JEFFERSON PARK — Ald. John Arena (45th) and Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido let loose a barrage of personal attacks and pointed criticisms Tuesday night during the 45th Ward runoff debate.
Arena painted Garrido as an ill-informed candidate unwilling — or unable — to put forward a vision for the future of the 45th Ward, while Garrido depicted Arena as a combative, divisive politician beholden to unions that have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to his two runs for office.
Garrido warned the crowd to expect a "landslide" of negative advertisements to hit mailboxes and airwaves before Election Day on April 7 in an attempt to re-elect Arena, who beat Garrido in 2011 by 30 votes.
"When a candidate goes negative, they don't have a record to run on," Garrido said, pledging to focus on basic city services such as public safety, snow plowing and road repair if elected. "The alderman hasn't been doing his job."
But Arena said he was proud of his record of "reversing 20 years of stagnation" and likened himself to a quarterback whose team was ahead.
"You don't change quarterbacks when you are winning the game at the end of the the first quarter," Arena said, repeatedly touting a recently unveiled plan to redevelop a long-vacant bank building into a grocery store, fitness center and Starbucks. "This is the most exciting time in the ward I can remember."
Those negative ads have already started hitting homes in the 45th Ward, which includes Jefferson Park and parts of Old Irving Park, Portage Park, Gladstone Park and Forest Glen.
Paid for by the Service Employees International Union Political Action Committee, the ads blast Garrido for running for Cook County board president as a Republican in 2010, for attending a Tea Party event during the 2011 aldermanic election and for supporting a plan endorsed by conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh to hurt President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.
The union has sent out four glossy mailers hitting the same anti-Republican theme, two during the first round of voting and two this week.
Garrido said he was running as an independent in the non-partisan City Council election.
"I am not affiliated with any Tea Party," Garrido said. "I like coffee."
Arena said the members of unions that support him are working-class residents of the 45th Ward, and noted that Garrido has received a $20,000 contribution from the union that represents rank-and-file police officers.
The state Legislature has ordered the city to make a $550 million pension payment to police and fire pension systems by 2016, which would force officials to either drastically cut services, raise taxes or borrow a significant amount of money.
"I'm sure the [police department] would have one of their own on the City Council when it comes time to make that decision," Arena said.
The most pointed exchange came when the candidates were given an opportunity to question each other directly.
Garrido asked Arena why 55 percent of the 45th Ward voted against him in the first round of voting — and whether it was due to what Garrido called Arena's record of "combative and dishonest behavior."
Arena barely let Garrido finish talking before jumping in, one of many times moderator Ben Joravsky of the Chicago Reader had to remind the candidates of the rules and shush the crowd.
"That means 60 percent of the ward voted against you, John," Arena said to Garrido. "Own it."
Arena, who is seeking a second term on the City Council, won 45.5 percent of the Feb. 24 vote and Garrido garnered 39.7 percent. Michelle Baert, who won 13.3 percent of the ballots, endorsed Garrido.
Arena said he would not apologize for holding people to their commitments on behalf of the ward and demanding "the best" from city employees and those who get city funds.
"I will go to war for you," Arena told the nearly full auditorium at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
Arena used his question to blast Garrido, who has been a Chicago police officer for 24 years and is a practicing attorney, for offering voters 10 percent discounts at local restaurants and businesses in return for voting, a violation of state election laws.
Although Garrido removed the offer from his Facebook page when contacted by DNAinfo Chicago, he said at the debate it fell into "a gray area" and he was not sure whether it was illegal.
Arena said that should make voters question Garrido's competency and whether he would be able to evaluate the complicated proposals that come before the City Council.
Garrido said he would take a leave from both his law practice and the police department if elected in order to work full time as an alderman.
The debate was sponsored by the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, Nadig Newspapers, the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce, the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce, the Six Corners Association and the Portage Park Neighborhood Association.
Voters can register in-person at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners' office at 69 W. Washington St. until Monday.
Registration and early voting will take place at the elections board office or at 50 other locations around the city. Voters must show two forms of identification to register, and one to vote, officials said.
Early voting will take place Monday through April 4.
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