Mayor challenger Garcia endorsed by SEIU

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago mayor challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia officially picked up the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union of Illinois Sunday.

While political experts say endorsements don't mean much, the one from SEIU is going to help Garcia with resources he needs to shape and sell his image. A recent Chicago Tribune poll shows Mayor Rahm Emanuel's negative television ads may be working as the mayor's lead increases.

With the backing of the state's largest organized labor group, Garcia is counting on SEIU to bring cash and ground troops to his campaign. The union says it plans to put thousands of volunteers on the street for Garcia.

"This will be a competitive race and we will have the resources in terms of human power as well as the economic resources to deliver a message," he said.

The Cook County Commissioner hopes to shape that message with his first runoff television ads next week. He is trying to sell himself as the working class candidate.

"Chuy Garcia is from the neighborhoods, he is from working people, that is what he understands," said Tom Balanoff, SEIU Illinois State Council President. "Rahm Emanuel, he's mayor of millionaires and billionaires."

An image Emanuel tries to shed as marched with the Irish-American Labor Council Sunday at the South Side Irish Parade. Running back and forth to shake hands or pose with the crowd, Emanuel claims Garcia's big endorsement doesn't matter.

"Do you have a plan? It's not about endorsements. It's 'Do you have a plan?', it's perseverance and a persistence to make sure that we're building a Chicago of tomorrow that we continue to be a world class city with jobs and families and employers," Emanuel said.

While the mayor was greeted with polite applause and a few good lucks, the South Side crowd, which included many union workers, had a bit more enthusiasm for Garcia as he also marched in the parade.

"Workers are behind us and they understand what is at stake," Garcia said.

While Garcia has tried to tie Emanuel to what he calls the mayor's wine drinking buddy, Governor Bruce Rauner, Emanuel tried distancing himself from Rauner as he protested state cuts to parks on the South Side Sunday afternoon.

Emanuel has been very critical of Rauner's budget. In a response to the mayor's protest on city parks Sunday, the governor's office says the Chicago Park District is sitting on reserves of $308 million.