donors and, since no clear frontrunner has stepped up to challenge him, the clock is ticking for any opponent who might try to mount a campaign against him.

While $7 million is a small bucket drop by today’s campaign standards thanks to Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United and McCutcheon vs. FEC, it’s a mountain of money in a mayoral election. With this in mind, Mark Anderson at NBC’s Ward Room theorized about at least one option Mayor Emanuel might have to do with excess campaign cash, assuming he raises $9 million, kees a third for the election and a third for a “rainy day”:

“From the perspective of a powerful mayor with a reasonable lock on re-election (and, yes, of course nothing’s guaranteed in Chicago politics), $3 million to play with presents the mayor with a lot of attractive political opportunities to shape the landscape for Chicago politics as he sees fit, as well as help consolidate his own power should he decide to stick around for another few terms.”

Basically, Mayor 1 Percent can further shore up a City Council that’s already too willing to rubber stamp his agenda.

There are of course, better things we think any or all of Emanuel's election war chest could be spent on. Here are a few ideas:

• Reopening Chicago’s mental health clinics: Shutting the doors on six neighborhood mental health clinics reportedly saved about $2 million in the budget, but cost Chicagoans a much higher price in providing access to mental health care for thousands. Meanwhile, Cook County Jail is one of the largest mental health care providers in the country.
• Seeing as he closed 50 schools and afterward, CPS slashed an additional $68 million from classrooms, it’s understandable more than a few Chicagoans might feel the mayor owes its public school students. While it might not seem like much in the face of a billion dollar structural shortfall, $7 million given directly to CPS students sounds like a much better use of money than a campaign. The proposed CPS budget calls for an extra $250 in per-pupil spending, and we’re certain the extra $17 per student wouldn’t be a waste.