These are the names Chicago voters will see on their Febuary 22nd ballot for mayor: Rahm Emanuel, Gery Chico and Carol Moseley Braun, Miguel del Valle, Patricia Van Pelt Watkins and William Walls.
While Emanuel, Chico and Moseley Braun have raised the most money, Del Valle says he is staying on the ballot no matter what.
"It's not a matter if I raise a million or $10 million. My candidacy is one that is offered as an alternative to what is out there," said Del Valle.
Painting himself as a reformer, Del Valle earned an endorsement Wednesday from the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization known as IVO-IPO. He says the 60-year-old organization comes with resources that will help him get his name out there. It is something he needs since he has only raised around $150,000.
"There will be people working out in the precincts with literature that will have our names on it. It will be helping to get out the vote," said Del Valle.
Lesser-known known candidate Patricia Van Pelt Watkins works out of her South Side office. She has raised over $500,000. Watkins says it is enough to pay staff and buy campaign commercials, but not enough for street teams, or people to go door to door on the South and West Sides, the areas Watkins is focusing on.
"I'm not looking to the business community or the unions for support. It is time for the people's voice to be independently represented in city government," said Watkins.
William "Dock" Walls, a familiar name on city ballots, is also counting on grass-root support to get his name in the runoff.
"It doesn't take as many resources during the municipal general election. It will take a lot to get to the runoff and if you get in the runoff, money will come from everywhere," said Walls.
Walls ran against Mayor Daley four years ago and received close to 9 percent of the vote. Walls is counting on those votes and more on February 22. Fifty percent plus one is what it takes to win in February. If not, there will a runoff in April.
