Former Philly Schools CEO Paul Vallas running for mayor of Chicago
Paul Vallas is shown meeting with potential voters during his failed 2014 campaign to be Illinois' Lt Governor. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Former Philadelphia Schools chief executive officer Paul Vallas is running for mayor in Chicago.
Vallas is no stranger to Chicago, he served as the city’s budget director and was also once the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.
Vallas on Wednesday blasted Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a “bully” and said “people don’t like the mayor.” He said he’ll bring change and experienced leadership to a city that’s “in deep trouble.”
Emanuel campaign spokesman Pete Giangreco says Vallas has a record of “fiscal disaster” and wherever Vallas goes “he leaves a mess behind him.”
The 64-year-old, Vallas, ran unsuccessfully for Illinois governor in 2002 and lieutenant governor in 2014. He led CPS from 1995 to 2001 and later was superintendent in Philadelphia, New Orleans and Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Other candidates running in the February 2019 election include ex-police superintendent Garry McCarthy and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who entered the race amid a federal bribes-for-jobs investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts donates $200,000 to buy air conditioning units at 10 Philly schools
Hurts donated $200,000 to buy more than 300 air conditioning units for 10 Philly schools. Hurts visited Edward Gideon School in North Philly to announce the news.
4 days ago
Listen 1:01
Pa. school district cancels actor Maulik Pancholy’s speech over his activism and ‘lifestyle’
Pancholy, who is gay, was scheduled to speak against bullying during a May 22 assembly at Mountain View Middle School in Cumberland County.
5 days ago
Shapiro says Pennsylvania will move all school standardized testing online in 2026
The governor said he would like to get rid of the federally required standardized tests altogether, but that would mean losing $600 million in federal aid.
6 days ago