Chicago mayoral debate gets testy over city's finances and public schools

Associated Press in Chicago
Tuesday 17 March 2015 13.14 GMT

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel aggressively dissected his re-election challenger’s record and platform on Monday in the first head-to-head televised debate before next month’s runoff election, but Cook County commissioner Jesus Garcia came back at the former White House chief of staff with questions about the city’s financial problems and violence.

The tone was snappy, with the former White House chief of staff trying to highlight what Emanuel says is Garcia’s lack of experience, especially in managing the finances of the nation’s third most populous city.

Emanuel said Garcia’s plans – including calling for 1,000 more police officers – aren’t realistic because of the strain on the budget. Several times he criticized Garcia’s plan to call for a full review of city spending before committing to new taxes or budget cuts.

“The difference between being a legislator, and I was one, in that period of time, you pass a bill. When you’re mayor you have to pay the bills,” said Emanuel, a former Congressman.

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