Mayor Emanuel officially launches re-election campaign

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel officially launched his re-election campaign Saturday and his opponents had plenty to say about the campaign ahead.

Mayor Emanuel wants your vote and Saturday afternoon, as he made his run for a second term official he steered away from the fallout from the closing of some 50-plus Chicago Public Schools, a teachers strike, violent crime and pension funding problems, instead talking about how he's improved the lives of Chicago residents by the closing of coal plants, opening up grocery stores in food deserts, and the launch of Divvy bikes.

"I'm asking you to join me in this campaign for Chicago's future," Emanuel said as he officially kicked off his run for re-election.

During his speech, he said that he has delivered real-life improvements for Chicago residents, including improving infrastructure and increasing graduation rates.

"If we are the city we want to be, the city we can be, this must change. During the course of this campaign, I will spell out my ideas for continuing to move Chicago forward, because that's what this election is all about," he said.

Joined by supporters, other Democrats and his campaign co-chairs, the mayor made his announcement at a West Side film studio.

"Four years ago, I did not stand with Rahm Emanuel when he ran for mayor of the city of Chicago. But during the last four years, he has earned my respect," Rep. Luis Gutierrez said.

While the mayor's re-election bid also included celebrating a City Council victory in raising Chicago's minimum wage to $13 dollars an hour, his top challenger, 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti and his supporters continued allegations of improper campaign donations to Emanuel's reelection from companies that manage the city's pension fund.

"I'd love to have him come with and hear what the real issues are of the real people, the working people, the middle class people, those that are down on their luck here in the city, and not the special downtown interests that he listens to," Fioretti said.

With just shy of $11 million in his campaign coffers, Emanuel holds an advantage over Fioretti as well as Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

"People in the neighborhoods all over Chicago want to be consulted, they want to be heard, they want a mayor who is going to have the disposition to take them into account," Garcia said.

Businessman and philanthropist Dr. Willie Wilson announced his bid for Chicago's mayor Saturday in Tinley Park. Wilson is vowing to run as the people's candidate, a reference to critics who have dubbed Emanuel "Mayor One Percent."

"We don't make decisions by ourselves. This mayor we have right now is totally untouchable," Dr. Wilson said.

Since the mayor's approval rating plummeted, some political experts say the mayoral race could be more of a referendum on Emanuel's personality.

Polls have shown some in the city are dissatisfied with his job performance.