Rahm Emanuel Vs. Chuy Garcia Thoughts

Tuesday, those registered voters in Chicago who actually cared enough to drag themselves to the polls had to cast their votes for the next mayor. For me, as of 24 hours before the polls were even opened, I was still undecided.

I thought I knew who I was "voting" for in the election since on the day in February when I supported Willie Wilson, one of the many candidates who ran in the primary.  (I liked the fact that Wilson was an unknown businessman who had apparently made quite a successful career for himself and didn't seem to take himself too seriously.) More importantly though, as the cast off vote in February I didn't want Rahm Emanuel to escape a run-off, so I wanted for anyone but Rahm was a vote for a run-off.

I got my run-off wish and since  did what I thought average Chicagoans who think that voting for mayor is important do for over the past several weeks - watching commercials, reading news articles and, watching Rahm Emanuel and Chuy Garcia debate. (The debates killed me).

My first thought over the past few weeks has been why Jesus "Chuy" Garcia became simply Chuy Garcia. Sound better? Is Jesus offensive to some? An unanswered question that will haunt me...

I've also wondered who picks out Rahm's clothes for commercials. We all know he's not a "dad" sweater or button-down shirt kind of guy so why are his handlers trying to fool us? (Liars -.-)

Neither of the above questions or my surmised responses were enough for me to decide who was better, so I did research. Dug deeper.

If you've paid attention, there's plenty to dig into these days in Chicago's business, societal, and financial landscapes:

Pre-K programs

Mental health services

Budgets

Citizen services

Parks

Crime

Public schools

Red light and speed cameras

Property taxes

Political favors

Bike lanes

Violent crime

Street gangs

Given the vast landscape of issues and discussion that's taken place, one would think that it should be relatively easy to pick a candidate. You'd think so. But, not really. It just brought up more to find out.

There's so much anti-Rahm sentiment based on his personality, his purported arguments with various people, and reputation earned as a political tough guy for Bill Clinton and Barack Obama that it permeates any discussion on the issues.  Similarly, there seems to be a "Chuy couldn't run a city" sentiment that, regardless how he answers a question, he is not deserving of a vote for mayor. (I just don't trust me running Chicago, one of the more important American cities).

These overriding views of the candidates have admittedly influence who I think people should vote for. On the day following the debate on Fox32 television, I was leaning toward voting for Chuy. BUT, he was another Nixon in the debate of 1960 against JFK. (He doesn't answer questions, and goes all around to divert; futhermore his people we so paranoid he would say the wrong thing they took him out and later "released a statement"... that irked me) Then, I read the papers during the week and felt that his ability to craft and manage a budget were lacking so I leaned back toward Rahm.