Calls for consensus candidate
By Chinta Strausberg:
Flanked by dozens of supporters who chanted, “We want Willie,” former Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw Monday held a press conference at the South Loop Hotel where he withdrew from the mayoral race and backed Dr. Willie Wilson for mayor of Chicago.
His son, Terrell Wilson, who will coordinate the youth in his father’s campaign, also joined Wilson. “For 2015, I believe my dad has the experience, the relationships and I am here to support him 100 percent,” he said.
In bowing out of the crowded mayoral race and embracing Wilson, Shaw said the reason “is because I know Willie Wilson...for many, many years…a church man who believes in God.”
When looking over the nine mayoral candidates left in the field, Shaw asked himself, “Why divide this city. We don’t need a division in this city. We need one man, one voice, and I saw Willie Wilson as the person that can carry that voice…all over town and get the message out.”
“I intend to work every hour of the day that I can to bring about the election of a man that I think will lead this city and bring about fairness whether it is contracts, jobs…. Whatever it is, he will be fair to all the citizens of Chicago and that is what is needed.”
Shaw is hoping that Wilson will get rid of the controversial red light cameras. “That needs to be done.”He said when Wilson recently said, ’I think it’s strange that there are no red lights in the Loop,” he agreed.
“All of us need to come together, and I am going to urge all of my friends…to come together and get behind Willie Wilson as the next mayor of this city,” he told a cheering crowd.’
Shaw said a transformation is needed and one that will ensure that “South Michigan Avenue will look like North Michigan Avenue. That is what we have to change,” he said accusing the mayor of not respecting the black community.
“I know they think we’re out here playing, but we’re not playing,” Shaw said. “By the 15th of January, we’ll have it together and we’re going to move ahead and move this city forward and we’re going to do it under the leadership of Willie Wilson.”
In accepting his endorsement, Wilson said he could use Shaw’s experience. “I am not a politician…. I’m a businessperson….” He values his opinion along with that of the citizens.
Asked how would Shaw’s dropping out and embracing Wilson force a runoff come February 24, 2015, Shaw quipped, “My endorsement of Dr. Wilson will not only force a runoff. It will force a win. We got a lot of friends out there in Chicago.”
Making it clear, Shaw said, “We need one candidate. We don’t need a divisive situation here. We got Willie Wilson. He’s the candidate, and my ego doesn’t dictate to me that I got to be the candidate,” he said receiving a round of applause.
Mansour Tadros, publisher of the Arab publication, The Future News, said, “We have to make a promise for the New Year to make Chicago better and do the best we can for the people of Chicago, and we need a fresh start.”
Having just had two major surgeries, Ray Nonato, coordinator for Wilson’s campaign, said, “God wants me to support 100 percent for our next mayor, Willie Wilson.”
Ruby Morris, a health advocate, said she is supporting Wilson because “he is an independent person.We’re looking for Chicago to get a new change and for Chicago citizens not to be afraid to walk downtown… any where…, and I think Willie Wilson is going to make that change.”
F. Scott Winslow, a businessman and former CEO of the Michael Reese Hospital, said he has known Dr.Wilson for more than 15-years. “This is a serious and very dedicated man. When he puts his mind to something, he gets it done.
“He’s a coalition builder. He has not been appointed by an outgoing administration. He has not been anointed by anyone in Washington. He is a self-made man with a seriousness of purpose and he gets things done,” said Winslow.
“This is the man we need to lead Chicago and to make a coalition of our beautiful, wonderful diverse melting pot. This is the man who understands how that works,”said Winslow.
One minister, Rev. Dr. John Gray, president of the Chicago Baptist Institute International who came to support Wilson, said, “He is one of the greatest men that I’ve ever known. He can take this city to another level. If there is anyone who can do it, Dr.Willie Wilson is the man.”
Rev. James Cotton, pastor of the Holy David Baptist Church, 731 W. 19th Place, said, “All pastors need to come together as one voice. We need to put away all this hatred and come together because the people are following the pastor.”
He said when ministers are divided over this mayoral race, “the people are confused. They don’t know who to follow.
“If we all come together,then the people will come together. That is what will take to win this thing…everybody come together and stop trying to be a leader. Everybody can’t be a leader. Even though we’re pastors, we still have to have a leader like Moses time…. God picked one man and that is what God has done. He’s picked Dr. Wilson,” said Dr. Cotton.
In accepting Shaw’s endorsement, Wilson, who thanked the ministers, his son, Terrell who will head up the youth movement in the campaign, and Shaw for their support, said he is “grateful” for his support.
Promising to include the citizens of Chicago in his decisions, Wilson said all sections of the city should look “just like downtown.”
“What this mayor is doing is dividing the city,” he said. Referring to a Chicago Tribune report which showed African Americans are getting pulled over (65 %) by police more than any other ethnic group, Wilson said, “We should not be a divided city…polarize the city.We are not at war…. We don’t have enough jobs and economic.”
Still ticked off at the mayor for claiming that 80 percent of his petitions were bad, Wilson demanded that Mayor Emanuel apologize to him.
But Wilson is even more upset with the mayor for closing 50 schools. He said the trickle down effect of that resulted in some students dropped out of school and devastated families because teachers, janitors and others were fired.
“I am not running to benefit myself…. I am running to give my life to the citizens of Chicago to help make this a better city,” Wilson said.
Referring to the policeman who killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. and unarmed Eric Garner who screamed out ‘I can’t breathe 11 times but was chokehold to death by a cop in NYC, Wilson said, “We can’t have this Ferguson situation in this city. We can’t have this ‘I can’t breathe’ situation….”
Wilson repeated his plans to fire the top cop replacing him with four superintendents each representing different sides of Chicago. He said this is needed so that they can “become closer to the people.”
Wilson announced under his administration he would have an independent police force “that will respond on the spot to make sure we don’t have happen like ‘I can’t breathe’—choking somebody to death or a Ferguson situation….” He said his special unit would investigate these situations.
“But, Wilson made it clear that he would “make those decisions with the citizens of Chicago.’
He also plans to take the police out of their cars and put them on buses, the subways and on the street.“If you are paying my salary, you shouldn’t be in a heated car and I’m walking the streets.”
He vowed to pass legislation mandating that those wanting to do business in Chicago would have to “proportionately represent all neighborhoods of the city of Chicago.” His citizen’s council would examine all contracts to ensure that equity prevails.
Referring to the segregation and racism that has raised its ugly head nationally and in Chicago like the anti-Semitic graffiti written on garages in Jewish neighborhoods and other anti-black incidents like the white policeman fired for saying slavery never should have been abolished, Wilson said, “I am the one who has the scars in my heart.”
Saying he is two generations from slavery, Wilson said even through bad racial experiences in the south he still has white, Latino and Asian friends. “I refuse to let hate dwell in my heart.”
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Flanked by dozens of supporters who chanted, “We want Willie,” former Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw Monday held a press conference at the South Loop Hotel where he withdrew from the mayoral race and backed Dr. Willie Wilson for mayor of Chicago. (All photos by Chinta Strausberg)
Rev. Greg Livingston introduced the speakers at the press conference held Monday, December 29, 2014, at the South Loop Hotel, 26th and State Streets.
Mansour Tadros, publisher of the Arab publication, The Future News, said, “We have to make a promise for the New Year to make Chicago better and do the best we can for the people of Chicago, and we need a fresh start.”
Having just had two major surgeries, Ray Nonato, coordinator for Wilson’s campaign, said, “God wants me to support 100 percent for our next mayor, Willie Wilson.”
Having just had two major surgeries, Ray Nonato, coordinator for Wilson’s campaign, said, “God wants me to support 100 percent for our next mayor, Willie Wilson.”
Rev. James Cotton, pastor of the Holy David Baptist Church, 731 W. 19th Place, said, “All pastors need to come together as one voice. We need to put away all this hatred and come together because the people are following the pastor.”
Ruby Morris, a health advocate, said she is supporting Wilson because “he is an independent person. We’re looking for Chicago to get a new change and for Chicago citizens not to be afraid to walk downtown… any where…, and I think Willie Wilson is going to make that change.”
F. Scott Winslow, a businessman and former CEO of the Michael Reese Hospital, said he has known Dr. Wilson for more than 15-years. “This is a serious and very dedicated man. When he puts his mind to something, he gets it done. “He’s a coalition builder. He has not been appointed by an outgoing administration. He has not been anointed by anyone in Washington. He is a self-made man with a seriousness of purpose and he gets things done,” said Winslow.
Dr. Willie Wilson pins his button on former mayoral hopeful Robert Shaw who Monday withdrew from the race to back Wilson.
When looking over the nine mayoral candidates left in the field, Shaw asked himself, “Why divide this city. We don’t need a division in this city. We need one man, one voice, and I saw Willie Wilson as the person that can carry that voice…all over town and get the message out.” “I intend to work every hour of the day that I can to bring about the election of a man that I think will lead this city and bring about fairness whether it is contracts, jobs…. What ever it is, he will be fair to all the citizens of Chicago and that is what is needed.”
In accepting Shaw’s endorsement, Wilson, who thanked the ministers, his son, Terrell who will head up the youth movement in the campaign, and Shaw for their support, said he is “grateful” for his support.
Vowing to shake up the police department by firing the top cop replacing him with four superintendents to represent each side of the city, Dr. Wilson referred to the policeman who killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. and unarmed Eric Garner who screamed out ‘I can’t breathe 11 times but was chokehold to death by a cop in NYC. “We can’t have this Ferguson situation in this city. We can’t have this ‘I can’t breathe’ situation.
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