CHICAGO
As the Chicago mayoral race heats up to the April 7 runoff between incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel and come-from-behind candidate Chuy Garcia, the Indian-American community is split but inclined to support a new face. Driven more by an anti-Emanuel wave rather than a pro-Garcia sentiment, desis who form a small but significant minority in the windy city want more attention to their businesses and social needs from whoever gets elected.
Anecdotal evidence from a March 4 meeting of some 15 to 20 representatives from various organizations, businesses as well as interested individuals and the media, as well as from several interviews Desi Talk conducted, suggests that an anti-Emanuel wave is simmering within the community, although some Emanuel supporters remain staunchly behind him.
The consensus that emerged from the March 4 meeting was that Chicago needs a mayor who will be more involved in the community and more responsive to its concerns. Garcia, who showed up at this meeting in his first interaction with Indian-Americans since the mayoral campaigns began, promised to be there for them if elected.
“The Indian community will support you because we are fed up with the incumbent,” said host Prashant Shah, owner of the India Tribune newspaper where the meeting was held. But Shah may not be speaking for the majority even if Garcia’s star seems on the upswing.
In two polls conducted shortly after the inconclusive Feb. 24 mayoral elections, the two candidates were running neck and neck – Emanuel had around 42.8 percent support to Garcia’s 38.6 percent. Both polls showed 18.6 percent of respondents were undecided. Because the Hispanic population is typically underrepresented in polling data the contestants are probably “dead even” the polling company Ogden & Fry concluded. Observers surmise that this first runoff in 25 years, will galvanize many who were apathetic to vote on April 7.
Garcia spoke of a coalition coming together that includes 30 percent of the African-American community and possibly a significant portion of Asian Americans put off by Emanuel’s conspicuous failure to show up at the immigration forum they hosted Jan. 29 at Northeastern Illinois University. Rahm’s prickly personality combined with Garcia’s appearance has brought about some surprising re-alignments within the liberal fold during this election.
Unsuccessful mayoral candidate and potential kingmaker, Willie Wilson, raised eyebrows when he declared March 1: “I’ll vote for Garcia but may endorse Emanuel.” While negotiations are still underway with Wilson, 25 other African-American leaders have endorsed Garcia and more are forthcoming, including Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Garcia contended that many Chicago’s neighborhoods have been left behind as downtown thrives and only a select few have benefited. Ordinary people have just been left behind, Garcia asserted at the March 4 meeting, citing the closure of 50 schools mainly in African-American areas under Emanuel’s watch. Garcia supports elected school boards and re-establishing ethnic advisory committees, a cause he has worked on since the 1980s.
As Commissioner on the Cook County Board, Garcia invoked his solid relationship with its president Toni Preckwinkle who is ubiquitous at Indian-American events. Responding to complaints that Emanuel was never seen at community functions, Garcia promised to participate in the India Day parade. He said he wants to “deepen relations with the subcontinent and looks forward to visiting the community.”
Some in the community are still behind Emanuel. Community activist Rajinder Mago sees Emanuel as an experienced “doer and pusher” and a close friend of new Illinois governor Bruce Rauner and other influential state and national leaders, connections that could help Chicago rise. “However, he strikes others as a cold technocrat, rubbing people the wrong way,” Mago conceded, and may have been damaged by the controversy around school closings etc. It remained to be seen if President Obama’s endorsement would improve his chances. Chuy on the other hand, comes across as “warm, personable, smiling and approachable,” a people-person symbolizing the aspirations of the common man. Mago however, is taking his chances with Emanuel and his power base, but agrees that the results are anybody’s guess on runoff day.
Salman Aftab, who opened an office for Emanuel’s campaign on Devon in Little India, attributed his poor showing to there being five candidates in the Feb. 24 elections splitting the vote. He also blamed school closures and other factors that worked against Emanuel. But, “Chicago has developed a great deal, with innovation, and incentives to college graduates,” Aftab contended. “There have been no corruption scandals over the last four years,” he noted. He also pointed to Emanuel’s love for the city and his lifelong desire to be mayor despite having reached the zenith of influence in Washington where he was chief of staff to the President. Emanuel also suffered on Feb. 24 because of “the animosity between Latinos and Blacks due to competition for resources, even at the level of street-gang warfare,” Aftab said, noting how difficult it was to build reliable coalitions in Chicagoland. If elected mayor, Garcia would be obliged to work for his community first, Aftab asserted. In his calculation, the votes that went to Willie Wilson in the first round were Emanuel’s votes. “I’m confident that Rahm will win.”
“Four years ago Emanuel came to Devon looking for support that the Indian community gave. In return we asked for a seat at the table so that our voices could be heard. We are still waiting for that seat, former alderman candidate for the 50th Ward, Shajan Kuriakose told Desi Talk. “Chicago needs leadership that represents the 99 percent and not the 1 percent.” Kuriakose swears by Garcia whom he met as a child when his late father Kuriakose Mathew campaigned and fundraised for him as Alderman. “I look up to him as a concerned leader willing to address the tough issues of our city head on, while listening to the needs of our neighborhoods. Chicago needs leadership that will be inclusive and not exclusive.”
Whereas three major city newspapers, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business, originally endorsed Emanuel, the national media has begun scrutinizing the incumbent in a more critical light, even characterizing the runoff as an “entirely new” election. The Indian American Democratic Organization is meeting March 12 to decide which candidate to endorse.