CITY HALL — A trio of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's top political allies ripped challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's plan for addressing the city's budget Monday.
Clerk Susana Mendoza, co-chairwoman of Emanuel's re-election campaign, said the budget plan that Garcia released last week "fails to specify any specific reforms or revenues."
"My student interns could have put forth a more thorough and responsible budget plan," Mendoza said. "There's a difference between a doer and a talker."
Treasurer Kurt Summers, who was appointed to the post by Emanuel, added that Garcia's plan copied concepts Emanuel has already followed through on in his first term, such as intergovernmental reforms and renegotiated pension deals. He said the Garcia budget proposal was filled with "ideas that we already launched," adding, "We don't need another blue-ribbon commission for work that's already been done." He called the proposal "misleading."
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago), a proponent of Tax Increment Finance reforms since his time on the Cook County Board, said the mayor had increased transparency in the TIF program.
"Mayor Emanuel has done an extraordinary job improving this," Quigley said. "There's still much to be done, but transparency and accountability lead us toward budget reforms.
"Do we still have a ways to go? Absolutely," Quigley added. "Am I confident it will get done under this administration? Absolutely."
Garcia's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Emanuel and Garcia, Cook County commissioner are in a runoff election on April 7. They were to have their first head-to-head debate at 6 p.m. Monday. It will air on on WMAQ-TV (Channel 5).
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