Jesus "Chuy" Garcia received a boost from the city's African American community when he got the backing of businessman Willie Wilson. It was only the latest in a series of Garcia endorsements by major black political and religious leaders. What's noteworthy about the Wilson nod is that both runoff candidates competed for it.
On Thursday, Wilson made official one of his worst-kept secrets: he will endorse Garcia, and if Garcia wins, he'll become a close adviser to the new mayor.
"I'm going to rely on his counsel to move the city forward," Garcia said.
The millionaire businessman says without his first round candidacy, which attracted nearly 51,000 voters, Emanuel would have won a majority and avoided the April 7 runoff.
"This is history. It's the first time this has ever happened in the history of this city," Wilson said.
"The future of the city of Chicago is on the ballot. Not my name," Emanuel said.
In Chinatown Thursday afternoon, the mayor had a not-so-subtle warning for supporters, claiming he was better equipped to guide the city through its fiscal crisis.
"Four years ago, Charles, we were at a financial brink. We were bleeding money we were bleeding jobs, also companies and families. We pulled the city the city back," Emanuel said.
"If he wants to talk about financial sophistication, he must be talking about all the money he made when he worked with Bruce Rauner investing," Garcia said.
Garcia promised he will make public his plan to rescue the city's finances including, presumably, how to meet budget and pension shortfalls and what new or higher taxes might be necessary.
So far, there is no time or place set for the Garcia news conference, but he assures us it will happen Friday.