SEIU Endorsed Candidates for Chicago's February 22nd Election. No Endorsement for Mayor.

(CHICAGO)—The SEIU Illinois State Council today announces political endorsements in the 2011 Chicago City Council races. This group of candidates shares SEIU’s progressive values and represents a strong voice for the interests of working families across the city.

“True prosperity will not return to Chicago unless the City Council has strong advocates for working families,” said Tom Balanoff, President of the SEIU Illinois State Council, which represents the interests of 170,000 workers. “City Council must be an active participant in shaping Chicago’s future, not a rubber stamp. These candidates understand that, and are committed to helping Chicago’s new mayor create jobs, improve public education, bolster safety on our streets and ensure quality municipal services,” said Balanoff, adding that about 100,000 SEIU members and their families reside in Chicago.

Keith Kelleher, Vice President of the SEIU Illinois State Council, said about 3,200 SEIU members worked in precincts across Chicago during the November 2010 election. Candidates for City Council can expect a similar Election Day effort, he added.

“No organization does a better job of connecting with voters than the SEIU. Working families respond to our efforts in the precincts because they know we are fighting for their issues,” said Kelleher who is also President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana.

Christine Boardman, Treasurer of the SEIU Illinois State Council, said a strong City Council will help establish greater working relationships between aldermen, residents and public employees; relationships that are needed to improve Chicago’s quality of life.

“This is how we move Chicago forward,” explained Boardman, who is also President of SEIU Local 73. “It’s essential that residents all across the city benefit from prosperity in Chicago.”

Chicago’s City Council races will be the most important in more than two decades for working families. Big business and banking interests have already pledged to spend several million dollars in the upcoming municipal races, according to media reports.

“For A Better Chicago PAC” is one Political Action Committee that will advocate for Chicago’s big business and banking interests. Press reports say that PAC will borrow a page from the political playbook of Karl Rove, the infamous Bush strategist.  For the November election, Rove created a PAC that circumvented existing campaign finance rules and poured millions into the Illinois U.S. Senate race without disclosing where those funds came from.

The money SEIU will spend in the municipal elections is raised from individual union members; a list of which is filed with the State of Illinois. “For A Better Chicago” may not do the same. All SEIU contributions will comply with the letter and intent of the law. These Big Business organizations have been created to circumvent the new campaign disclosure law.

SEIU ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR FEB. 22^nd Chicago Municipal Election

Mayor of Chicago: No Endorsement.

Chicago City Clerk: Susana Mendoza.

Chicago City Council

Ward 2: Bob Fioretti

Ward 3: Pat Dowell.

Ward 4: William D. “Will” Burns.

Ward 5: Leslie A. Hairston.

Ward 6: Freddrenna M. Lyle.

Ward 12: Jesus "Jesse" Iniguez

Ward 13: Marty Quinn.

Ward 14: Edward M. Burke.

Ward 15: Toni L. Foulkes.

Ward 19: Matthew J. O’Shea.

Ward 21: Sheldon L. Sherman.

Ward 22: Ricardo Munoz.

Ward 24: Sharon Denise Dixon.

Ward 25: Ambrosio “Ambi” Medrano , Jr.

Ward 26: Roberto Maldonado.

Ward 27: Walter Burnett, Jr.

Ward 28: Jason C. Ervin.

Ward 29: Deborah L. Graham.

Ward 30: Ariel E. Reboyras.

Ward 32: Scott Waguespack.

Ward 35: Rey Colon.

Ward 37: Maretta Brown-Miller

Ward 38: Timothy M. Cullerton.

Ward 41: Mary O’Connor.

Ward 42: Brendan Reilly.

Ward 45: Marina Yolanda Faz-Huppert.

Ward: 47: Tom O'Donnell.

Ward 49: Joe Moore.

Ward 50: Debra L. Silverstein.