20-Jan-11 – About 1,500 people filled a ballroom at the Chicago Marriott on North Michigan Avenue Wednesday evening to hear three of the six candidates for Chicago mayor discuss community and environmental issues.

Appearing were Mayor Daley’s former chief of staff, Gery Chico, former Illinois State Senator Miguel del Valle, and former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun.

Over an hour and 50 minutes, the candidates discussed many issues that affect downtown Chicago, including what changes they would like to see to the area.

del Valle wants continued development of the lakefront, theater district, and other attractions, and more help for residents with condominium-related conflicts.

“The residential development around downtown has been like a shot in the arm to downtown,” he says. “Downtown is now a family place. Young families are coming in and raising the families. The real challenges [are] how do we make sure there are adequate schools, educational programs available for those families.”

Chico, who lives downtown, calls the place “a wonderful development.”

“I can tell you, 20 years ago, when I’d walk home from work, you’d see tumbleweeds blowing downtown. It’s not that way anymore. Now in the summer, you’ll be run over by the flip-flop crowd. We have a lot of young people who are living downtown.”

Cultural institutions like Navy Pier and music festivals in Grant Park would get Chico’s support.

When asked how he would engage the business community, Chico said he would create a “jobs cabinet,” made up of volunteers, to let business people help the mayor determine policies that encourage job growth throughout the city.

Moseley Braun said an important first step would be to preserve the lakefront as “free and clear and open to the people.”

“Chicago is a world class city because of the visionary Burnhan Plan that saved our lakefront and then opened it up and gave us the beauty that we all enjoy as Chicagoans.”

She would focus on both residential and business development downtown, improving public transportation, and making sure public safety is a priority.

The forum was organized by 17 local groups, including River North Residents Association. It was hosted by Andy Shaw, the former WLS-TV political reporter, now president of Better Government Association, a non-profit organization working, according to its website, “for integrity, transparency, and accountability in government.” (Left) A timekeeper at left signals to Gery Chico that his time is up.

Although he was invited, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel did not attend the forum. According to Shaw, his representatives told him Emanuel could not make it due to a schedule that includes five appearances a day, “and there are so many hours in a day.”

42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, who introduced Shaw, said this would be the most important election for mayor in decades. “The city of Chicago is at a crossroads,” Reilly says. “This is one of those key pivotal moments in Chicago history where voters stand at a fork in the road, deciding which direction to take their city. Down the path preserving the status quo with short-term solutions and quick fixes – or seizing this opportunity to truly re-invent city government, literally from the ground up.” (Right) Reilly greets one of the forum organizers.

Also running are Patricia Van Pelt Watkins and William Walls.

Election day is February 22, however if no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on April 5. The new mayor will take office on May 16.