Chicago City Wire

Four of Chicago’s leading business groups have endorsed Paul Vallas over rival Brandon Johnson in the April 4 runoff election for mayor.

According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association, all of which had abstained from endorsing a candidate in the first round, but the four threw their support behind Vallas on March 20, while Johnson touted the support of Polish community leaders, Black legislators, retired Black firefighters and paramedics, as well as from retiring 21st Ward Alderman Howard Brookins and 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin, chair of the City Council’s Black caucus.

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jack Lavin explained that the Chamber supported Vallas partly for economic reasons.

“We need a mayor who will support and not hinder or defund the police,” Lavin told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We need a mayor who will grow the economy — not impose almost $1 billion in new taxes that will chase away businesses and families."

Leaders of the business groups throwing their support behind Vallas said they had become disenchanted with Mayor Lori Lightfoot over the city's surge in violent crime and rising property taxes. The groups joined together to support Vallas, believing he is the candidate best equipped to put things back on the right track.

Jason Lee, Johnson’s campaign manager, said business groups endorsing Vallas “doesn’t mean much” in an election that will be decided by the “overwhelming majority” of Chicagoans who “believe the city is headed in the wrong direction.”

In the Feb. 28, primary, Vallas (32.9) and Johnson (21.6) finished in the two tops spots in a crowded field of nine candidates that included Lightfoot, who placed third.

“Paul Vallas has a plan not to raise taxes,” Lavin said in the story. “He’s not talking about defunding the police. He’s talking about filling the vacancies and getting more police into the community. That’s what families and small businesses need."

The stakes in the election, Lavin said, "have never been higher. We are at a crossroads. The stability of Chicago’s economy hangs in the balance.”