Morning Spin: Gery Chico says he’ll have the ‘millions of dollars’ needed to run for mayor

Sept. 24--Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Gery Chico said he's confident he'll have the money to run an effective campaign for Chicago mayor.

"We know what we have to do to have the resources to run this campaign. We'll have the millions of dollars in our war chest to be able to get our message out to everybody throughout this city," said Chico, who finished second to Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the 2011 campaign.

"I think we'll have the agenda very honed, based on listening to what people want and seeing what people are going through," he said Sunday on WGN AM-720.

Chico also touted his experience as an attorney, former chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, chairman of the board of the Chicago Public Schools, president of the Chicago Park District and head of City Colleges.

"You put that all together, I think I'm the most experienced candidate to take on these tough issues: reduce violence, make our school system better and rebuild our communities," he said. "I'm ready to hit the ground on day one. I'm battle tested. We don't have time for on-the-job training in where we are right now." (Rick Pearson)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools will announce the college enrollment rate in the afternoon. Later, he will speak at the 2018 After School Matters Gala.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events scheduled.

*CTA bus drivers will hold a news conference to demand better security.

*Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy will discuss mental health and substance abuse treatment at an afternoon event in Chicago.

From the notebook

*Not in: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley won't be running for Chicago mayor in next year's election, according to a news release. Quigley, who had considered a run to succeed outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel, announced his decision in an opinion piece he wrote for the Sun-Times and then issued a news release about it. Quigley is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

*Rauner blames mistrust for outmigration: Rauner signed an executive order on Friday banning nepotism in state government hiring and blamed mistrust by residents as a reason for people moving out of Illinois.

As a rationale for Rauner's action, the executive order said "with the problem of outmigration growing in Illinois, it is imperative to strengthen the ethical practices of state government to ensure residents of Illinois trust that the state is promoting their interests."

"Public trust historically has been diminished by a belief that the work of state government is done by the backroom dealings of a few focused on personal gain, while the people of Illinois are left wondering who has their interest in mind," the order said.

Rauner has frequently used the word "corrupt" to attack his political opponents, namely Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Rick Pearson)

*Raoul goes after Harold on abortion rights in new ad: Democratic attorney general candidate Kwame Raoul went up with a new ad that criticizes Republican rival Erika Harold's personal opposition to abortion.

"Harold believes abortion should be banned, even in cases of rape and incest. And as Trump's Supreme Court nominee threatens to overturn Roe v. Wade, Harold opposed the Illinois bill that would protect a woman's right to choose," a woman narrator says.

Harold, an Urbana attorney, has previously called herself "pro-life" and opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest and said the procedure should only be used to save the life of a mother. She opposed legislation Rauner signed last year that expanded taxpayer-subsidized abortions and contained a provision meant to ensure the procedure remained legal in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade.

Despite her personal opposition, Harold has said she will work to enforce the law, regardless of her personal opinion. (Rick Pearson)

*Warren assisting Pritzker: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., will be delivering a pep talk to phone bank volunteers on Tuesday, the Democrat's camp told supporters in an email.

"Join us to make calls for J.B. and hear from Sen. Warren why this election is so important," the email said. (Rick Pearson)

*On the "Sunday Spin": Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests were Chico; Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association; and Bradley Tusk, former deputy governor in the Rod Blagojevich administration. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN-AM 720. Listen to the full show here.

What we're writing

*The Van Dyke trial is about 1 cop firing 16 shots. But broader issues of police cover-up and official silence loom large.

*Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart sues deputy, the man's wife for falsely accusing him of domestic abuse.

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel picks 35-year Chicago Fire Department veteran as its new commissioner.

*Cook County Democrats recommend vote against retaining judge accused in wrongful convictions.

*Charges to be thrown out against 18 more men whose convictions linked to corrupt Chicago cop.

*Rauner vetoes bill that would prohibit employers from asking job candidates about salary history.

What we're reading

*From the Midway: Our new podcast about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

*Cupich: Northwest Side priest who burned rainbow banner removed from church, "must take time away from the parish."

*Chicago brewers dominate hazy IPA awards at nation's most prestigious beer fest.

Follow the money

*Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, the Conservative Party candidate for governor, got $125,500 last week from the Fight Back Fund, an operation of the Operating Engineers International Union Local 150.

The operating engineers have been the financial muscle behind the Plainview lawmaker's third-party bid, though Local 150 has officially endorsed Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker.

The union has long been at odds with Rauner over what it considers to be his anti-union agenda. Overall, various political committees associated with the operating engineers have given McCann $850,000 in his run for governor.

*The Illinois Republican Party reported taking in $874,000 last week, including $500,000 from the House Republican Organization.

Rauner heavily subsidizes the state GOP as well as the HRO, the main campaign fund for House Republican lawmakers and candidates. In addition to the HRO money, Rauner's campaign gave Illinois Republicans $100,000 while the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee chipped in $225,000.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Feinstein calls for postponement of Kavanaugh nomination as 2nd woman claims sexual misconduct.

*Advisers tell Trump to not fire Rosenstein.

*In midterm congressional races, Democrats highlight own pre-existing conditions.

*Trump goes back to UN this week.

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