According to the results of the primaries in the second round of elections of the mayor of Chicago (Illinois) are two African-American girls: Laurie Lightfoot and Tony Preckwinkle. On 2 April Lightfoot and Preckwinkle is the crucial stage of the race: the winner will replace current mayor Rahm Emanuel, who refused to run for a third term and will become the first African-American mayor in Chicago’s history.
The former head of the Chicago police Department and a former Federal Prosecutor Laurie Lightfoot topped the rating of contenders for the mayor’s seat with a score of 17.5% of the votes. Its main competitor — the President of the Board of cook County Tony Preckwinkle received 15.9% of the votes.
Lori Lightfoot. Daniel X. O’neil/cc
56-year-old Lori Lightfoot held several high positions, but none of them was elected. In his election campaign, it promises to eradicate corruption and irregularities in the city hall.
People say that I have some good ideas, but I can’t win. And it’s true — every day a little black girl from a needy family and segregated city goes into the second round to become the next mayor of the third largest city in the country, said Lightfoot.
Tony Preckwinkle. flickr/cc/WBEZ
Tony Preckwinkle, which after a few weeks will be 72 years old, started the race with the highest rate of recognition. It was first elected to the city Council of Chicago in 1991, and in 2010 he received the presidency of the Council of cook County.
I have experience in local government and management experience in large government body. And I think those are the things that will appeal to voters Preckwinkle.
At the same time, the candidate has faced criticism in connection with Alderman ed Burke, who was accused of corruption, and also for the delay in the dismissal of his assistant, accused of sexual harassment.
Third place in the presidential race according to the results of the primaries went to businessman William Daley, who under Obama directed the office of the White house. In addition, Daley is the brother and son of former mayor, whose campaign spent $8 million on the race. For comparison, Preckwinkle spent on his campaign is $4.5 million, while Lightfoot is only $1.5 million.
