Despite Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s affirmation that she is “running for re-election for the job that I have” this year and does not plan to challenge Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the 2015 election, The Illinois Observer decided to see how Preckwinkle would stack up against Emanuel in the election anyway.
From the Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Rahm Emanuel appeared on NBC’s “The Daily Rundown,” where he and host Chuck Todd shared their competing viewpoints on the topic of public versus charter schools. In typical Emanuel fashion, the mayor colorfully and firmly defended his belief that charter schools are important in that they provide a choice in education.
From the Chicago Sun-Times: Steve Harvey, host of NBC’s “The Steve Harvey Show,” appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” this week and kidded with host Jimmy Fallon about the latter’s recent participation in Special Olympics Chicago’s Polar Plunge fundraiser.
Chicago’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, scheduled this year for March 15, has, for more than 50 years, featured the tradition of dying the Chicago River green. And despite the extremely cold weather this winter, the river will go green again next Saturday, parade organizer Kevin Sherlock told Crain’s Chicago Business earlier this week.
Chicago Magazine has released its third annual “The Power 100” – the list of the 100 most influential figures in the city. Some of the names on this year’s installment were Mayor Rahm Emanuel (No. 1), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (No. 4), Gov. Pat Quinn (No. 50), state Attorney General Lisa Madigan (No. 52) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) at No. 93. Find the full list over at ChicagoMag.com.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) during his City Club of Chicago address this week gave a special shoutout to his wife, who was in the audience.
“I’m the president of the Illinois Senate, allow me to introduce the speaker of my house, Pam Cullerton,” the senate president said before beginning his remarks.
The Cullertons’ eldest daughter, Maggie, was also at Monday’s event.