Karen Lewis Will Not Run For Mayor
By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 13, 2014 10:20PM
Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis, who's been fighting health issues for the past week, ended any further speculation on a possible mayoral run a few moments ago with a statement to media announcing she would not run.
The statement from Jhatayn “Jay” Travis, coordinator of the Karen Lewis Exploratory Committee, reads:
“On behalf of Karen Lewis and her exploratory committee, I want to first and foremost thank the teachers, sanitation workers, social workers, librarians, parents, police officers, firefighters, youth, artists, school clerks, grandparents, bus drivers, workers, and retirees who collected tens of thousands of signatures for Karen Lewis. Your support rang out from every corner of this city, demanding new leadership at the highest level of city government.
“Karen Lewis has decided to not pursue a mayoral bid. Yet she charges us to continue fighting for strong neighborhood schools, safe communities, and good jobs for everyone.
“The tens of thousands of signatures collected for Karen confirm what the polls have already said: Chicagoans from Beverly to Uptown want to feel safe in their neighborhoods; they want an elected representative school board; and they want political leadership at every level that is responsive and responsible.
“Our work is not about one leader, one race, or one election. Our work is about building progressive power to restore participatory democracy to Chicago. The groundswell of grassroots support is a testament to the strength of our movement and to the depth of dissatisfaction that hardworking Chicagoans have with the top-down, out-of-touch leadership in City Hall.
“Together, we are changing the political landscape. We must hold our public officials—at every level—accountable for their track records on school closings, unemployment, violence, and nickel-and-diming working families.”
Lewis was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital Oct. 5 with what was termed "discomfort" after she became lightheaded at an appearance. She underwent emergency surgery for an unrelated and undisclosed illness Oct. 8. The following day, CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey assumed Lewis' duties while she recovers.