Chicago Al. Tom Tunney is not going to run for mayor, the sources say

In a possible hiatus for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Ald. In line with many sources, Tom Tunney is not going to challenge her within the elections in 2023.

Tunney, who represents Lakeview and Wrigleyville on City Council and owns the Ann Sather restaurant, had been considering running for weeks and posed a potentially dangerous threat to Lightfoot as his candidacy could split her original base of support on the North Side.

But Tunney, who had previously considered bids for the highest position at City Hall, selected to not fight Lightfoot.

Tunney has feuded over time with the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs, over night games, parking lots, hotel developments, garbage collection and stadium transfers, although Tunney easily won re-election within the forty fourth Division in 2019. He was the primary cheerful councilor on the town to openly.

In 2019, Tunney backed Lightfoot in a runoff against Toni Preckwinkle, chairman of the Cook County Board, and Lightfoot rewarded him by electing him chairman of the zoning committee.

He flirted for months with a possible candidacy that would generate strong support from town’s business community. More importantly, Tunney could cut into Lightfoot’s original base. Lightfoot emerged from the crowded field of candidates in 2019, thanks largely to a robust base of support within the North Side troops, where her campaign was mostly voted by white liberals.

Lightfoot has since lost popularity on the north side and has attempted to focus on black voters on the south and west sides to construct a latest political base, although she has not surrendered on the lake shore and can attempt to win back her former followers.

It’s potentially easier without Tunney within the race.

Tunney’s departure leaves 10 candidates in the sector for the February 28 election, including Lightfoot, US international Jesús “Chuy” García, Ald. Sophia King, 4th place, activist Ja’Mal Green, Ald. Roderick Sawyer, Former CPS Chief Paul Vallas, Kambium “Kam” Buckner State Representative, Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15, Willie Wilson owner and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. If nobody receives at the very least 50% of the vote, the second round will happen on April 4.

Tunney has been a councilor together with his North Side branch for 20 years. He joined an extended list of councilors in August who said they might not ask voters next yr for an additional term. Nevertheless, it has been speculated that he’s considering running for mayor as a substitute.

This week alone, he voted against Lightfoot’s $ 16 billion budget for 2023 after a speech wherein he cited, amongst other things, public safety spending. “My residents don’t feel protected,” he said.