Chicago City Wire

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is hosting a meet and greet for Chicago mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. 

The meet and greet will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Muslim Community center located at 4380 N Elston Ave. in Chicago. 

“We are excited to announce another round of our mayoral meet and greet! Come join Congressman Chuy Garcia along with Paul Vallas for a civic minded conversation for the greater Muslim community to take part in!” the group said on Facebook. 

Candidates for office include Vallas, Garcia, incumbent Lori Lightfoot, businessman Willie Wilson, 26th District State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), Cook County commissioner for the 1st District Brandon Johnson, Obama-backed 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King, 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer, and BLM-protestor Ja’Mal Green. The election will be on Feb. 28. A runoff will be held on April 4 if no candidate is able to gather more than 50% of the vote.

The latest poll in the Chicago mayor’s race was conducted by M3 Strategies. “New Chicago Mayoral Poll (with leaners) Paul Vallas: 33% Brandon Johnson: 20% Lori Lightfoot: 18% Chuy Garcia: 13% Should no candidate receive at least 50%, the top two finishers will compete in an April 4th runoff election. By M3 | 416 LV | E: ±4.8%,” Political Election Projections said on Twitter.

Garcia in particular has been losing steam after details of his son’s criminal lifestyle were released by Chicago City Wire. The congressman’s 39-year-old son, Samuel R. Garcia, has long terrorized the congressmen’s district and neighborhood near the congressman's home on 25th Street in the Little Village neighborhood. He has been arrested several times for gang activities as a member of Two-Six, also known as the Gangster Two Six Nation. The younger Garcia was caught illegally possessing a gun in 2021. He was charged with felony aggravated use of a weapon but was able to evade charges In two incidents Samuel Garcia allegedly attacked police officers. His father’s influence has helped him obtain top-flight legal representation from some of the city’s largest law firms.

15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez lashed out against Garcia and Lightfoot in a recent tweet. “What do @chicagosmayor & @RepChuyGarcia have in common? Both have no qualms about using gangs for political benefit. Chuy’s grown son is a documented neighborhood terrorist, still bangin’ despite being in his 30s. He is not a victim. They know this b/c firm freely defended him,” Lopez said on Twitter.