Gov. Bruce Rauner contended Friday that public employee unions are behind the political decisions that drive how Illinois’ largest city is governed and said until that factor is eliminated, “Chicago is lost.”

The Republican governor, appearing in Yorkville as part of a sustained road campaign to try to gain support for his agenda, reiterated he was staying out of the April 7 mayoral runoff election between his friend, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

Yet the words Rauner chose indicated he was supportive of Emanuel’s re-election bid, though he did not use any candidate’s name. Garcia is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, and Rauner has long criticized the CTU and statewide teachers unions as being part of a “corrupt” system.

Asked by reporters if it matters who is mayor, Rauner said voters should “look at who’s financially sophisticated to deal with the issues, who’s ready to stand up to…and fight for the taxpayers in the city and take on some of these government union power issues.”