Dr. Wilson says Garcia will ‘Give us Hope’

Endorsement official

By Chinta Strausberg

It’s official. Former mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson Thursday endorsed Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for mayor during a press conference held at the Chicago Baptist Institute International, 5120 So. King Drive, where he said a Garcia candidacy “gives us hope.”

Asked by this reporter what were the real reasons he supported Garcia, Wilson said, “He got more character, principles and he doesn’t owe anybody unlike the mayor we have now.

“He gives the community hope and the community needs hope,” Wilson said. “It makes me happy. The community supported him so I support him.” Wilson also said he believes Garcia’s promise to bring parity in letting contracts which was a key part of Wilson’s mayoral campaign.

Saying he didn’t see “any movement” on the part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel in his request to remove the red light cameras and reopening the shuttered 50 schools. Wilson said he has released his 50,000 supporters to embrace the candidacy of Garcia.  Wilson said, “If he decides to use them, yes, but that is left up to him and my supporters….” When asked how many of his supporters would vote for Garcia, Wilson wasn’t sure but believes “it will be enough votes” for Garcia to defeat Emanuel come April 7^th.

Asked if he would donate money to Garcia’s campaign, Wilson, a self-made millionaire, said, “He needs togive me money. My votes and my being here today is far more than money,” Wilson said who spent nearly $2 million of his personal money on this race. “I have a business to run,” Wilson told reporters.

“I am willing to work with Garcia,” said Wilson. “I will use my influence in a positive way to help Garcia,” he said citing his business experience. “I would support him wholeheartedly. I not bought. I wasn’t sent.”

Former mayoral candidate Robert Shaw was pleased with the endorsement of Garcia saying, “He gives us hope for Chicago, for our community, and I think he will reach out to all of the communities…..”

Rev. John Gray, president of the Chicago Baptist Institute International, said, “With Dr. Wilson’s decision in endorsing Garcia, I feel this is the peoples choice. He’s still about the people….”

Chanting “Chuy, Chuy,” Garcia said, “Our campaign is moving forward to unite Chicago to make real promise of the city of big shoulders. It was Chicago that invented the skyscrapers. It was Chicago that reversed the flow of the Chicago River. In that spirit and in that vein, I proclaim that as we move forward as one people in the city of Chicago our greatness in the 21^st Century will be ushered in beginning in the next four-years of a new government that is rooted in democracy…diversity and embracing all of Chicago’s” various ethnic groups.

Reminded that he is being criticized for not having a financial plan, Garcia said he would be releasing such a plan on Friday.

Early voting for the Tuesday,April 7, 2015 mayoral run-off, begins on Monday, March 23 – Saturday, April 4^th. Government ID is required in order to vote during this period.

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It’s official. Former mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson Thursday endorsed Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for mayor during a press conference held at the Chicago Baptist Institute International, 5120 So. King Drive, where he said a Garcia candidacy “gives us hope.” (All photos by Chinta Strausberg)

Mayoral hopeful Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Thursday shook the hand of former mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson who release his 50,000 voters to Garcia in hopes of helping him cross the finish line on April 7th.

Asked by this reporter what were the real reasons he supported Garcia, Wilson said, “He got more character, principles and he doesn’t owe anybody unlike the mayor we have now. He gives the community hope and the community needs hope,” Wilson said.

Chanting “Chuy, Chuy,” Garcia said, “Our campaign is moving forward to unite Chicago to make real promise of the city of big shoulders. It was Chicago that invented the skyscrapers. It was Chicago that reversed the flow of the Chicago River. In that spirit and in that vein, I proclaim that as we move forward as one people in the city of Chicago...."

“I am willing to work with Garcia,” said Wilson. “I will use my influence in a positive way to help Garcia,” he said citing his business experience. “I would support him wholeheartedly. I not bought. I wasn’t sent.”

Garcia promises to be fair to everyone.

It's official. Dr. Willie Wilson ended all speculation Thursday by endorsing mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, but he is not giving him any money. Rather Wilson said, "What I'm doing here and my votes are worth more than any money." He will lend Garcia some sound business advice on how to run the city of Chicago.