Emanuel, 3 challengers square off in first televised debate

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The election for Chicago mayor is just three weeks away. Rahm Emanuel and three candidates trying to unseat him squared off in their first televised debate on Wednesday night.

It wasn't a formal debate, but a live forum, or discussion, among candidates for mayor in the city of Chicago.

The four invited candidates answered the moderator but also addressed each other on a wide range of city issues, including the red light and speed cameras - many of which were installed during the Rahm Emanuel administration.

"Those are the priorities of this administration - balancing the budget through regressive fines, fees and penalties on the little guys in the city of Chicago," said Cmsr. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia, candidate for mayor.

"We should have been improving these intersections long ago and removing the cameras," said Ald. Bob Fioretti, candidate for mayor.

The mayor said the devices improve public safety by allowing cops to spend more time in the war on gangs, guns and drugs.

"It does reduce side crashes in most accidents, all the data shows that. But also it's making sure that our officers are freed up, not to actually be writing traffic accidents," Emanuel said.

The incumbent - as might be expected - was on the defensive most of the night. He redeployed his talking points on taxes.

"I'm the only person who's actually secured people's pensions without a property tax. I haven't talked about it, I'm not waiting on the Supreme Court - we've actually done it, year in and year out," Emanuel said.

Businessman Willie Wilson raised again the closings of 50 Chicago Public Schools, at one point turning to the mayor, as if to say "You just don't get it."

"If I lose a kid for gun violence, we're not caring about education because we lost that kid. He doesn't get it. When you talk about families losing jobs, teachers losing jobs, janitors losing jobs, he doesn't get it," Wilson said.

On the police staffing issue, Garcia and Fioretti both favor hiring more Chicago police officers. Garcia wants to hire as many as 1,000 new cops, while the mayor and Willie Wilson say there already are enough police officers.

Perennial candidate William "Dock" Walls was not invited to the WTTW forum, but he will participate in Thursday night's formal debate on ABC7.